Devotion

As a leader of a congregation, one of the easiest and dangerous things to do is fall into the trap of monotony and repetitiveness.   Our human nature is naturally inclined to move towards ritualistic and mechanical behavior.  We have a tendency to create our own personal traditions and behavior patterns from a one-time inspiring moment.   But the problem is that the more we repeat that action or behavior the less inspiration and effectiveness is has unless its focus comes from devotion.

The early church had realized that their mechanics had to be different from the last 2,000 years of ritualistic religious behavior.   They couldn’t afford to be religious.  So the Holy Spirit simplified their strategy.  They went from having to have to observe hundreds of laws and rules to only doing four things.  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

They key in that verse is not the four things they did rather is was how they did them.  The secret is in the devotion.  Devotion is the core behavior that drives away the sense of monotony.  It’s what separates religion from relationship.

This summer we decided to demonstrate our devotion to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer in a different way. And the reason why we’re doing it differently is to break up the monotony that many have allowed to creep in.  We’re devoting ourselves in a different way.  I think you’ll like it!  The graphic is below…

It’s going to be great!  We’re expecting to touch many people!