JoinTheCommunityblog.wordpress.com #J.T.Community Facebook Twitter

Join the Community A Better Way To Connect

Our Mission To bring people to Jesus, membership (community) into His family, disciple them to Christ-like maturity, equip them for their work in the ministry, and their life mission in the world.

Give Connect CORE Invite Insider Serve Outsiders You are our Church.

You grow better in a CIRCLE than a ROW.

A community of Jesus followers who are in community and creating community.

Disciple

The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Acts 11:26 NIV

Disciple Learner Pupil Apprentice Adherent Follower

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV

As His body, we need to embody His grace and truth.

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. Luke 15:1 NIV

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:2 NIV

Does He condone their behavior?

"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?” Luke 15:4 NIV

"When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! Luke 15:17 NIV

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. Luke 15:18 NIV

I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father. Luke 15:19 - 20 NIV

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with... Luke 15:20 NIV

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:20 NIV

"The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' Luke 15:21 NIV

"But the father said to his servants, 'Quick "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Luke 15:22 NIV

Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. Luke 15:23 NIV

"The older brother became angry and refused to go in. Luke 15:28 NIV

"The older brother became angry and refused to go in "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. Luke 15:28 NIV

But he answered his father, 'Look But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Luke 15:29 NIV

The holier you get the angrier you get. Real Talk The holier you get the angrier you get.

Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. Luke 15:29 NIV

But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' Luke 15:30 NIV

'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, Luke 15:31 NIV

"'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. Luke 15:31 NIV

But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'" Luke 15:32 NIV

Real Talk The father’s relationship with both sons was not based on performance.

God could not love you more. Nothing you do will cause Him to love you less.

Sin will always break our hearts. Repentance will always stir our hearts.

Jesus embodied the tension between grace and truth.

Real Talk for the Faithful We need to embody the tension between grace and truth.

Real Talk for the Prodigals It is better to be with than apart.

...we have to celebrate and be glad, because this our brother or sister of ours was dead and is alive again; you were lost and is now found.

A Reminder No theology is of value if it gives you permission to hate, alienate, isolate, emancipate, or separate you from doing what Jesus instructed us to do...LOVE one another.

Give Connect CORE Invite Insider Serve Outsiders You are our Church.

Trust in Believe that

HOMEWORK Which is working better for you, the CIRLCE or the ROW?