A few thoughts about connecting with God and others here at Journey…

Anyone investigating Christianity, anyone curious, anyone wondering about it is welcome here.  People do not to have to confess Christ to be welcome.  A practicing Muslim, Buddhist, Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, agnostic or atheist are welcome here.  The church has to be a place that is welcoming to seekers…that does what it can to accept even those we disagree with.  We need to try to make our systems as user friendly as possible.   We need to care about people, take good care of their children, we need to have systems that work, music that inspires, messages that inform, encourage and challenge.

All those things are good and right, but they will never be enough.  At some point, there is a threshold that must be crossed by those who desire the truest connection with God and others.  If we want our church to be effective, it must be supernatural.  If we want to be a church that helps the wounded and broken,  the lost and the lonely, the bored and disinterested, the self-indulgent and immoral, then we must embrace the supernatural power of God.

IF God is by definition supernatural, so how could He be embraced in only a natural way?  If we want to make room for a supernatural God, we must make room for the supernatural in our lives.

I am convinced that this world needs churches that do all that other stuff well…things like being friendly to beginners, promoting healthy ministries, relevant outreaches and service programs.  Offering music that inspires and messages that challenge and encourage.  But we also must make room for the power of God.  We must individually seek after His presence and majesty.  We must preach, teach, celebrate the holiness, glory, presence and power of God.

It’s how we find freedom, forgiveness and joy and power. It’s how we come to understand our purpose and responsibility.

For a church to be transformational it must be supernatural.  It must be a place where people can experience God and not just hear stories about Him.

This supernatural component doesn’t just show us how to relate to God, but it shows us how to treat one another.  Supernatural doesn’t just have to do with gifts and miracles, sometimes we need supernatural ability to deal with one another well.  To learn how to live with acceptance, love, unity, generosity, peace and patience; we will need God’s help and God’s power.

As believers who want to connect with God and connect with others, we most foster an atmosphere where God is expected and welcome to work.  We must come hungry for God…to live hungry for God…to expected to be used by God.

 John 15:4

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

Here at Journey, we will give opportunities for people to encounter God’s truth, God’s love and God’s power.  Our ideas, our creativity, our work, our commitment to excellence is all important, but it will never be enough

 

God has a dream for Delaware and for this church.  Let’s find it together.

We can if we will dream the same dream.  Let’s spend our lives journeying towards knowing God better and loving him more.  Let’s help others to do the same.