BEING PRESENT TOGETHER TO THRIVE

Acts 2:42-47

Hebrews 10:19-25

In the past two weeks, we've learned about Angel Oak Tree on Johns Island in South Carolina. It is thought to be one of the oldest living things in the country, estimated to be in excess of 400-500 years old. We've learned that one of the keys to it's long-life and continued thriving is that there is as much tree underground in it's root system as there is above ground.

Another key element that has been added over the last last twenty-six years is that it has become a part of the Charleston, South Carolina, community. In 1991, The City of Charleston bought the tree and the surrounding park. The Angel Oak Tree has come to symbolize Charleston.

In 2012, plans to build a 500-unit apartment complex 160 yards from Angel Oak were challenged in court by community conservation groups. By December, 2013, 17 acres adjacent to this majestic tree were set aside as a nature preserve.

We were created to be in community with God and with one another. Like the Angel Oak, perhaps we too can grow and thrive with the help of others in our community of faith.

Presence is more than just showing up. We found that out as we looked at the importance of prayer in growing our roots of faith, going deep into a relationship with Christ that is continual and permanent.

Presence is a mind set – setting our minds on God and the things of God; being present in the moment to the action of God's love through the Holy Spirit in our lives. It's expecting God to show up and being ready for it.

It is also a heart attitude – hungering for more and more of God; desiring to love God with everything we are and have, to love our neighbor as Christ loves us and actively growing to be more Christ life in our values and our actions.

As fertilizer is to a plant, prayer and Bible study are to the Christian's faith.

The practice of studying the Word of God is very important. Who God is, what God's plan is for you and me and the whole world, how God want's us to live as God's people is revealed through scripture and the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Christ as recorded in the Gospels.

The stories of God and God's people in both the Old and New Testament give us metaphors to help us discern God's will, find solutions to problems and develop a vision for our lives as well as for the church.

I walked into a class I was teaching to grumblings about the book we were using. “It's hard to read.” “I don't understand the scriptures the author is using.” “I don't see how the questions and the exercises fit in with the topic.”

Maybe, we've run into the same problems when we've tried reading and understanding the Bible on our own. That's why being involved in small group studies, whether it's Sunday School or a mid-week Bible study is so helpful for our spiritual growth.

By the end of the class, one of the adult learners commented that it was the group small group discussions we had in class of scriptures and concepts that was most helpful in the learning process. Hearing other people's perspectives and insights made a difference.

In small group settings, we also receive encouragement and support. The sense of belonging and being cared for is enhanced by knowing we're not alone on our journey of faith.

ChristCare ministries, part of Stephen Ministries which helps churches thrive through small groups says that any church group, of any age, including choirs, committees and boards, can be effective small groups that help people grow in their faith and their relationship with God through Christ. To provide a spiritual experience that helps people's roots go deep, a group needs to have these three things:

• Time in the Word: This can be a short scripture reading and devotion or a book or Bible study.

• Prayer: Praying for one another, for others and for the church builds faith and the community.

• A service or ministry focus: For a choir, committee or board, this is easy. The primary reason these groups meet is for a specific ministry. Sunday School classes and Bible studies chose a service project either in the church or in the community.

For example, in a church I once served, the adult Sunday School class took on the ministry of starting and organizing a fellowship time between the end of Sunday School and the start of worship. Our youth group which makes and provides chew toys for the local animal shelter shows us how a small group can serve in the community.

As we learned in Acts 2:42-47, God created the church to be a community of believers who worshiped, grew in faith, shared meals, celebrated the Lord's Supper and prayed together. Because they practiced presence with God through prayer and study of the scriptures and the teachings of the Apostle by being present in community with each other, they thrived, reaching thousands in the name of Christ.

Today, the challenges of thriving in community I feel we must address are these:

• Commitment:  Are we committed to thriving in Christ enough to make small group ministries a priority in our church.

• Willingness:  Are we willing to participate in changes that will help people grow in their faith no matter what group they are part of.

• Relevance:  In a culture where communities are built around social media, how can we create faith communities and small groups that are both relevant and accessible to everyone?

We have the choice to "just get by" or to thrive as the people of God. 

We were made to be more than just ordinary people.  We were made to thrive, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ will be there to help us.