Core Practices Part 2 (Lifeline Group)

#MONDAYDEVOTIONFICB

A lifeline is a group that exists to provide an environment for people to start a personal relationship with God and grow in that relationship.
It is also our first responder in providing help when we find ourselves in a difficult situation.
It also supports us in fulfilling God’s plan and purpose for our lives.

David Kim, pastor and author of the book, Made to Belong, shares Five Practices for Cultivating Community which I believe is also relevant to our practice:

MADE TO BELONG: Five Practices for
Cultivating Community in a Disconnected World

1.    Priority: Commitment to showing up and being present.

24 And let us consider one another to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25 (antidote to 2 Tim. 3:2-4!)

2.    Chemistry: Building connections with those we resonate with

There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

The Bible is clear that the ultimate ethic for Christ’s followers is love.

Jesus was open to the crowd. He loved them but at the same time, He clearly chose His close circle of twelve disciples, and even the inner circle of three.

The vision is to have the crowd, the close twelve, and the closest three at the same time.

3.    Vulnerability: Opening up to others is crucial for genuine relationships.

Our community should foster a safe environment, healthy vulnerability, trust, and acceptance.

This process of coming out of hiding is called vulnerability.
Vulnerability means allowing your authentic self to be seen including your honest thoughts and emotions.
Vulnerability certainly doesn’t guarantee amazing outcomes.

There is no safe investment, to love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart would certainly be wronged and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully around, avoid all entanglements, and lock it up safely in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change, it will not be broken, it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. – C.S. Lewis, Four Loves

But as Christians, we have a unique advantage when it comes to vulnerability-we know that God doesn’t reject us.

Jesus models vulnerability.
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. John 1:11

Paul also practiced vulnerability.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. Romans 7:15

4.    Empathy: Responding to others’ vulnerabilities with understanding and compassion.

Empathy is moving toward the other person, and it creates intimacy and belonging.
Empathy is doing your best to understand people. It’s a posture of choosing to listen to another instead of assuming you know where they are coming from.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Hebrews 4:15

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 1:26

5. Accountability: Ensuring that community members are supporting each other in their spiritual growth and personal well-being.

Accountability is not the unfolding of our agenda in others. True accountability is helping one another become all that God is inviting us to be, in love.

We are called to love and care for one another.

What accountability means is supporting each other to live in alignment with God’s invitation for our lives.

YOU ARE MADE TO BELONG!