Foundations: Relationally Driven
Join us as we take a closer look at each building block of FHC’s Mission Statement using the book of Colossians as our lens:
“To be a relationally driven community that seeks to encounter God, empower Christ-centred lives, and faithfully serve others"
Scripture: Colossians 1:24-29
What would you do for a million dollars? How about a billion? Would you be willing to suffer for it? That’s the question Paul had to face as he realized where God’s plan for him was headed. Here was a man full of passion for God and dedicated every waking moment to his religion. In the end, he realized that despite his passion and zeal, his investment was misplaced as he was persecuting the very God he thought he was serving. This is the truth that transformed Paul and led him down the path he is currently on as he now sees where God’s riches can truly be found: amongst the Gentiles. In other words, Paul’s life has now gone from a life dedicated to ritual purity and cleanliness to rubbing shoulders with the very people he used to look down upon. According to Paul, all of this is made possible now because of “Christ in you”. Now, because every Christian can say they are indwelt by the Spirit of the living God, we can go into the dark spaces of the world without fear of being made unclean or having sin rub off on us. Indeed this is the life that Jesus demonstrated as he made himself a “friend of tax collectors and sinners”. Many of us have grown up with the idea that if we hang with the wrong crowd we’re opening ourselves up to disappointing God or inviting sin into our lives. While there is a wisdom in taking stock of our friends and considering who is influencing us, the truth of the Gospel is that if we are maturing in faith and planting deeper roots in the Gospel, then Christ’s life will be made manifest in us through the people he has called us to be a light to. In Paul’s life we see how this plays out as he is not only called to be amongst the Gentiles but through this realization of “Christ in you”, he has learned how to rejoice despite the suffering this calling brings. Therefore the question remains, what is the “richness” God calling you to? Would you be willing to suffer for it? Can you rejoice in it?
What does “Christ in you” mean for you?
In what ways are we closed off from the relationships God is calling us to?
What is the “richness” in our own lives that we are missing out on?
How do we define suffering and is there room for rejoicing in it?
How are we investing in our faith and where are we reaping the rewards? Is it in religion or in relationships?
