Citywide Baptist Church
All alone in a Crowded Church (Apr 13)
Guest speaker Matt Boulton is speaking about the very practical implications of the cross.
Locations & Times
Citywide Baptist Church (Mornington)
400 Cambridge Rd, Mornington TAS 7018, Australia
Sunday 10:00 AM
Communicate with us directly
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http://eepurl.com/g4HtJrGive your tithe online
https://www.citywidehobart.org.au/payment-or-gift-to-citywide/Q: Have you ever been all alone in a crowd?
Although many of us might love solitude, we are not designed for full-time solitary confinement. In the beginning, God describes everything He created as “good.” When he creates man, He uses the term “very good.” Even though His creation was a perfect paradise, He still looks and sees something that He describes as “not good.”
Although many of us might love solitude, we are not designed for full-time solitary confinement. In the beginning, God describes everything He created as “good.” When he creates man, He uses the term “very good.” Even though His creation was a perfect paradise, He still looks and sees something that He describes as “not good.”
Ultimately, we are not created to do life alone. It might seem spiritual for someone to say, “well, all I need is Jesus brother,” but this is certainly not how God sees it. We are designed for community, and a life of isolation is “not good.”
When people allow hidden agendas or rebellion to isolate them from community and from fellowship, it is not borne out of wisdom, and will not end well.
When Christians get isolated, then they get weird. There has probably never been a time in history when it’s been easier to find other people who will agree with weird doctrines and reinforce their perceived need to stay isolated.
The body of Christ only works properly if all of the parts are working together. If a part of the body is cut off, the body may survive, but the severed body part can only rot.
When Christians get isolated, then they get weird. There has probably never been a time in history when it’s been easier to find other people who will agree with weird doctrines and reinforce their perceived need to stay isolated.
The body of Christ only works properly if all of the parts are working together. If a part of the body is cut off, the body may survive, but the severed body part can only rot.
The fullness of true “fellowship” is found only when we walk “in the light.” This doesn’t mean we everybody has to know every private detail of our lives, but that we do find people we can trust and be accountable to. The more we live “in the shadows,” hiding our secret struggles and mistakes, the more empty we will feel – even in a crowd.
It is possible to be all alone in a crowded church. In one of the most frightening Scriptures in the Bible, King Solomon speaks of the man living with his secret sin…
It is possible to be all alone in a crowded church. In one of the most frightening Scriptures in the Bible, King Solomon speaks of the man living with his secret sin…
The loneliest place in the world is in the dark, feeling ashamed, and keeping a secret with the devil.
We all face temptation, and we all fall short of perfect obedience to God’s commands. We all commit sin at times, but it’s shame that stops us from telling a brother or a sister in Christ.
Although we know that Jesus paid for our sins on the cross to wipe away all of our guilt, He did say something to His disciples which could seem really puzzling:
We all face temptation, and we all fall short of perfect obedience to God’s commands. We all commit sin at times, but it’s shame that stops us from telling a brother or a sister in Christ.
Although we know that Jesus paid for our sins on the cross to wipe away all of our guilt, He did say something to His disciples which could seem really puzzling:
There can be no doubt that the cross cancels out our guilt completely. We have the assurance that, “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So, even after we confess our sins, why can we still feel a little ashamed to come back into God’s presence? Why can this mess with our prayer-life and feel like a weighted blanket at times?
What if guilt and shame are not the same?
What if the cross deals with our guilt, but our shame is only dealt with when we confess our sins and secrets to a fellow believer?
What if guilt and shame are not the same?
What if the cross deals with our guilt, but our shame is only dealt with when we confess our sins and secrets to a fellow believer?
Questions
1) Have you ever been subjected to a situation where you found yourself isolated? (maybe during Covid?) What was it like?
2) How do you feel about the idea that God’s plan for dealing with shame might be different to His plan for dealing with our guilt?
3) Do you feel like you have found any close Christian friends that you could tell anything to, and they would still love you regardless?
4) Are you satisfied with your current situation of “fellowship?” Is there anything that you think you would like to change?
1) Have you ever been subjected to a situation where you found yourself isolated? (maybe during Covid?) What was it like?
2) How do you feel about the idea that God’s plan for dealing with shame might be different to His plan for dealing with our guilt?
3) Do you feel like you have found any close Christian friends that you could tell anything to, and they would still love you regardless?
4) Are you satisfied with your current situation of “fellowship?” Is there anything that you think you would like to change?