Gathering and Going

Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven…”

- John 20:21-23

Take a moment. Breathe in; Breathe out.

Do it again. Breathe in; Breathe out.

Now, what would happen if you held your breath and never breathed back out… You would pass out and die right?

What about if you breathed out but never breathed back in? Same thing! You’d pass out and die.

The church is the same way. If Christians just hunker down within our own walls and never leave, or Christians are completely scattered throughout the world, living in isolation and never see each other… the church would die! Or at least be unhealthy…

In the beginning, God took dirt and breathed life into it creating the first human: Adam.

Just the same, when Jesus appeared to his disciples on the day He resurrected from the dead, He breathed the Holy Spirit into them, and said, “Go and carry my grace into the world.”

Guess what… He breathes The Holy Spirit and life into us as well!

The Church is like a set of lungs that breathes life into the world.

It breathes in - We GATHER together for worship, bible study, meals, prayer, comfort, care, celebration, and in everyday life.

It breathes out - We GO and bring Jesus and the good news of the gospel to the people around us in our community.

The church breathes in. Then it breathes back out. And with every breath, God helps His family take a deeper breath each time by breathing His life into more people through His people.

Reflection Question: How can you build this rhythm into your everyday life?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to have a healthy rhythm of faith in my life. Build a community around me to gather with in your name, and guide me as I go into my everyday life carrying your gospel message to those around me. Amen.