SundayDecember21,2014|devo9

familyandloyalty

HiSeniors!

The postcollege transition into a new local

church community is a big topic, so lets
recap last week and then keep plugging
away

Be scruffy :) That was the jist of last week

and it drew a connection between the
included article (Why Scruffy Hospitality
Creates Space for Friendships) and Clares
posted FB picture of a dozen of you all
lounging on each other in the dorm. The
meaning can be summed up in the quote
Clareshared:

Friendship is born at that momentwhen one man says toanother:'What!You

too?Ithoughtthatnoonebutmyself.'"C.S.Lewis

There is something wonderful when individuals and groups can experience that type and
depth of connection. The FB pic seemed to capture the culmination of those shared
experiences over the past 4years. The result is trust...awillingnessandcommitmenttobein
each others lives a vulnerability to allow others in a freedom to impose on another and
equally,thefreedomtodeclinethatimpositionwithouttheriskofharmingthebond.

In other words, the result is family. Understandably, not everyonehas experienced the term
family as a positive in their lives. But we know God is in the business of redeeming such
terms, ordaining them with the unique qualities captured in that FBpicture. God uses these
qualities to drive His church forward and willuse you to encourage andfosterthesequalities
inyourlocalchurchpostcollege.Soitsworthwhiletoaskyourself

HowdidIdevelopthisfamilyatBrown?
DidIinitiateordidIrespondtoanothersinvite?
What cemented my bond with otherscommoninterests,sharedgoals,
similarstruggles...perhapssimplylivingacrossthehallfreshmanyear?
Howwelldidmybondwithothersstanduptoconflict?
How important were my abilities to listen, say Im sorry,to forgive, to
letgo?

Interpersonal health is not usually of particular importance in a church because of its

unfortunate abilitytomaintaininanimpersonalsettingandyoucanprobablythinkofarange
of contributing factors. However, a family setting is not so impervious and the effects of
weakening interpersonal health are often felt immediately. Churchisonceaweekforanhour
or two. Then out of sight out of mine. But we live with family, break bread together, share
belongings and time. Its tailored to be very personal andtherefore, very breakable. Why on
earth would God ordain such afragileentityashisvehicletonotonlyadvancehiskingdomto
theendsoftheworldbuttothefarthestreachesofourheartsaswell?!?

Youmakebeautifulthings,youmakebeautifulthingsoutofus

Because God sees our potential. Do you? Imagine 10, 20 maybe 30 years from now...ha
youd be like 50 :P Can yousee the scrapbook of your life...theres apic there of youanda
dozen others breaking bread, sharing struggles and victories, experiencing real life together
and not justanhouronSunday.Itsyourlocalchurchfamily.Doyouseeit?Goddoes.Andit
looksanawfullotlikethepicClareposted,maybejustminusthegreyhairsandstresslines.

This God ordained potential for family in your local church is worthy of your intentionality,
prayers, efforts, steadfastness and meditation (on scripture pertaining to unity, the early
church,questionslikethebulletedpointsabove).

As our vision grows for what our local church involvement could be, lets introduce the
complement to family: loyalty. More thanlikely, the majority of your involvement in Christian
community at Brown has either been facilitated organically or through the Christian student
groups. These groupshave staff that areabsolutelydevotedtoyourgrowthasabeliever and
to the advancement of the Gospel in the lives of the other 6500+ students. However, being
staff of groups with the designation student organizations, the perceived and hopefully
receivedauthorityofthestaffhingesonthestudentswillingnessto(*cringe*)submit.

pause...breathe...okletscontinue

Now the local church will add an institutional caveat to its positions of authority the
expectation of congregants buy in, respect and even reverence in some settings. Although
the heart ofleadership according to Scripture is servanthood (Mark 10:4245), the Bible also
teaches that legitimate leaders have authority, in the sense of a right to direct others. This
authority comes from God and is delegated to leaders for the good of the local church.
Graduating from aschool and culture that praises independence, loyalty is atopicthatmust
be wrestled and we willcontinue it next week. In preparation, letsmeditate on the following
scripture:

1Cor.16:1516,18
1Thes.5:1213
Titus2:15(speakingtoaleader)

 Heb.13:7
Heb.13:17

And consider this challenge, though hopefully you will come to see it as an invitation: Chat
with your Pastor. During your Christmas break, will you be attending your home church?
Perhaps the one you grew up inoroneyourfamily recentlybegantoattend.Ifso,Iinviteyou
to ask your pastor or a member of the pastoral staff to meet couldbeovercoffeeorattheir
office. Why? Scripture is clear about our required response to church leaders but it is also
clear about the qualities requiredofthoseleaders. Itisimportanttogettoknowthoseyouare
willingly following. Then they are no longer just churchleaders, buttheybecomefamily.This
iswhengenuineloyaltycantakeroot.Herearesomesuggestionsandtalkingpoints:

Initially, you may approach your pastor in this way: letting them know
youre a graduating senior and would appreciate the opportunity to ask
questionsregardinglocalchurchinvolvementsuchas
Howtochooseanewchurchcommunity
Howtogetinvolvedinanewchurchcommunity
Howtovolunteerorserveatthechurch
Howtostartanewministryfocusatthechurch
Howtodealwithchurchconflict
AretherescenarioswhereIshouldleaveandfindanotherchurch
Youcouldalsoaskhowdidtheybecomeinvolvedinthechurch
Whatstheirvisionforthechurch
Whatstheirvisionforthecollegestudentswhoattend
Whatstheirvisionforyoungadults/recentgrads
Whatstheirvisionforbolsteringchurchfamilyandloyalty

Over the years, coffee and dinner with Pastor Scott at REN church havebeenatremendous
help for my familys involvement in the church and our willingness to support the
vision/direction of REN.And itwillhelpdowntheroadifGod calls uselsewhereandwebegin
the process of finding a new local church family. So take advantage this break of your time
with your local church be brave and talk to your pastor...and yall will have the opportunity
nextsemesterwithyourlocalchurchinProvidence:)

Summary|
1. The God ordainedpotential for you to experience family both in quality anddepthof
relationship in your local church postcollege will require your intentional prayer and
effort
2. The necessity of loyalty in the local church towards the pastoral staff may be a stark
differencetocollegeexperiencesandthereforeneedsourattentiontoresolve.

EngagetheDiscussionTopics|
Meditateonbulletedpointsonpages1and2

 Considerthechallengeatthetopofpage3

ThankfulthatLoyaltyismucheasiertostomachthanSubmission,
~YourSeniorYear