The Mystery of the Mat
The Mystery of the Mat This week, I have been praying about the need for those who profess to follow Jesus Christ, to gather together for mutual encouragement. The writer to Hebrews asks us to "Encourage one another daily, as long as its called today, that none will have our hearts hardened by sin's deceitfulness." (Heb 3:13). It is clear that one of the defining attributes of the early church was their sense of community and cohesiveness. In our era, where width is preferred over depth, community is not recognized as one of the core disciplines of our faith. Authentic community is the place where people can be extend grace (come as you are), be vulnerable (share who you are), experience love (accepted for who you are), and challenge one another. Historically, it has been the discipline that promotes real and sustained life transformation. Today, God reminded me of a story in the life of Jesus that helped me understand the necessity of community as the practi...