Most people associate the month of March with 'madness' due to the 'March Madness' College Basketball Tournament. Here at Pioneer Camp & Retreat Center, March is a month when we strive to build relationships with God, congregations, and others.
To us, 'madness' is going through life without working on your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You might think that this is a ridiculous point to be making to other Christians, and that it's "preaching to the choir" as people like to say. However, what about the lack of true fellowship with other believers in this day and age? Do we tend to fellowship with other Christians, but only if they're from our own congregation? Be honest.
The Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 that "He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." In Acts 2:42,we read that one of the four things the early church devoted itself to was fellowship. Fellowship was a very important part of their reason for meeting together. It was one of their objectives.
But what is fellowship? We often hear people talking about fellowship. We hear it said that what we need is more fellowship. But our modern ideas of fellowship have become so watered down that the word itself no longer carries the same meaning it did in New Testament times. Luke tells us these early Christians also devoted themselves to fellowship. They just didn'thave fellowship; they devoted themselves to it. This means that fellowship was a priority and one of the objectives for gathering together. They made fellowship a priority.
Where am I going with this? Well, Romans 12:5 is pretty clear: "So we,being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." With that in mind, have you ever stopped to consider the connection between your personal relationship with Christ and the nature of your fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of the church they belong to? Furthermore, have you ever stopped to think about your efforts in reaching out to others who make up the Body of Christ not just when you need them, but to see if they might need you? We have and we would like to do something about it.
As mentioned, the theme of the month here at Pioneer is "Building relationships with God, congregations, and others..." Over the next few days, be sure to watch for our own brand of 'March Madness', which will be our unique way of helping you to cultivate your relationship with Christ while also doing what we can to fellowship with all of you in a manner that is consistent with this month's focus. Until then, grace and peace to you and yours!
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To us, 'madness' is going through life without working on your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You might think that this is a ridiculous point to be making to other Christians, and that it's "preaching to the choir" as people like to say. However, what about the lack of true fellowship with other believers in this day and age? Do we tend to fellowship with other Christians, but only if they're from our own congregation? Be honest.
The Bible reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 that "He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." In Acts 2:42,we read that one of the four things the early church devoted itself to was fellowship. Fellowship was a very important part of their reason for meeting together. It was one of their objectives.
But what is fellowship? We often hear people talking about fellowship. We hear it said that what we need is more fellowship. But our modern ideas of fellowship have become so watered down that the word itself no longer carries the same meaning it did in New Testament times. Luke tells us these early Christians also devoted themselves to fellowship. They just didn'thave fellowship; they devoted themselves to it. This means that fellowship was a priority and one of the objectives for gathering together. They made fellowship a priority.
Where am I going with this? Well, Romans 12:5 is pretty clear: "So we,being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." With that in mind, have you ever stopped to consider the connection between your personal relationship with Christ and the nature of your fellowship with other brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of the church they belong to? Furthermore, have you ever stopped to think about your efforts in reaching out to others who make up the Body of Christ not just when you need them, but to see if they might need you? We have and we would like to do something about it.
As mentioned, the theme of the month here at Pioneer is "Building relationships with God, congregations, and others..." Over the next few days, be sure to watch for our own brand of 'March Madness', which will be our unique way of helping you to cultivate your relationship with Christ while also doing what we can to fellowship with all of you in a manner that is consistent with this month's focus. Until then, grace and peace to you and yours!
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