We're reading the first 16 verses of chapter 4 of Ephesians, written by Paul who describes
himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and he describes the Ephesians
as the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus.
So chapter 4, 1-16.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling
to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with
one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs
to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all,
all, and through all, and in all.
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.
Therefore it says, when he ascended on high, he led a host of captives and he gave gifts
to men.
In saying he ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions,
the earth?
He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill
all things.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to equip
the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to
the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children tossed
to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by
craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the
head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with
which it is equipped.
When each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
May the Lord bless his word to our hearts and minds.
Hello, my name's Dave.
I'm one of the pastors here.
If you're visiting me today, a warm welcome to you.
Before we get underway, I've got to admit my disorganisation.
If you're following the outline, I've changed it.
Okay, so hopefully it doesn't confuse you.
Just one little change.
Halfway down the page, it's got four application questions.
I'm going to be putting that at the start, where it should have been from the beginning,
but just so you don't get lost and I lose you at the very beginning of the sermon.
All right, why don't we pray as we come to God's word.
Lord, we know that you love your church, not because inherently we are lovely,
but because you are a loving God and you have loved us.
And you, by your son, created the church.
And by your spirit, you are renewing us.
And you have promised to complete what you have begun.
So, Lord, help us see the church, see who we are,
see your agenda for us through your eyes,
so that we might live in a way that honours you.
So I pray that your word would speak to us this morning.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Amen.
Well, I want to start with a quote by a guy called Tristan Harris.
He worked at Google and he's behind a Netflix kind of docudrama thing about social media.
It's called The Social Dilemma.
I don't know if you've seen it.
If you haven't seen it, I'd highly recommend it
because I'm not going to be able to explain it fully up here.
But now this docudrama, it's been translated into over 190 languages.
A hundred million people seem to have watched it, I think.
So it's got some, it's worth listening to.
Here's the quote.
We are now years into a mass societal warping process
that has made us into a different kind of species, frankly.
A species that is addicted, distracted, polarised, narcissistic, misinformed.
The list keeps going.
Anxious, depressed, unsure of what's true, apathetic.
Well, okay.
If even half of that quote is true,
we need to have a look at how the digital world is affecting us as a church family
and how we live to honour the Lord.
So today we look at the topic of being the church in a digital age.
And this is the start of four weeks on four topics
that have the potential to undermine us being the church.
We'll either succumb to our culture or these four topics,
if we see the church through God's eyes and live as he calls us to,
these four topics also give us an opportunity to show the world a better way,
an alternative, the good life in belonging to God's people.
With any truth, knowing the theory is essential.
It's essential to have good doctrine.
And we've had five weeks now of looking at the truth in God's word.
But we don't glorify God by being able to frequently and passionately just say truth.
That's not how we glorify God.
We glorify God, obviously we need to say truth,
but we glorify God when that truth groups our hearts and changes the way we live.
I can say I believe in God's sovereignty, for instance,
until the cows come home.
And I do and I hope I do for the rest of my life.
But do I accept every circumstance as coming from the sovereign hand of God
or do I rally against it?
Do I pray as my first instinct because I know he is sovereign?
Do you get what I mean?
Knowing the truth and it gripping you to the point of change, that's what matters.
And that's why we've picked these four topics,
because as elders we think this could really either undermine
or make the church flourish depending on how we approach these topics.
So today, I've already introduced it, is about being the church in the digital age.
And the next three is going to be being the church in an individualistic culture.
And the third one is being the church in a hostile society.
And then we'll finish off with being the church in light of our eternal hope.
So that's where we're heading.
So before we get into this, or it's not before,
an important first step of getting into this topic is to refresh ourselves
in knowing what the church is and what we are called to be through God's eyes.
That the church is to be a foretaste of heaven.
So through God's eyes, we see that the church is central to his eternal plans.
We see in Genesis 2, albeit a community of two people,
but gathered perfectly in worship, enjoying God's presence,
until sin disrupts that, breaks that unity,
creating hostility between man and God, and God to man,
and hostility between people.
And the judgment is being scattered.
The essence of the word church is gathering.
God wants a gathered people to himself.
In Exodus 19, we see Israel gathered at the mountain under the law,
but that gathering fails again because of sin.
It was only a picture of the true gathering that would come through Jesus.
What does Jesus say in Matthew 16?
As soon as they say, you are the Christ, the first expression of faith,
he says, I'm going to build my church.
That's why I've come.
That's why I'm going to die and rise, to build my church.
And what do we see at the end of scripture?
The church, the bride, the new Jerusalem glorified.
The dwelling place with God and man.
It's central.
Church is absolutely central to God's eternal plans.
Through God's eyes, we understand this gathering is a spiritual reality.
The sin of living for self that has made us hostile to God
and has caused so much dysfunction between people has been conquered.
We see in Hebrews 12 that this new gathering in Christ is victorious over sin.
It's victorious over death.
It's marked by peace and unity and joy.
As we heard read in Ephesians 4,
it is so united with one body, one spirit,
one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all.
We are gathered into Christ.
We're not isolated Christians.
To be saved is to be gathered.
And this gathering is permanent.
This spiritual gathering is permanent.
We saw that in Hebrews 12, that when God judges and shakes everything,
heaven and earth, the final judgment, what is left standing?
Nothing but the church.
It is permanent.
That's where you find security in life.
But how is this gathering to be expressed now?
Well, through God's eyes, we see that this spiritual heavenly gathering
is not expressed in some vague notion of being the universal church
because, remember, church is about gathering.
It's in local church families like this one.
It's a functioning body showing the unity,
the peace that has been created.
I don't know who I'm quoting here.
Emma reminded me of this quote.
It's some Bible teacher, but I can't remember.
Can you be a Christian and not value and be committed to a local church?
Don't be a silly sausage.
I don't know.
Anyway, if that helps you, maybe.
There's nothing in the Bible about that.
To be gathered is to be in the local church.
That's how you express it.
Know who you are.
I'm going to say in a way that doesn't make sense
and technically isn't correct,
I am the church.
I know that doesn't make sense.
It's not correct.
We are the church.
But you're not just part of the church.
It's the fundamental thing about who you are.
We are the people of God.
It's not just you attend church.
You are the church.
We are the church.
We express that locally.
Being gathered.
Not choosing who you relate to,
but it's a community created by grace.
Across ages, across personalities, across cultures.
It's everyone who's been saved and under the lordship of Jesus.
That's what the local church is to express.
And through God's eyes, we see our agenda,
what we're called to do as the church.
And it's not primarily about social welfare,
though individual Christians might do all these things.
It's not about being a moral watchdog
to try and make Australia Christian.
It's not about living separate from society
and just condemning society.
It's not even to be a functioning machine
to do as much evangelism as we can.
Our agenda in Scripture is to be.
Be the church.
Love one another.
That's how you'll show that you are my disciples.
Ephesians 3, 9 to 11 is a key passage.
It's through the church
that the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known to the rules and authorities
in the heavenly places.
God is glorified in his unified church.
It's as we focus on being the church,
that's when we'll be a winsome invitation to the world.
Look what life is like being gathered to Jesus.
And through God's eyes,
we see that the structure of a healthy,
functioning body of a local church
is that Christ is head.
He is head,
ruling by his word
that can change our hearts
by his spirit.
And he gives leaders to teach
and model
and govern
in order,
we see in Ephesians 4,
in order,
what verse is it?
Verse 12.
To equip the saints.
You are a saint if you're a believer.
A saint is being set apart for God.
The leaders are to equip all the people
for the work of ministry,
for building up the body of Christ.
Every person in ministry.
The priests would have all believers.
Verse 15 tells us what to do.
We're all to be speaking the truth in love.
Verse 16.
It's a bit of a complex statement,
but it's,
so Christ is the head,
but from whom the whole body,
and then what does the whole body do?
You've got to jump to a few phrases.
The whole body makes the body grow.
So it's not the leader's job
to make the body grow.
It's the body's job
to make the body grow.
Through every joint and ligament,
we need everyone
speaking the truth in love.
The truth being God's truth.
That's when the body grows.
That's when we'll be a compelling witness
of the salvation in Jesus.
So,
through God's eyes,
what do you think?
Can you see that church
is a foretaste of heaven?
If we understand our salvation
is to be the church,
if we understand our calling
is primarily about being the church,
if you're looking forward to heaven,
which is about the church glorified
in the presence of God,
what will that look like?
It will look like a high value
and a high engagement
in a local church.
So,
having refreshed ourselves
on God's view of the church,
and it's exciting,
it's well worth our time
going over that.
We need to keep this lens
as we come to this question
about being the church
in a digital age.
Now, by digital,
let me just define it quickly.
Like, I had a digital wristwatch
as a kid,
and it had this cool button
that could light up,
and I could read the time at night.
Now,
that electronic device
hardly revolutionised
the world,
and hardly impacted
the gathering.
But,
the age of the internet,
and the age of social media,
that has revolutionised
how we relate to one another,
how we think.
I've got to narrow our focus,
and I've,
even the two topics
I've narrowed it to,
really,
we're just,
it's a helicopter view
of these topics,
but,
the first one is,
can you do church online?
That's kind of,
an obvious question,
isn't it?
Can we do church online?
Obviously,
churches are trying to do that,
but,
can we?
The second question is,
obviously my introduction
hinted towards this,
how is social media
affecting
how we think about
relationships in the church,
and how we operate
in the church?
So,
that's where we're heading.
Let's go with
the first one now.
So,
first,
can you do church online?
Well,
some claim to get better sermons online.
I don't think that's true.
David and I,
I think we're the best
I've ever heard.
I'm glad you're laughing.
Am I glad?
I don't know.
Some claim to get better music
online.
Now,
one of the,
so,
in other words,
when you tap into
the best resources,
you,
you come away
feeling more
spiritually nourished.
So,
one of the best
examples of online church
I came across,
they put,
this church put
heaps of resources,
like,
our camera,
we've got cameras for Zoom,
but,
I mean,
these are like
state-of-the-art cameras
so that,
and all the lighting
and the sound
is mixed properly
so that it feels
like you're present.
They had dedicated
online pastors
to welcome people
and engage people
in conversation
and they had chat rooms
for general chit-chat.
They had other chat rooms
for pastors
to listen to you
and pray with you
after the service.
These are often churches
with multiple campus sites
and they say that
we've got an online
online campus,
we've got an online
congregation
and sometimes
these congregations,
these are thousands
of people.
They're reaching
a lot of people.
Now,
let's just assume
there is great
Bible teaching
at these.
Let's assume all that
and it feels
like attending.
The quality
of the service
and the singing
and the music,
it just feels
personally encouraging.
Can you do church
online?
I've been a bit sneaky
in the way
I've framed
that question.
Partly to demonstrate,
I think,
it is so easy
to leave
God's view
of church behind
when you start
asking these questions.
Can you do church
online?
You've already
made a misstep
as if it's about
attending,
a service.
can you be
church
online?
That's the question.
If church
is about
a worship
meeting
which provides
a spiritual
service
to the customers
to nourish
you individually
and as a family
then
attending
is all that matters.
But if it's
about being,
if God
is glorified
through just
numbers,
some of these
churches
they're glorifying
God way more
than we are
if it's just
about reaching
people.
But if God
is glorified
through unity
and true
interpersonal,
interdependent,
speaking the truth
in love,
community,
well,
I'm just
going to
phrase it
in a bunch
of questions.
How,
in what
sense
being online
are you
gathered?
Just,
in what
sense?
I suppose
there's some
level of
conversation.
How can
the diversity
in the body
of Christ
that crosses
ages
and crosses
cultures
and personalities
how can
that be
demonstrated,
the peace
that Jesus
has created
and the
common worship,
how is that
expressed
online?
Talk to me
afterwards
if you
can convince
me.
Obviously
you know
where I'm
going that
I don't
think you
can do
all these
things,
but I'm
not sure
you can
really
express
that.
Where is
good
accountability?
We're told
in Ephesians
4,
we're going
to be
tossed
to and
fro
if we're
not
speaking
the truth
in love
to one
another,
we will
be just
little
children
tossed
around
by the
world.
Where is
the
accountability
online?
If you
can just
choose
when to
tune in,
tune out,
how much
to say
about your
life.
It's a bit
harder to
keep life
hidden.
I've got
toothpaste
all over me
this morning
because of
getting out
this morning.
Someone might
notice that I've
obviously declared
that now.
Being
together,
there's
just,
I think,
a level
of you
can't
hide as
easily.
To be
accountable
to one
another.
How can
the body
sing to
one
another?
As
Colossians 3
tells us
to do.
I think
online it's
much easier
to hide
our
struggles
and our
sin.
Like how
do you
look a
brother in
the eye
who just
confess
their sin
to you
and before
you've even
said a
word,
just by
body
language,
they already
are sensing
that they're
not condemned
by you.
How can
you express
that?
I'm not
sure you
can do
that well
online.
How do
you give
that person
a hug?
How do
you hold
the hand
of a
dying
person
while you
pray for
them?
How do
you relate
online at
a depth
where it
is extremely
difficult to
maintain
peace?
Because
you're so
in each
other's
lives and
you've got
such
differences
that we're
called
be eager
to maintain
the peace.
This is
going to be
hard work.
If you
can convince
me that
you can
be a
functioning,
united,
interpersonal,
interdependent
body online,
then maybe
church online
is going to
be glorifying
to God.
While online
churching is
relatively new,
believers
claiming to
be part of
the universal
church and
sitting loose
to the local
church,
that's not
new,
is it?
So I
want to
clarify,
technology is
not the
problem.
It's not
the root
problem.
I don't
think.
In
person,
we could
easily just
form clicks.
In
person, we
could easily
try and
hide what's
really going
on in life,
what's going
on in our
minds.
we could
tune in or
tune out,
we can do
that all
in person.
So technology
isn't the
root problem.
It's whether
or not we
see church
through God's
eyes, that's
the important
thing.
If we know
who we are,
who we're
called to be,
the body,
we're not
just throwing
the word
family out
there, like
that is what
we are.
But as a
tool, online
church can
supplement and
bolster being
the body,
can't it?
Those who
are sick
and would
love to be
here, we
now have, they
can at least be
ministered to, to
some extent, on
Zoom.
What a
wonderful,
wonderful tool.
Our website is
often the first
point of contact
for people
finding us.
That's a good
tool.
It contains
recordings for
those in
Grace Kids
in Cresce who
miss out on
the teaching,
who sacrifice
being here now
for the kids,
for the whole
body so they
can catch up
or we can
re-listen to
it to get
more of,
soak it in
more.
Online gives
opportunities I
think for
isolated missionaries
who would love
to be part of a
local church to
be encouraged to
connect in maybe.
So I think
online church can
supplement being
the body but
my opinion is
it can't
replace it if
we stick with
what God says
the church is.
Okay, that's
online church.
What about
social media?
This one's less
obvious but
perhaps it's
having a much
bigger impact on
us as a church
family than in
how we relate
than the
question of
online churching.
Let me ask
what's filling
your mind and
therefore your
heart?
Is it
connection through
social media
captivating your
mind or is it
the local
church filling
your mind?
now I've got to
confess to you
like even
preparing this
week like the
amount of times I
went to Facebook
and just scrolled
those videos as
to just get this
little dopamine
hit of because I
was feeling
stressed this
week like
knowing this
stuff and
actually changing
is another story.
I want to
confess that
and like I
said earlier
while technology
in and of
itself is not
the root
problem here
it's our
sinful hearts
and not
believing what
God says
when it comes
to social
media
again it's
not technology
per se
that's a
problem
it's how
it's designed
it's exploiting
us
and that's
why I want
to quote
Tristan Harris
it is designed
to exploit
us
now that's
why I'm
saying watch
this documentary
thing
as soon as I
say the word
documentary
like oh
boring
I hope
maybe not
please watch
it
it's really
eye open
let me just
quickly try and
summarize
consider this
the company
Meta
which as you
know owns
Facebook
Instagram
it's worth
734 billion
US dollars
like wow
now how
much are
you paying
to subscribe
to Facebook
I haven't
paid a cent
now the old
saying goes
if it's free
you're the
product
and that's
Tristan Harris's
point in this
social demo
put simply
he's saying
your attention
is how these
big tech
companies make
a lot of
money
like have
you noticed
how precise
those ads
that come up
are like
talk about
feeding my
idols
it knows
exactly what
what I want
to be thinking
about but don't
need to be
or have you
noticed like
you've been
scrolling Facebook
like I admitted
to like half
an hour
has gone
by and
you've just
been watching
silly videos
or have you
noticed that
when you put
a post or
a video
online
you just
want to
know how
many likes
are there
how many
views have
there been
or have you
noticed when
you're using
social media
it almost
feels socially
rude not to
reply within a
few minutes
I feel
that I
don't know
if anyone
else does
the point
is none
of this is
accidental
it's designed
to keep us
hooked
because our
attention is
big business
and so
Tristan Harris
makes the
point that
we worry
about artificial
intelligence
kind of taking
over us
when it's
stronger than
us when it
can take our
jobs and
when it can
beat us at
chess
we worry
about AI
when it
takes over
the world
but he's
saying AI
is already
undermining
our weaknesses
it's already
exploiting
our weaknesses
I'll let you
watch it
because I've
gone into
explaining it
enough
it's
I think
it's
deceptive
it's
I think
it's an
example of
what we
hear in
Ephesians
4 of
human
cunning
to
toss us
to and
fro
it's
deceptive
because
it promises
that we're
connecting
into the
world
but
what it
is
is a
mirror
turned in
on self
because
when you
watch Netflix
I don't know
if you watch
Netflix
if you watch
a streaming
service
you know
that when
they say
hey do you
want to
watch something
like this
you know
it's tailored
to your
personal
preferences
but all
these
social media
things
it is
tailored
to personal
choices
it knows
what our
attention
is going
to
and it
just keeps
feeding
whatever
grabs our
attention
it's a
mirror
on self
we think
we're
connecting
with the
world
but it's
actually
just
reinforcing
self
it's
deceptive
I think
it promises
connection
to our
diverse
world
when it's
really
just
reinforcing
self
personal
choice
so I'm
going to
suggest
three ways
that
social media
can be
filling
our
minds
when it
should
be
the
church
filling
our
minds
with
truth
I'm
going to
start
with a
more
obvious
one
and that
is
our
attention
during
church
I'm
in two
minds
about this
illustration
I'm
going to
go for
it
I'll
probably
forget
it
at
Bible
college
there was
a
class
a
particular
class
now
this only
happened
in one
class
it didn't
happen
all
the
classes
of
Bible
college
because
I
know
this
church
helped
pay my
way
through
Bible
college
but
during
the
lecture
there was
this
Facebook
messenger
group
of
people
in
the
chat
just
a
constant
stream
of
funny
remarks
based on
what's
going on
in the
room
now
I had
this
choice
do I
belong
to the
crowd
and
feel
like I
belong
to the
group
or do
I
listen
that was
so
tempting
the
choice
do I
listen
to the
truth
that
is
meant
to be
building
up
the
church
I
want to
share
that
because
I
think
that could
be an
illustration
for how
social
media
is
grabbing
our
attention
during
church
yes
but also
during
the
week
giving
our
attention
is a
moral
choice
what
is
grabbing
our
attention
if
notifications
are disrupting
you from
God's
word
cut it
off
it will
feel
painful
cut it
off
by
cutting
off
I
mean
if
your
hand
causes
you to
see
and
cut it
off
that's
what I'm
referring
to
year
because
just that
feedback
loop
of
promising
connection
based on
your
preferences
it's
just
superficial
relating
and it's
filling your
mind with
consumerism
because it's
targeting
exactly where
you're tempted
but if
you give
your mind
to the
church
speaking
the truth
in love
it fills
your mind
with the
sacrifice
of Christ
it fills
your mind
with a
calling
to sacrifice
your life
for what
lasts
what are
you filling
your mind
with
during
church
but also
throughout
the week
the second
way
I think
it could
be impacting
us is
it's deceiving
us into
a sense
of belonging
but without
truly being
known
I think
a lot
of the
affirmation
that goes
on
we're
creatures
we're
built
for social
affirmation
we're
built
for it
God
designed
us that
way
that
so much
of what
we're
affirmed
for
online
isn't
it
playing
happy
family
pictures
and I've
got the
house
and I'm
renovating
it
and look
how beautiful
I am
and
apparently
Instagram
as a
side note
automatically
adds a
5%
beauty
filter
doesn't
work on
me
now
you have
to clarify
whether that's
still the
case
that's a
few years
old
that
remark
but
the point
is
it's
trying to
reinforce
your value
is tied
to your
beauty
come to
this
platform
we try
and get
affirmation
based on
work
accomplishments
and what
we're doing
and even
our personal
struggles
like when
we declare
our personal
struggles
are we
really
offering
for people
to speak
the truth
in love
maybe
you are
maybe you
are
but
being the
Christ
church
where people
are speaking
the truth
in love
it's
assuring
you of
what's
true
it's
saying
you are
loved
by God
you are
in the
family
of God
not based
on anything
you do
not based
on your
beauty
not based
on your
house
and renovations
and not
based on
anything else
you are
in the
family
of God
when we
give
ourselves
to truth
so
we choose
between
a very
superficial
form of
connection
and affirmation
or giving
ourselves to
the church
and having
deep truth
filling our
souls
and affirming
us
being
truly
known
you
seeing
me
warts
and
all
and
saying
you are
loved
by God
now let
me help
you brother
in living
for God
more
that's
being
truly
known
the third
way I
think it
can be
impacting
us is
polarization
a feedback
loop that
is based
on your
preferences
it's going
to give
you a
sense
that you're
well
informed
but what's
really going
on is
you're
surrounding
yourself
with
the same
view
people with
the same
view
because that's
what the
algorithms
do
and the
other thing
it does
is
outrage
spreads
faster than
moderate
opinion
there's
more
shares
of tweets
and things
where someone
is going
isn't that
person on
the other
side of
this issue
an idiot
if there's
anything
if there's
any rage
that spreads
faster
so it gives
us a sense
that we have
all the
information
but really
it's put us
in a bubble
and it's
encouraging
division
but
being in
Christ's
church
it
stretches
our own
thinking
my thoughts
being tested
by the
diversity
of the
body
in an
environment
of humility
in an
environment
of security
knowing
we're
loved
and in
that environment
that's
teaching me
to maintain
affection
while I
patiently
try and
convince one
another
it's two
totally
different
worlds
if we
just
unthinkingly
come at
topics
through what
we look
at online
we've got
to be aware
that it's
polarising us
against one
another
and we can
bring that
into the
church
when we're
called to
unity
for the
glory of
God's
sake
so again
social media
isn't the
root cause
of the
problem
we can
be it
we can
be physically
present at
church
and form
cliques
we can
be physically
present at
church
and pretend
playing happy
families
where no one
really knows
what's going
on
we can
rally around
people who
have our
opinion
and cast
rocks at
everyone else
it's not
the tech
per se
but
this tech
is
aimed at
undermining
our propensity
towards those
things
but then
as a tool
it hasn't
been helpful
for this
church family
the meal
rosters
we've benefited
from those
being organised
online
the amount
of good
articles
and books
that people
share to
one
I know
the women
I know
second hand
I'm not
reading
but
second hand
through
Emma
the prayer
points
you guys
share
through the
Facebook
group
that's a
lovely
thing
tool
I know
there's
a lot
of
organisation
that goes
into
Sunday
meeting
and
midweek
groups
even
our
connection
with
Matt
and
Grace
that's
a
great
feature
now
that we
can
encourage
them
from
afar
I
have
no
idea
of
all
the
one
to
one
conversations
that are
happening
through
social
media
it is
a tool
don't
hear me
saying
I don't
know
it's
evil
100%
evil
it's
a tool
but the
church
needs to
be what's
influencing
and filling
our minds
not social
media
so let
me finish
by asking
what do
you do
what do
we do
if we
sense
the
empty
promises
of being
totally
connected
24-7
and yet
you're not
truly
known
but then
you haven't
felt the
depth of
family
community
in the
church
like
I've
been
talking
about
these
six
weeks
what do
you do
well
I think
our
experience
of church
isn't
what should
guide us
we need
it
our starting
point needs
to be
seeing the
church
through God's
eyes
that
you are
the church
you do
belong
in Christ's
body
it's
according to
God's
eternal plan
it's by
the blood
of his
son
you are
cherished
in his
people
it's
understanding
that church
is what
we are
and then
it's
understanding
it's our
call
to be
every
joint
and ligament
working
together
to build
up the
body
it's
believing
that that
call
is what
we were
designed
for
and saved
for
it's
knowing
you are
the family
of God
that's
what's
going to
get us
out of
our own
heads
so
can I
just
encourage
you
don't
wait
until
you
feel
connected
trust
God
that
you
are
connected
and
dive
in
do you
get the
difference
don't
wait
until
you
feel
connected
trust
God
that
you
are
spiritually
we
are
the
family
of
God
so
dive
in
brothers
and
sisters
let's
not
settle
for
a
cheap
imitation
of
connection
that
revolves
around
self
preferences
if we
do that
we're
going to
be
tossed
to
and
fro
by
the
world
because
we
as
the
church
can
show
a
polarized
addicted
narcissistic
I know
that doesn't
apply to
absolutely
everyone
but we
can show
the world
a different
way
we can
show the
world
what
unity
looks like
what
peace
in
Christ
looks
like
and
that
will
give
great
glory
to
God
we
can
show
the
world
a
glimpse
of
heaven
let me
finish
with the
words
of
Paul
at
the
end
of
chapter
three
now
to
him
who
is
able
to
do
far
more
abundantly
than
all
that
we
ask
or
think
according
to
the
power
at
work
within
us
to
him
be
glory
in
the
church
and
in
Christ
Jesus
throughout
all
generations
forever
and
ever
amen
will you
pray
with me
let's
pray
Lord
please
rule
our
minds
and
hearts
Lord
I pray
that you
would
give us
a vision
for
the
great
cost
of
saving
us
and
who
we
now
are
that
you
are
our
father
that
we
are
one
body
that
we
are
brothers
and
sisters
called
to
unity
called
to
growth
in
holiness
Lord
please
give us
this
vision
so
that
we
won't
be
taken
in
by
a
substitute
that
this
world
offers
that
really
leaves
us
feeling
empty
Lord
give us
this
vision
so
that
we
might
not
just
say
these
doctrines
but
live
it
out
please
help
us
to
be
that
deeply
connected
body
of
Christ
so
that
you
might
get
the
glory
and
pray
this
in
Jesus
name
Amen