FIRST THOUGHT

QUARTERLY COLUMN BY DOUG CLARK, SENIOR PASTOR & OLD JACKSONVILLE CAMPUS PASTOR

T

POWER THREE

OF

he Christian life is a multifaceted life. The all-around nature of this style of life brings us closer to our goal of being more like Christ.

Some are more wired towards meeting with a small group of people with whom they have developed relationships. Community groups where people share fellowship and ministry allow them to grow in many ways. There is great good done by challenging and encouraging one another. Others are more wired to experience their Christianity on a more personal or solo basis. There is power in the spiritual growth of being one-onone with God. The problem is we tend to think exclusively about the one kind of spiritual interaction we are drawn to and leave out or minimize the others. How about this? What if we ALL were part of a corporate aspect of our relationship with God, a core aspect of our relationship with a few people, and an individual aspect where we wrestle on our own. This is the picture which Christ has shown us we should be living by His example. We can follow His lead with confidence, knowing that a multifaceted life is His intent by design. I know an emphasis on all three will result in a vibrant spiritual life! *

Another part is designed for a small number of people. There is also a part that is designed to be done solo. Most people who follow Christ probably naturally gravitate toward one of these three sizes of groups. As a person is wired, so he/she will operate. Some like the big group with the energy and dynamics it offers. In those groups, corporate worship or big time service projects are accomplished with amazing results.

He leads us by example, showing us the different sides of a fulfilling life. Let’s look at the three parts of this variety and see how we’re doing. One part of the Christian life is intended to be experienced with a large group of people.

“Emphasis On All Three Will Result In A Vibrant Spiritual Life”

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