What Connects You To Your Community?

People are "wired" to be social creatures. Human beings have always had places where they could gather, meet, discuss, plan, or develop ideas for their own betterment. People have met in Taverns, eating places, city gates, social halls, and of course churches.

The internet is now the main place of gathering with friends and family through social websites such as Facebook, My Space, chat-rooms, message boards, electronic forums and specialized websites. Networking takes place around the world on sites like Link-in.

The mission of the church of Jesus Christ is to "Go...make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20a, ESV) Acts chapter one breaks this mission down more specifically to our own communities when Jesus says, "...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV) (Emphasis mine)

For me my Jerusalem is Kelso, my Judea is Cowlitz County, and my Samaria would be from Portland to Seattle, and then spreading out to the State of Washington. Then my mission field envelopes the Pacific Northwest, reaching to United States and then to the end of the earth. What is your Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria?

The question facing us is how can we visualize and cultivate out networks, our meeting places, and our proclivity to socializing with one another to fulfill this "great commission?" I think the answer is through connections, personal connections. We must connect with those around us, particularly those who do not know Christ as savior in order to be an effective witness.

Your city is filled to its limits with unsaved people who will die in their sin. Your city awaits you. What connections will you make in order to share the gospel with every creature? What connects you to your community?