Questions

Read Hebrews 10:19-25

Questions - they keep us up at night, cause us to stop and think at all times and truth be told not many of us like questions, that is unless we have some good and solid answers.

Questions prevail everywhere today and about everything. In the church we have questions we ask about effectiveness of ministry and direction of ministry. Now as I've been reading over the years, I've come across some key questions that are just so important for us to have some good and solid answers to. And it all fits in with our message this past week about Biblical Community.

The first question is: What do we want people to become? This question is all about becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. Jesus said two little words that have significant impact on lives if lived out. To His first disciples He simply said - FOLLOW ME. You see when we follow Him we're becoming something new, something different. Now not only are we to follow Him but Jesus says in Matthew 28 that we are to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that He commanded. We are called to help others follow Him as well.

The second question is: What do you want people to do? This question answers how we are going to help people follow Him. How we become followers of Him is we must continually pursue 3 vital relationships -- intimacy with God, community with insiders and influence with outsiders. Matthew 22 says we are to Love God and Love People (those already in the family of God and those not yet in the family of God).

The third question is: Where do we expect people to go to accomplish this? You see to follow Him and help others do the same we need a place where we can meet with others who are committed to the same goal. So we must ask ourselves where's the best place for sustained life change? It's in the context of intentional relationships where we encourage, support and pray with and for one another to live our faith in a way that is pleasing to God. This is where we come together and inspire each other to follow Christ.

When questions abound may we remember the answers God's given in His Word. So let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds.