JR. Forasteros - August 31, 2014
Circles > Rows
Though we think of Church primarily as a Sunday, large-group worship experience, we find in the Scriptures that we need to engage in small groups of Jesus-followers. Why? Because large group experiences are largely passive. But true spiritual growth happens when we serve those around us. This is why small group experiences foster a deeper, more profound dimension of growth. In the Church, circles are better than rows.
From Series: "Branches"
No matter how much we enjoy the weekend worship experience, sooner or later, we stop growing. That's because we need more than great music and an engaging message. We need to connect with other people who are on the same journey as us. Learning we're not alone as we try to follow Jesus changes everything, and that's what Branches is all about. In a Branches group, you'll find people who've been where you are, who know the joys and pains of building relationships, work and figuring out your calling, raising a family, leaving a lasting legacy. They're people you can join with in figuring out exactly how the new life Jesus offers us changes our whole world. If that sounds too good to be true, it's not. Becoming part of a small group is the single best way to pursue a thriving, life-changing relationship with God. This is Branches. And big things happen in small groups.
More From "Branches"
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Most of my dating life, I was the dumpee. But I remember one relationship where I had to be the dumper. One of the best parts of dating is the puppy love – where you and person you’re dating are perfect in each others’ eyes. They can do no wrong, you’re walking on clouds and the whole world seems a little brighter.
Then something happens to break the spell. In this particular relationship, it was the moment she said, “I want to play you my favorite song.” I was thrilled by this moment. I love music and I love sharing music as a way to get to know people better. So we settled in for a romantic moment of really getting to know one another better. She pulled out a CD (because this was back in the dark ages), slid it into the car’s CD player…
…and started blasting Nickelback.
I thought it was a joke until I saw the pure, unbridled joy on her face. This really was her favorite song.
I didn’t break up with her right then, but that was the moment I knew it wasn’t going to work out.
I know that sounds shallow, but if you’ve dated, you’ve been there.
That moment when the glorious façade of puppy love cracks and the ugly face of reality (which in this case looked a lot like Chad Kroger) gazes out at you.
What’s happening in these moments?
Philosophers tell us that when we’re first falling in love, it’s always a selfish movement. We’re projecting onto the other person who we want them to be (which is always an idealized version of ourselves). That’s why they seem perfect. We assume they have the same values and beliefs we do, the same taste in music.
Puppy love is really self-love. Which is why it feels so good.
It’s why puppy love has to come to an end. Because sooner or later, we can’t ignore all the little ways the other person isn’t like us. We can’t ignore how much they are their own person. And it’s also why we call puppy love ‘puppy love’. It’s shallow. It’s immature. It’s not as good as the real thing.
There’s such a thing as religious puppy love. Because our relationship with God evolves in the same way as our relationships with one another. We begin infatuated by God, sure that God is on our side, that God agrees with us. We might call it “puppy faith”.
It’s not bad, but it is shallow. It can’t last. And it shouldn’t last.
Just like we want to move from puppy love to true love, from being loved for who we’re not to being loved for who we are, we want to move from a shallow faith to a deep, wide, world-changing faith.
