Why Did God create community?

Welcome

Thanks for joining with us today, those of you here in person thank-you for being here

those waching on facebook, youtube, Vimeo, or on kway.live thanks for making us a part of your week

Its the anninversary of D day today

On June 6, 1944, D-Day, roughly 150,000 allied troops including 14,000 Canadians stormed the beaches of Europe and fought to protect Freedom. God bless their sacrifice.

Warmup

A little girl finally got to attend a wedding for the first time. While in the church, the girl asked her mother: “Why is the bride dressed in white?” The mother replied to the girl: “because white is the color of happiness and it’s the happiest day of her life today.”

After a little bit, the girl looks up at her mother and says: “But, then why is the groom wearing black?”

During a Sunday school lesson, a child learned about how God created human beings. The child became especially focused when the teacher explained how Eve was created from Adam’s ribs. Later in the week, the boy’s mother saw him lying down on the floor, so she asked him what was wrong. His reply was priceless: “Mom, I have a pain in my side—I think I’m getting a wife.”

Lets Pray

Body

Over the last 16 months the governments attempt to slow the spread of covid bring about many other challenges that will affect each one of us.

one of the more critical aspects of the lockdown is the forced isolation

Now I know they’ve tried to diffuse this by suggesting doing everything online.

but I don’t know about you but for me online just doesn’t cut it!

Let’s take doing Church online.

Does anyone actually believe doing church online can be just as effective and doing it in person?

if you believe church is just about singing and preaching and throwing a few bucks in the plate as it goes by. then you might believe you can do it all online.

But is that all church is really about?

I don’t think so.

and I believe Heb 10 backs me up on this

Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB95

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

As I’ve said before besides the singing, preaching, and giving there are greater reasons for us gathering together

“stimulate one another to love and good deeds”

that’s one of the primary reasons we gather together.

Maybe it wasn’t a big part in the past, but we have to ensure its part of what we do going ahead!

But let’s focus on why God created community.

Let’s begin by saying simply

Isolation is bad.

you may not agree with this statement,

if you don’t agree with this statement, it tells me you are most likely a introvert!

I saw the results of a survey this week that really shows how political this lockdown has become.

86% Wildrose want it over

64% UCP want it over

72% NDP want it to continue

About the lockdown, Its been said we’re all in this together.

We may be in the same storm, but we are all in different boats.

you can’t tell me a family of 4 living in a 3000 sq’ home with a big yard and 2 incomes experiences this the same way

a family of 4 living in an apartment with no yard and no jobs does.

As Christians we need to be empathetic to those who are having more difficulty with this.

Challenges of isolation

To really understand the challenge of isolation and how it affects people we must get a grasp of the various personality types.

Introverts vs Extroverts

Introverts will generally have an easier time with isolation

Introverts tend to be more quiet, reserved, and introspective.

Unlike extroverts who gain energy from social interaction,

introverts have to expend energy in social situations.

After attending a party or spending time in a large group of people, introverts often feel a need to "recharge" by spending a period of time alone

Extroverts will generally have a more difficult time with isolation

extroverts are often described as talkative, sociable, action-oriented, enthusiastic, friendly, and out-going.

On the negative side, they are sometimes described as attention-seeking, easily distracted, and unable to spend time alone.

Extraverts are also more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors.

What am I?.....it depends on the situation sometimes I act like a introvert and sometimes im an extrovert.

what does that make me?

Well I beleive I’m a ambivert....

What is an ambivert?

An ambivert is someone who exhibits qualities of both introversion and extroversion, and can flip into either depending on their mood, context, and goals.

Ambiverts have also been called:

Outgoing introverts: An introvert who can be outgoing in certain situations, around certain people, or when they absolutely need to.

Antisocial extroverts: An extrovert who needs time to recharge before socializing, or who likes to be alone more than a typical extrovert.

Social introverts: An introvert who can dial up into extroversion when needed.

Its really important to understand the people you are interacting with, and where they are coming from.

If your dealing with an introvert. Calling out their name across a crowed room will destroy them

But an extrovert will expect you too, and be hurt if you don’t!

an Ambivert....well it depends what mood they are in…so have fun with that!

It doesn’t matter where you fall on the spectrum one thing is true for all of us.

Genesis 2:18 NASB95

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

Yes some of us need to to recharge from social activities. but we all need those social interactions.

Its part of who God created us to be.

Physical and emotional Health

being isolated can be managed over the shortterm, but deadly over the long term.

healthaffairs article

The Double Pandemic Of Social Isolation And COVID-19

Cross-Sector Policy Must Address Both Julianne Holt-Lunstad JUNE 22, 2020 https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200609.53823

read

social isolation and loneliness do have immediate effects that are health-relevant that should not be ignored.

The increase in distress due to social distancing that many Americans are experiencing is a normal response.

Given that humans are a social species, this is our biology signaling a need to reconnect socially, just like hunger signals us to eat, and thirst signals us to drink water. 

Proximity to others, particularly trusted others, signals safety. When we lack proximity to trusted others our brain and body may respond with a state of heightened alert.

This can result in increases in blood pressure, stress hormones, and inflammatory responses—which if experienced on an ongoing basis can put us at increased risk for a variety of chronic illnesses. 

Among those with pre-existing health conditions, these changes in physiology could potentially exacerbate the condition, precipitate the onset of an acute event, or hasten disease progression.

Immediate effects of social isolation related to the pandemic have already been observed, with surges in mental health concerns, substance abuse, and domestic violence.

Early observation suggests problematic health behaviors, including substance use, poorer sleep, and emotional or overeating, may increase.

Further, more than two million Americans purchased guns during the month of March (the second highest monthly total in the decades since such records have been kept), raising concerns for increased risk for suicide.

Both short-term and long-term public health concerns will emerge if steps are not taken to mitigate these effects.

echo chambers

along with social media isolation fosters what has become the greatest source of division and strife, come to be know as echo chambers

def: an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered.

Social media algorithm is setup for this

Media binge

online streaming platforms have exploded over the last year.

Netflix, youtube, Disney Plus, crave etc.

Binging has a unique way of transforming your thinking.

studies have shown its one of the best ways to indotrinate a persons belief system by immersing them in the message

*Instead of being a consummer lets all become producers!

Loneliness

in a study conducted by Medical news today (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alarming-covid-19-study-shows-80-of-respondents-report-significant-symptoms-of-depression#Study-findings)

Roughly 65% of study participants reported increased feelings of loneliness since the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic.

of these 65% of people

76% experiencing anxiety

58% a loss of feelings of connectedness

78% depression.

Of these individuals, 58% also said that they had increased the amount of alcohol they drank,

56% had increased their use of drugs.

Discouragement

means to loose courage

I have to admit this is one of my greatest challenges.

God does not want us to be discouraged.

thats why were told in

Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB95

and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Hebrews 3:13 NASB95

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

The belief that no-one cares about you

When you lack interaction with others, it’s very easy to go down the slope and start beleiving the enemies lies

No one Cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7 NASB95

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Isaiah 43:2 NASB95

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.

1 Peter 5:6–7 NASB95

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.