Michael Harrison's e-devotion

  We are going through a series at The Community Fellowship about our core values, and this Sunday we discussed our core value of being relevant. God is always relevant, but so many people say that is just not the case.  Our world needs hope and strength and life.  Those things can only come from God.  Yet people look to fill their lives with things that do not last, things that don’t give lasting hope. That is why I believe the church and Christians have to make sure we are showing the world and sharing with all that God is love, and it is the desire of God to be in the world and to share how good He is. Let’s talk about just one of those things.  The Bible is a great place to start as it is relevant to all of us and to all of life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17  NLT   You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and ...

Colossians 1:6   NLT This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace. This coming Sunday we complete another session of COMMUNITY 101 which is a 4-week series where people can learn more about being a follower of Jesus and about The Community Fellowship.   It is always an honor to share the vision and history of The Community as well as to dream about the future. What we have come to understand is that the foundation God has given our church is that we are to share the Gospel as often as possible.   Much of the time that sharing will be tied to meeting needs and serving those around us.   It is the same good news that changed my life that is changing others. There are many people I am praying for God to get hold of their lives.   God can change anyone.   I ...

This month at The Community Fellowship we are sharing a series called A Heart for the House , and this past Sunday we talked through our core values.   Since the church began in 2006 these have helped to shape who we are and what we do. My prayer is that God would help us understand who we are and how we can make the biggest impact on our community and way beyond.   Our motto and theme is demonstrating the love of God to our community .   We do this by serving people and winning the right to share Jesus with them. "Whoever shows up the most in peoples lives is going to win the battle of influence" -- Matthew Barnett God loves people more than anything.   That’s what a song says, but it is what we believe as well.   The church belongs to God, and our core values help us understand what God is doing in our relationship to Him, loving God, and with the people around us, loving others.   That sums up what Jesus said is the most important co...

Culturally relevant and Biblically faithful. Those continue to be two of my biggest concerns and prayer requests for ministry no matter where I am. To be relevant is to be sharing truth while talking about things people want to listen to. Often that means by getting their attention, you have to change their direction. Man, that is tough. But that is God’s call on His church, you and me. To be Biblically faithful is easy. Stick to the Bible. If God says it, do it, share it, be it and live it no matter the consequences. I have heard for years people say something like this: the message never changes BUT the methods have to change. There it is…. Culturally relevant and Biblically faithful….God’s call on this pastor and the church I serve as well as every believer in the world. Are we willing to do what it takes to be relevant and faithful to His word? Then he said, "Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God's good news to one and all. 16 Whoever b...