| | | | Step up and take your place - Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation… Jude 3
Recently I joined a Facebook group of people who served together on the Aircraft Carrier USS Constellation (like I needed one more group to belong to!). It's been cool to swap stories and remember our times together on that steel city floating in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The interesting thing is that it's been thirty years since I was on that ship. We've all gone our separate ways, and we live different lives; yet there still exists a bond of brotherhood between us. Because we served together, and we shared a common mission, working together on a shared goal, we still have a sense of community that binds us together.
That's what Jude was speaking of when he made the statement "our common salvation." Not in the sense that salvation is "run-of-the-mill" common, but rather speaking to the community that believers experience through our salvation, and our shared mission of reaching the world with the gospel message.
THE POINT: To be a Christian is to be a part of a community of shared faith, shared values, and a shared mission. We're not in this alone; we're called to function in community. But in order to experience that community, we're required to step up and take our place in the community.
Pastor Wes has a saying:
"Christians the serve are Christians that grow - Christians that grow are Christians that will change the world"
That's one of the reasons that at CCW, we stress that we want people to get engaged; Join a bible study, volunteer, serve. Why? Because it's how you'll experience community in body of Christ. See, if you only come on Sunday for the service, we're glad you're here, but you're never going to experience the community of common salvation the way that God intended unless you engage. - When you engage you move from being a visitor, to being a member.
- When you engage you move from being a spectator, to being a participant.
- When you engage you move from being a guest, to being part of the family.
When a person comes to Christ, they're not just joining a church, or a social group; They're now part of a world-wide movement: - To be a Christian means you stand with all believers: Strong and weak, brave and cowardly , rich and poor, old and young.
- To be a Christian means you stand shoulder to shoulder with millions of Christians all over the world, and all throughout history who have gone before us.
- To be a Christian means you are part of a mighty army that spans back through the generations, and will one day stand victorious with Christ our king.
So Christian, whether you realize it or not, you're part of this thing. Step up and take your place!
Pastor Clay | | | | | | | |
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