One of the hottest topics in the world today centers around sexual identity and expression. And one of the the highest ideals and values of our culture today is having a fulfilling and satisfying romantic relationship.

The church doesn't often speak into these areas, but the Bible speaks to the most important identity we have, that we are made in the image of God.

I feared the world. I sought the world. I wanted the acceptance of the world.

But then God moved, and my heart changed.  

Being honest with yourself - how would you rate your level of self-sufficiency? How might you describe your neediness? Would you consider yourself more worldly-wealthy or more kingdom-wealthy? What even is kingdom-wealthiness?

Jesus speaks to the church in Laodicea with both heavy reproof and great grace in way that the church here in Charlotte should consider also for themselves.

Red and Blue. Black and white. There’s so much division in the political arena today, and so little room for conversation. And the church has remained separate from the conversation of politics, by nature of the church and state separation.

But how did Jesus engage in the political sphere around him? What does the Bible say about political engagement or disengagement?
 

Welcome to the third and final week of our series, The Art of Neighboring, as our church is participating with approximately 100 churches in the greater Charlotte area, reaching over 60,000 people in those churches in our city with a unified message of THE central teaching of Jesus...to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.
 

God calls us to a kind of generosity that puts the needs of others before our own, not one that is determined by what leftovers we have. His calling is for us to consider the needs of others as we go about our reaping, not passing along our meager remains after gorging ourselves. It seems that this practice has been lost in today’s society. People who experience God’s compassion and love each and every day should want to show this same love and compassion to others, right? So, what is the problem? The issue seems to be a matter of the heart and our desires. Our selfishness can get in the way of reaching out to those in need because we are too inwardly focused. There needs to be a shift where people begin to look outside of themselves and notice their neighbors and what they can do to serve them. 

This past week our prayer was for God to give us His heart for the people that are in closest proximity to us. When we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength we will also replicate that love to the people closest to us.

The one challenge that continues to come up is lack of time. This week we are going to keep pressing into loving our physical neighbors, and how we have to create space in our life to build relationships.

Objectively, most Christians see the biblical and practical need for connection to the church and love for the family of God.
 
But many of you have experienced the disappointment of your community not meeting expectations you had for the family of God. Some of you may be limiting the capacity for God to transform your life because of a lack of commitment to people around you.
 
In any case, Psalm 133, gives us a positive and powerful picture of the blessing of unified spiritual connection. Join us Sunday to receive and practice this truth of community.

Objectively, most Christians see the biblical and practical need for connection to the church and love for the family of God.
 
But many of you have experienced the disappointment of your community not meeting expectations you had for the family of God. Some of you may be limiting the capacity for God to transform your life because of a lack of commitment to people around you.
 
In any case, Psalm 133, gives us a positive and powerful picture of the blessing of unified spiritual connection. Join us Sunday to receive and practice this truth of community.

Our secular belief of, “feelings are truth,” work against obedience to God’s Word even when if it doesn’t “feel right.” So following the law of Christ may seem antiquated and quaint.

But if we read Psalm 132, we see that following the way of Jesus not only produces hope, but also gives us present and persistent joy.