Why communion?

The Lord's Supper, Holy Communion, The Eucharist. Different names for the same sacrament (an outward sign, instituted by Christ, that conveys an inward, spiritual grace through Christ.)

The sacrament of communion was spoken about by Jesus during the last supper with His diciples in Mark 14:22-25, Matthew 26:26-29, and Luke 22:13-20. He makes it very clear that we are to “Do this in remembrance of me.” This is not spoken as a suggestion or if you feel like it type thing. He said “Do this…” As a child, can you remember your father telling you to take out the garbage? He said “Take out the garbage” … i.e.; DO this. Not “If” you feel like it.

Bottom line; Being Led by the Holy Spirit

(Jesus said) “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5

At Southbrook we believe the only way possible to live the Christian life is by God’s power within us. So we seek to practice a daily dependence on God’s Spirit...(Pastor
Rob talks about it here...) to enable us to do what is right. (Phil. 2:3; Eph. 5:18)

6:40pm tonight, and the last Wednesday of each month. Be there because you Want to be there, more importantly….be there because Jesus said “DO this.”

In His love for all we have been forgiven for

Jay

“Honey….I’m home….”

I'll have to admit…. Work sure does get in the way. I’ve been flying WAY toooooo much.

I’d much rather be helping others Full Time! But….I guess God is not ready for that so… I’ll pray for patience and guidance for His strength and wisdom.

Last time I wrote (just before I left you all in the no blogging darkness…) I was talking about how Home Groups are a way for each one of us to put “Life deposits” into each other. Sharing and caring FOR each other.

Take a look at what Jesus said in John 17:20-21 …. Here…I’ll just save you the time, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

There is your open invitation. He has openly invited YOU to have an ongoing, deep, meaningful relationship with others, just like He had/has with His Father. Here is a list of what Jesus wants YOU to experience with others…

· Encourage each other

· Support each other

· Love each other

· Defer to each other

· Glorify each other

This is one of the most important instructions Jesus left for us. Do all this so that others will see a difference in you and the people you surround yourself with “so that the world will believe you sent me.” Then they will want what you have. This is one of man’s most common natures. He wants what others have if… they see that it will improve their life too. Am I right? Have I hit a warm spot?

Home Groups should be incubators of faith. Faith in God, faith in His Son, faith in His followers. “Living Life Together” in faith and love.

Sooooo... If you haven’t joined a Home Group…NOW is the time to go for it. At Southbrook Church, we have many groups to choose from. Click here and check out your options. Or…. Email me at jforeman@southbrookchurch.com and I’ll help you find a group.

In the meantime, Read Rob’s blog.

and... now you can read Michelle's blog .

Blessings

Are Home Groups for me? (you) Part 2

Welcome back. I hope you had a great weekend.

In Part 2, we’ll take a look at what Jesus says about God’s plan for us while we are on this ball of mud called earth.

In John 17:11, Jesus says to God His Father, “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.” ...WOW,,, Jesus just prayed to God the Father for you and I. Bill Donahue, who wrote “Building a Church of Small Groups” says “The significance of this statement (prayer) cannot be over stated. Jesus is praying that His disciples – the men who for three years had disappointed Him, misunderstood Him and ultimately abandon Him (in other words, humans like you and me) would experience something amazing. WOW. Upside down MOM…scratch that, it doesn’t work here…

Ok, did you catch that? …”Be one as We are.” He's saying have the same experience and quality of relationship with each other as He had with God. Dude, that’s a huge WOW!

All throughout the Bible, Jesus and God via the Trinity;

· Encouraged each other

· Supported each other

· Loved each other

· Deferred to each other

· Glorified each other.

That’s what we (you) do in a Home Group…. Via the Trinity, Father-Son-Holy Spirit. True fellowship. Sharing and Living Life together. As Bill Easum says in “Go Big With Small Groups,” Not to mention you are building the largest pastoral care machine in existence.” The Greek word for fellowship is “koinonia” , which means, “putting good deposits in one another.” Like a “healthy” bank account, adding deposits, increase.

“Living Life Together” and watching Lives Change.

* * * * * * *

Next…....when we return…An Open Invitation…from Jesus

Question…

What are you doing next Sunday January 20^th between 3pm and 8pm that you can’t cancel or put off till another time? Seriously!

Southbrook’s Connecting classes are Sunday January 20^th. 3-8pm. 101, 201, 301, 401. Pastor Rob spoke about it at each service this weekend... and it didn't sound to me like he was asking if you'd like to come, he was telling you as your Pastor what you NEED to do next weekend....Please come and attend your next class. Learn, grow, become. “Love your God with all your mind.” So that your heart will be steady when challenged.

Peace out.

Are Home Groups for me? (you)

Great question eh? I’ll bet you have probably asked yourself that in the last few years. Or as a couple… “Are Home Groups for us? Am I right? I know I am. That’s why there have been sooooo many books written in the last 10 years about it.

Does even the notion of being in a Home Group stir up a feeling of some sort down inside you?

Look at this…

Here’s the church

Here’s the steeple

Open it up and look at all the people.

Here in lies the problem. Tooooo many people. I don’t care if there are 50 people inside or 5000. It’s toooo many people for YOU to connect to and have a caring relationship with. In Andy Stnley and Bill Willit’s book, “Creating Community” they mention that we were created to be relational beings with varying relationship needs based on our wiring and temperaments; but the truth is none of us was meant to live ALONE.

Go ahead and pull out your Rolodex, your Palm, your Crackberry, your Q, your Outlook contact list, and while your at it get out your Christmas card list, birthday card list and your neighborhood directory, Girl Scout leader list, soccer organization list, church directory, and finally your list of all your lists. Go ahead……….. Ok, now go thru and count the 100’s and 1000’s of people you live life around and I’d gather to say you live life deeply with very few of them. Bill Willits says “It’s no wonder so many of us feel alone and isolated, experiencing what an observer has called “crowded loneliness.”

That is not what God originally intended for us. Genesis 2:18 God says “It’s not good for man to live alone.” I believe that’s on the outside and the inside.

Look back up ↑ at the 3^rd picture of all the people standing, by themselves IN the church.

Now take a look at this next picture.

See the difference? They are connected!

Caring for each other. Jesus talked about sheep a lot. They were the best example 2000 years ago of “Living Life Together.” Think about this,.. Sheep are never attacked in herds – they are attacked when isolated from the flock.

We’ll take a look at what Jesus says about God’s plan for us while we are on this ball of mud... next... when we return.

On a quick note…. Southbrook’s Connecting classes are Sunday January 20^th. 3-8pm. 101, 201, 301, 401. Please come and attend your next class. Learn, grow, become. “Love your God with all your mind.” So that your heart will be steady when challenged.