23 February 2014 - ENCS

Rachel Ong concluded the series titled "The Core" this week

On "I am in a church, but am I in a community?" she did speak

It has become tougher over the years as the church has grown

The importance of life groups has thus been clearly shown

For as a church gets bigger by adding many a new member

The value of community is something we must all remember

Rachel's three communities on the screen we did see

She then shared three blessings of being in community

 

The first blessing is "to be able to walk together and do life"

This means sharing in times of joy as well as times of strife

A good community can effectively reduce life's weight

And its judgment can help us keep our walk straight

To Ecclesiastes four verses seven to ten Rachel did then refer

Without relationships, happiness the man's wealth did not confer

Despite more people in the world, loneliness is a big issue

Mobile phones and the Internet interfere - that is very true

We should spend more time connecting face to face instead

This helps us be content is what both Paul and Timothy said

 

The second blessing is that "our family and children prosper"

For the community is a safe place with role models proper

When in a community, we are also more open to feedback

For encouragement and true support we will never lack

To develop wholesome relationships, the church is the best place

We can learn how to love unconditionally while in a trusted space

Remember that according to Ephesians one verse five

By adopting us as his sons, great pleasure did God derive

 

The third blessing is that "our destinies intertwine and are fulfilled"

Per 1 Corinthians two verse nine, none of know what God has willed

But we know that was has been prepared has been with love

For that is the key attribute of our Lord God in heaven above

In a related way, a community is basically an extended family

A picture of four pastor's kids on her staff we did then see

We need courage to be vulnerable, Rachel did then say

That is much easier to do in a small community today

In such a community, we should think the best of each other

Whether it be a friend, a parent, a child, a sister or brother

That means that there should be no jealousy or envy

And offenses are forgiven quickly in this community

 

Rachel concluded her sermon by referencing a Tim Keller quote

Spiritual friendships go deeper, as they don't do things by rote

Remember that the purpose of everything that God has done

Is to enable friendships with others, and of course with His Son

Rachel's last line was that friendships are a sign of good health

And they are far more valuable to us that any material wealth