Pillars and Practices // Connect and Engage
Here are two simple reasons to stop and think about our own connectedness within the church family:
1. Connecting to the Community Puts Us in a Place to Love and be Loved
1 Corinthians 12:31 (CSB)
“And I will show you an even better way.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB)
“Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.”
Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
2. Connecting to the Body of Christ is Essential to Living. Scripture Reveals to Us that We are Better Together than if We Stay Disconnected.
1 Corinthians 12:12-18 (NLT)
“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with
the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit. Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.”
Steps to Connecting
Be Pleasant
Be Approachable
Find Common Interests
Be Willing to Learn
Be Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak and Slow to Become Angry
Practice Being Loving
Enemies of Connecting
Pride
Insecurity
Fear
Criticism
Divisiveness
Our Own Echo Chambers of Agreement that Pit Us Against Others Who Think Differently.
Jesus is Still Our Hope.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.