Ocean City Church, how's your week going?If you've been traveling with us for the last couple of months, then you know that we've been unpacking various aspects of missions as they relate to us as a church. As a summary, we've looked at four "rings": Participation, Hospitality, Serving and Gospel Community.The last couple of weeks we've honed in on Gospel Community. On Sunday, Jake unpacked for us what perfect community looks like. We read through John 17. One snippet that really stuck with me throughout Jake's talk was at the very beginning. In essence, when we read John 17:1-5 we see the relationship of the Trinity working itself out. Tim Keller even goes so far to rightly say that community was never created. Community is inherent in the perfect flow, love and outpouring of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Thinking about the fact that community wasn't created, it just is; that just opened my eyes, because it just seems to me that people are hungry to be known and to know others. Whether you are on Facebook stalking high school buddies or on Twitter giving yourself away 140 characters at a time, there is this sense that you need to be known and be a part of something bigger than yourself. Whether you go to a shrink or you go to Confession, there is this undying need to experience community and love, acceptance and approval.
Small groups were fantastic this week. There was so much to discuss, especially about how our culture promulgates this idea of independence and self assurance.I feel like we're starting to dig deep into all this looks like. This Sunday, we're continuing our series with a focus on Gospel Community.
The Nuts and Bolts:
We are meeting at Derek and Beth's. The Harmon's live at 402 7th Avenue North in Jax Beach (it's the 2-story on the left coming from 3rd Street). Parking along their house should be fine. If you have children go to OC Kids for more info.
We're meeting from 5-7pm.
