Not Cookies and Punch

Monday night, Becki and I had our small group based on our CHOICES series we're doing at Crosspoint.The topic was based on Matthew 20:20-28--greatness is found through serving. As we talked, prayed, laughed and read God's Word (not necessarily in that order!), I found real joy bubbling up. Good times. Heart times. Real life.

At one point, while laughing, I think I heard the Holy Spirit say, "This is what I mean by fellowship in the Spirit." 

I grew up in a church that thought fellowship was something that happened in the 'fellowship hall' with the youth group or the church. It might include sloppy joes or cookies and red punch. Not much to it besides mingling and food.

When the Bible talks about fellowship in the Spirit, God is talking about:

• more than cookies and punch
• more than a party
• more than Bible study
• more than serious discussion about "deep things"
• more than prayer for Aunt Josie's knee

We can do all those things and not have "fellowship in the Spirit." Don't get me wrong, fellowship may include all the above. But fellowship in the Spirit happens when God's people gather and His Spirit comes with peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (see Romans 14:17). What I mean is there is the distinct sense that the Spirit is among us and giving us peace and joy while we laugh, talk, pray and consider God!

I don't mind cookies and punch. But give me some "fellowship in the Spirit"!

Choices

I'm hearing great things from the series on Choices. People are discovering the power of getting together around God's Word.

Here's a great quote from one of our guys--a summary of what he's discovering:

"The Burden of the Past is removed through the Forgiveness of God. The Anxiety of the Future is eliminated through the Trust of God. The Opportunity of the Present is seized through the Capacity of God." - Wes Sargent

Looking forward to the weekend when we look at "I Choose Family First."