9/19/2021 - Stop Attending and Start Engaging - Acts 2:46-47; Matthew 26:36-46 - Pastor Jason Fritz

Five years ago, when the church began to meet, we needed a name. We knew we wanted to have something that stated who we are and what we do. I’ve always loved the many metaphors of light that are used all throughout the Bible. The word "Illuminate" means to make something visible by shining the light on it: Illuminate Community Church. Community describes a group of people that have something in common. Of course, we have the greatest foundation upon which community is built. The sacrificial death of Jesus. 

This is why we want to grow smaller, because smaller is about building community. I find that a lot of Christians will talk about what you need to know, not who you need to be with. We’re too often concerned only with conversion and information download, and we fail to participate in the life of community and relationship-based discipleship. You see, if we get the relationships right, the information will follow. If we connect people in smaller, gospel-centered communities, they will grow spiritually. When we preach the gospel to one another in close-knit community, there is spiritual growth that changes us individually and as a whole. This change gives us an outward focus and encourages gospel transformation in places beyond our walls. This was the pattern of the early church…

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

I’ll admit, years ago I was the guy who didn’t see the need for community. For a long time I did not participate. And then I realized that Jesus was in a small group. Why? Because the Bible says it’s not good for us to be alone. Jesus is the example in all things. Genesis tells the story of God creating the world and everything in it and declares it all good. He creates Adam and then we hear God say, “It is not good...for man to be alone.” And Eve is created. However, many have mistakenly believed that if we are really mature, we don’t need anyone, we can be totally self-feeding and not dependent on others. Only the weak need somebody. That’s not true. Jesus had close friends, in fact three of these were very close. Jesus shared the most challenging moment of his life with Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus needed another to carry his cross. He spent all of his ministry life with a small group. Don’t you think that if it was the pattern of his life it should be the pattern for you too?