Life Together

Remember Simon and Garfunkle? You know, “Feelin’ Groovy”… “Mrs. Robinson”… “The Sound of Silence”… and my favorite: “Bridge over Troubled Water”. Good stuff, even if 40 years old now!
How about this from “I am a Rock”:

I've built walls, a fortress deep and mighty, That none may penetrate.
I have no need of friendship; friendship causes pain. It's laughter and it's loving I disdain.
I am a rock, I am an island.

Don't talk of love, but I've heard the words before; It's sleeping in my memory.
I won't disturb the slumber of feelings that have died. If I never loved I never would have cried.
I am a rock, I am an island.

I have my books and my poetry to protect me; I am shielded in my armor,
Hiding in my room, safe within my womb. I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock, I am an island.

And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

Really???
What do you think—are we better off as islands, protected from the dangers of relationships and the disappointments that are sure to come? Are we better off shielded in armor, hiding in books, touching no one and never being touched? The rock may feel no pain—and feel no love. It never cries—but never rejoices. It is alone.

And it’s a lie—the rock will feel pain—but feel it alone. The island will cry—and find no one to bring comfort. We were made to love and be loved—we were made for relationship.

Life Together
Over the next few weeks we’ll be looking at Life Together, which is what being the church is all about. God invites us into a life together—life together in friendship and relationship with God and one another. The passage that we’ll be using as a touchstone over these next few weeks comes from Acts 2:42-47:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 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.

What does the life that God has for us look like today? And how can we be a part of it? What we’re talking about here is how to be the church—in a life-giving and life-fulfilling way. I hope you can join us.