So, you came to a worship service. Maybe even committed to the “Take Five” challenge. You’re feeling pretty good about the worship and the other people at Connections. What’s next? We hope you will become fully invested in the following ways, or what we call “Signs of Belonging.”
Bringer
"Attending is great. Inviting is better. Bringing is Biblical!"
We don’t want people just coming to worship, or even just inviting others to worship. We pray that like the disciples you will actually bring people to worship to meet Jesus!
John 1:42 “And he brought them to Jesus.”
Member
"You are a part of the body of Christ."
Getting involved in one of our at-home Connection Groups or an on-campus Bible Study is the best way to really get connected. We’ll know your name. You’ll learn some new names. Your leader provides you a direct line for church communication and care. And most of all, we know you’ll grow. Your faith will grow when consistently and intentionally engaged with others in the body of Christ. Without other people your faith will stagnate.
Hebrews 10:24-25 “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.”
Server
"Jesus came to serve and not be served."
Every Christian is given gifts to share with the church and in service to the world. We have some serving teams that help us do what we do here at Connections. And we have some serving teams that help us go out and love our community. Our serving teams are quite varied and unique- just like the people who are a part of the church!
1 Peter 4:10 “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Giver
"We give back to the God who gave His life for us."
When you give you worship God and you get invested in Connections. It’s actually a predictable pattern- when you give, you care. When you care, you pray. When you pray, you get even more involved. It’s like giving triggers the whole series of events!
Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”
Pastor
"We love our neighbors."
God has you where you are for a reason. Disciples know that God has put them where they need to be, surrounded by the people then need to serve. We hope you’ll come to see yourself as a pastor of your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
Acts 20:28 “Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood.”
One last thing to consider... Baptism
If you’ve already been baptized, great! We honor all Christian baptisms at Connections. But, if you have not made this step of faith and declaration of Jesus as your Lord and savior, then we should talk. We regularly prepare people and celebrate baptism on Easter Sunday or at other times as needed.
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”