Community Updates

Preparing for Worship: What Now? The Gifts of Anglicanism

John Haralson
August 12, 2022

Earth Planet, “Epic Lion Hunt Close-Up”

Koinonia Farm

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
I Peter 5:8 (NIV)

And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
Acts 2:44 (NIV)


         Note: Sunday worship at 10:15 AM
                   In-person worship and live stream
         
Dear Grace Family,

If you have the stomach to watch the video, you will notice that the lion doesn’t go after the strongest zebra. Instead, it picks a smaller, weaker one who is separated from the others.

Satan works the same way. He loves to get us alone, out on an island by ourselves, where we are much more vulnerable to his deception and attacks.

One of the most powerful weapons we have in this life or death struggle is connection. Life-giving connection to God and each other is what helps us experience triumph over Satan in our day-to-day lives.

Acts 2:42-47 draws a compelling picture of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. A key characteristic of the community is communicated by the Greek word koinonia. It means something that is shared or held in common.

This word is critical to understanding what empowered this beautiful community of believers. At the heart of what they had in common was the risen Lord himself. They were deeply and securely connected with him. They had each met him at their lowest points, and through the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus forgave them and gifted them new life.

They also shared their lives with one another. They were not a group of isolated individuals pursuing the Lord on their own. They were experiencing the joy of being deeply connected to others in the community.

As a restful of this double sharing—sharing the Lord and sharing with one another—their community life was marked by deep joy and an irresistible appeal to those outside the faith.

This will be our last week considering the spacious future the Lord has for our church through the lens of Acts 1 & 2. As we consider the connections that marked and fueled the early church, we will examine our new denominational affiliation and how I believe it will help us pursue the Lord’s good plan for our body.

I hope to worship with you on Sunday.

This Sunday: Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
           “What Now? The Gifts of Anglicanism"
         
Here is the Order of Worship.

Warmly in Christ,

John

P.S. As I mentioned in a previous sermon, you may want to try praying the Examen before going to bed. It is a wonderful way to end the day, and praying it regularly will help you get more in touch with what God is doing in your life.