Don’t Complicate It

Naaman’s servants came up to him and spoke to him: “Our father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? All he said to you was, ‘Wash and become clean.’” 2 Kings 5:13

Bloom Where You Plant It

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17: 20

Shared Meals and Breaking Bread

https://vimeo.com/99682773

The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. Acts 2: 42 (CEB)

Bridge Builders

https://vimeo.com/99073839

A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. 44 All the believers were united and shared everything. 45 They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. Acts 2: 43-47

Living a Connected Life requires….Believers working together as a community (team) to become bridge builders who creatively connect solutions to the needs that stem from people’s problems.

Start with Love

https://vimeo.com/98591099

Getting To Know You

https://vimeo.com/97943523

The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. 43 A sense of awe came over everyone. God performed many wonders and signs through the apostles. 44 All the believers were united and shared everything. 45 They would sell pieces of property and possessions and distribute the proceeds to everyone who needed them. 46 Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity. 47 They praised God and demonstrated God’s goodness to everyone. The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved. Acts 2: 42-47

Sharing the Connection

https://vimeo.com/97236602

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18

God designed me to CONNECT with others

My Need to Know

About Meaningful Friendship (relationships):

– All Friendships are not created EQUAL

– We become like those we choose as our friends.

Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. Proverbs 13:20

The “I”s of Great Friendships That Last

Friends are Intentional about their friendships

Friends Inquire about each other

Friends have common Interest

Friends Investin each other

Friends get Involved with each other

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrew 10:24-25

Strengthening the Connection

https://vimeo.com/96909137

11 … for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4: 11-13 (NIV)

How do I STRENGTHEN my connection to Jesus?

I must learn to ….

1) PRAY Regularly

a) Intentionally, Specifically & Generally

2) READ the Bible Regularly

a) For Transformation

b) To better understand the character of…

3) WORSHIP Regularly

a) Give and Take

4) FELLOWSHIP with other believers Regularly

a) Have fun with each other

b) Learn from each other

Connecting to God through Jesus

– God is the LOCOMOTIVE

– I am a RAILCAR on the tracks of life

– JESUS is the coupling attached to God

– My FAITH is the coupling attached to me

– When I “CONNNECT” with Jesus, I now have the power to do all things

ALL ABOARD

Making the Connection

https://vimeo.com/95877993

…I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Philippians 4:11-12 (MSG)

The secret to being content in any given circumstance or situation