Have you ever observed a one man band? The kind where a man has a big drum and lots of instruments strapped to his body and somehow through an amazing sequence of blowing, marching and swinging his arms, the sound of an entire band is heard. It can certainly be entertaining, oftentimes curious, and occasionally a little freakish. Something about this scene tells us, "This isn't the way it's supposed to be'!

The beauty of a band is the harmony of sounds produced by a variety of players on different instruments. The same is true of the church. "Now the body is not made up of one part but of many." Unity and diversity is not just the key to great music, it is part of God's design for all of creation and especially for the body of Christ which is is the church.

Unfortunately, the church can tend toward a one-man band as a few people do the work that belongs to many. This isn't the way it's supposed to be! Ephesians 4 tells us that... "to each one of us grace has been given" and "the whole body...builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." If we do not serve one another, we are robbing the entire body, and the whole church suffers.

At a personal level, if we do not serve, we are starving our souls, because God designed us to serve. Have you hit a plateau in your experience with God? What is holding you back from "attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ"? If any of the 3 essential connections is missing or is weak in your life, then the organic process of maturity will be stunted.

The good news is that it is never too late to begin again. Put the past behind you and press on toward the goal of maturity in Christ. Commit yourself to worship, community and service. If you need help in any of these areas, please ask someone or join us for the upcoming Pathways seminar starting Sunday, October 3rd at 11am. Remember, you are "God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works." By the grace of God, may we be the kind of people who, with our lives and by using our gifts, make beautiful music together.

Pathways, Sundays @ 11am, FL 201/202, Starting October 3rd

To His Glory,
John Secrest
Associate Pastor of Adult Ministries