January 2007 - The Five C's of Covenant Community Life

CONNECTED

Here at Gateway Church we are seeking to process our faith in ways that facilitate our obedience to the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:16-20:

"But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain, which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

To aid us in the process we use the Five C's of Covenant Community Life. They are CALLED, CONNECTED, COMMITTED, COVERED, and COMISSIONED.

Last month I shared some of my thoughts on the power of being CALLED. Now I would like to talk with you about the opportunity of being CONNECTED.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11-16 that properly joined believers enjoy the opportunity to grow up. What a novel idea that in communities of faith, people would actually mature and attain the unity of the faith -- that we could measure up to the implications of our relationship to Jesus as Lord of our lives.

Scripture informs us that the whole Body (the Church) is fitted and held together by what every joint supplies. This truth teaches me at least two things: 1) I have needs that God intends to supply by my being properly related to other members of His Body, the Church, and 2) I have the opportunity and the capacity to supply what others who are connected to me need. The balance between receiving and supplying is the path to maturity. Maturity is when you produce more than you consume. It isn't that we do not or should not consume resources, we have legitimate needs and lacks; but, if we only consume, we become parasites. Conversely, we cannot sustain a relationship in which we only give and never receive. Those kinds of relationships cause burn-out. It is the balance between receiving and supplying that produces a maturing Body that grows in true love.

For this reason, Gateway Church values and nurtures good connections. Let me ask you, Are you properly connected to Jesus as your Lord and His Church as your spiritual Body? If you are not properly connected, perhaps you would allow the family called Gateway Church to help you find a good connection.

Pastor Sanford