A New Kind of Church

We are living in the most connected generation in history with communication and information held in your hand.  With a voice command or typed request you can speak with someone almost anywhere in the world, gather facts, see photos or videos, purchase goods, or accomplish any number of tasks.  Even in this technology connected age, we experience great isolation, loneliness and separation.  The need of people's hearts and souls is not more connection in a sterile way but in building connection in community.
Not so many years ago our lives were build around our community and the near-by people that we connected with.  We shopped local, we visited our family and neighbors in person and we shared our lives, our time and our resources.  Our primary connections may have been family or the people who lived close to our home or our church community.  As our daily habits and our culture has shifted we have often lost those connections and now we feel adrift from our community.  What can bring us back to those places of deep connection and community in a current culture setting?
God has given us the model of connection and community in the Scripture in the Book of Acts.  A new era of faith had launched in the days following the Resurrection of Jesus and the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit.  The second chapter of the Book of Acts gives us a model of connection and community that built healthy lives and a vibrant Church.  
"Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles.  
Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming
together regularly for prayer.  A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and
the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.  All the believers were in
fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had.  
Out of generosity they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who
were in need among them.  daily they met together in the temple courts and in one
another's homes to celebrate communion.  They shared meals together with joyful
hearts and tender humility.  They were continually filled with praises to God,
enjoying the favor of all the people.  And the Lord kept adding to their number daily
those who were coming to life."  Acts 2:42-47 The Passion Translation

How can we embrace that model of community and connection and experience that kind of
vibrant life?    We can begin to make the habit of regular reading and study of the Scripture
and Scriptural teaching both individually and in a group setting.  We can talk about the
Scriptures together in our homes and with friends in gatherings of all size.   We can make the
habit of regularly connecting with like minded believing friends - text or call someone today to
encourage them or simply ask how they are ( and listen to their responses).  We can make
time in our schedules for a coffee or lunch meeting.  Meals shared together builds connection
with others as we share stories, laughter and tears together.  We can determine to share on a regular basis the Communion meal either as a family or together with our church family.  We can develop the habit of daily prayer both in a set time and in a continual conversation with God.  Individual prayer is connection with God and prayer together with others is community connection with God.  Praying together encourages you and those you pray with so make a
regular habit to pray with your family, with a group of friends and with our church community together for regular services.  
It takes some effort on our part to establish and maintain connection and community!
Habits are formed over time so a small start can be a step toward these healthy habits.  We can all set a reminder on our calendar to call someone once a week or set up a meeting.  Sunday morning services can be made a priority in your personal and family life with a few hours together strengthening each of us personally. We can all set a prayer time each day with a five or ten minute conversation with God as well as listening time to be quiet with God. We accomplish a goal by taking a small step to start!