1. What am I doing? 1. Going to church 2. Being the church

2. “Church” in the New Testament 1. The Universal Church  The “body” of Christ  All believers in Christ until Christ returns

3. The Church is Christ’s “Body”  (Ephesians 1:23) …the church, which is his [Christ’s] body  (Ephesians 2:22) In him [Jesus] you too …become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.  (Ephesians 3:6) …through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body

4. “Church” in the New Testament 1. The Universal Church  The “body” of Christ  All believers in Christ until Christ returns 2. Local Churches  Those in Christ’s body meeting and relating  Organized to do God’s will in a local area

5. Get to know the future and new missionaries from ODBC  Rhett and Stacie Stous  Bill & Elizabeth Ferguson  Naomi Flack  James and Rose Pendleton  Rob & Ariel Taylor  Nicky Schulze

6. NOT SO CONNECTED MORE CONNECTED Are you connected in the church?

7. NOT SO CONNECTED MORE CONNECTED Am I helping others connect?

8. Connecting, so we can “be” the churchr  I’m Shy  They wouldn't accept me if they knew me, my failures  People already have their friends  Don’t know the Bible well; feel ignorant  Bad church experiences  Don’t have the time  Not needed  To enjoy, help others  Encouraged by others with similar struggles, problems  Someone needs me as a friend  To grow in my understanding of God  Heal hurts, grow in trust  To Improve my priorities  God wants to use me Reasons why we hesitateReasons to connect