Wednesday SOAP: Mission Comes From Love

Scripture
"I want them to be encouraged and knitted together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God's mysterious plan, which is Christ himself" - Colossians 2:2

Observation
Paul burned with a passion for mission - that people far from God would find their way home to him. But at the same time he had an incredible passion that the church would be a place of love and health and biblical community. Strong mission comes from strong relationships.

Application
Next Level Church exists for mission like a fire exists for burning. Our great and consuming passion is that people who are disconnected from Christ and from his church will find their ways home. We'll go to great lengths to see this happen. But if it is to happen it will be in part because we are a place of health, where people can connect in real relationships and where there is real love - "strong ties" of love.

Prayer
Lord, make NLC a place that never loses its sight of mission but that is rooted in generous, loving, forgiving, grace-oriented relationships. We know that we are flawed humans and that if this is to happen it will be solely because of your Spirit working in us. Keep us from gossip, disunity, resentment, lack of forgiveness, and selfishness. Thank you that for more than five years you have made us that kind of church. Please may that always be the case, so that those far from you can find their way home. Amen.