Monday March 9, 2015

COMING UP THIS SONDAY

Titus 2. Investing in Each Other

Titus 2:11–15 (NIV84)

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.

15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Corporate solidarity is what binds the church together. Many things undermine the solidarity we have in Christ Jesus. Gossip, slander, complaining are all obvious things that destroy our solidarity.

Even what we teach and the way we treat each other affects or corporate solidarity, our unity in Christ Jesus. Haven’t you realised or thought that simple things like saying ‘Hello, how are you?” builds the body of Christ? Being present or absent each Sonday builds or destroys the body of Christ. The way we speak to each other and the way we interact throughout the week builds or destroys our solidarity in Jesus. It’s imperative that we realise that we have unity and oneness in Christ Jesus and that each one of us either adds to or detracts from the solidarity we have in Christ.

We live in a world of individuality where people generally think that they are isolated units who can live as they please without effect on others or other parts of their lives. This partitioning of life has caused a lot of people to think that their style of living in area A has no effect on their life in area B. As such, police men are now living as vigilantes in their off time and are fighting crime illegally while off duty! Prime ministers think its ok to visit strip clubs while working overseas. Teachers think they can live sinful lives outside of school hours.

Unfortunately this mentality has invaded the church. Christians think that they can indulge in sinful pleasures during the week and still stand in the Lord’s presence and sing His praises and seek His face on the Lord’s Day. The warning to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 7:9-10 is pertinent to us all. Way back in Jeremiah’s day the people and the priests were indulging in crime, adultery, false worship, stealing and lying and were then standing in the temple praising God for the temple of the Lord that kept them safe.

This week we’ll think about investing in this community, the community of believers and we’ll see that the investment is far more than a time commitment. It’s a whole of life, whole of heart commitment that flows out of our love for the Lord.

Why is corporate solidarity so vital in the Christian community?

What does corporate solidarity look like in

the local church?

a denomination?

all denominations, taken together?