Stay connected to Christ

Topics: connected to God, connected to Christ

I. Get connected with access to God

* The Triune God has brought you near through faith in Christ's cross!

1. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father (Eph 2:17, 18).
2. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him (Eph 3:11,12).

II. Enjoy being connected to your church family

* The Triune God welcomes you with all the saints into His family!

1. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household (Ephesians 2:19).
2. But in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15).
3. If someone says, "I love God" and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also (1 John 4:20, 21).

III. Grow in connectivity as God's Holy Temple

* The Triune God is growing you as true spiritual worshippers!

1. Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:20 22).
2. You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed."This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, " The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very cornerstone and, : A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed (1 Peter 2:5 8).

Sermon by Pastor Rod Akins, July 20th, 2025.

Life Group Flow and Discussion Questions

Stay connected to Christ

An important Guideline of Life Groups: Staying connected to Christ means you are staying connected to His Church family. Make your Life Group meetings a time of personal affirmation for each person (Hebrews 10:24, 25).

Getting Started:

1. How would you rate or evaluate your intimate connection with our Lord Jesus Christ?
2. Do you feel welcomed by God into His family as His beloved child? What grants you such access to be related to Almighty God?

Discussing Truths:

1. How do you explain the Trinity to someone trying to understand our Triune God?
2. What causes you to feel "disconnected" from the Lord? How do you "reconnect"?
3. Do you enjoy being connected to your church family? What makes it pleasurable and what makes it difficult?
4. The question was asked, "What's wrong with the church?" and a man from Wales replied, "What's wrong with the church is our failure to realize and wonder at the beauty, the mystery, the glory and the greatness of the church." Do you agree with him?
5. What is God doing in your life so that you are "fitted together" as a holy temple and how is He causing you to be "built together" into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Eph 2:20-22)?
6. Why did the Jews "The Builders" reject Jesus Christ as the precious cornerstone (Psalm 118:22; Acts 4:10-12; 1 Peter 2:5-8)?
7. Will you "Dare to Dream" of ways to grow God's Church and seek to implement those dreams?

Now What? Application:

1. Make time each day to truly connect with our Lord! Psalm 46:10 is often quoted, but irregularly practiced. Make it a vital part of your daily life!
2. Who can you invite to come to church? We are to grow our church family by drawing people to Jesus and helping them feel like this is a place to belong. What are you doing to attract others to connect with God and His church family?