Everyone has the need and desire to belong. Foundational in many decisions that we make each day is the desire to belong. For instance:
The desire to belong is not just a cultural passion. It is a desire that God has given to us. The desire to belong has its foundation in the nature of God, in creation, in marriage, in the plan of redemption, and in the life of the church. One of the great doctrines of Christianity is the belief that God is triune — Father, Son, and the Spirit. The interdependence and belonging to one another is at the center of what God is like. In Genesis 2:18 we are told, “It is not good for man to be alone.” In addressing marriage, we are told in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” The last book of the Bible we find the culmination of God’s plan: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people” (Revelation 21:3).
In fact, much of what is wrong in our culture is that in man’s attempt to fulfill his passion to belong, he pursues empty and unfulfilling venues. Augustine famously said, “You have made us for thyself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” We need God, through the gospel, to redefine, reshape, and renew what it means to belong. In the New Testament we discover that our desire to belong is fulfilled in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and in fellowship of His people.
Today we are going to see how we all need fellowship with Christ and His people called the church, in a message entitled: I LOVE THE CHURCH: The Fellowship We Need, 1 John 1:1-4.
Our church is reading through the Gospel of John over the course of this sermon series to help us to Get Fit through the Word of God. Access the reading plan online via the link below, or pick up a printed copy of the plan in the foyer.