One Last Thing

When you break down the word connecting and trace it back to its Latin roots, it breaks down like this:
“con” = together
“necto” = to bind. (Roughly to bind together.)
“ing” = a suffix that expresses continuation.
The word connecting literally means a continual binding together. This is the purpose of the church—to continually bind people together with God and with each other. How important is this to God? He showed us in Matthew Chapter 28. Here Jesus gave His last instructions to His followers. He had spoken many things to His followers in the three plus years He spent with them. But this was the last thing He would say to them on this side of eternity. This alone places a priority on these words. It’s the “one last thing” model. If you forget everything else don’t forget this one thing. He said “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” This is what the church is to be doing until He comes back. Many churches have lost focus of this. What is the purpose of the church? What are we supposed to be doing? If we lose sight of our purpose we are in danger of becoming a self-centered social club whose function is raising money to meet our own interests. We turn into a feel good society that values only what happens inside the walls of the church with little or no concern for those without. This sounds a lot like the religious institutions that Christ denounced so vehemently during His ministry. You can almost sense Him crying out just before He left: Whatever you do don’t be like that. Don’t forget what you are to be doing. Don’t forget your purpose. You are to be making disciples of all men. You are to be connecting people with God and each other. It is our prime directive. God help us to be a connecting church!