Connect Deeply, Treasure Christ, Never Give Up

Notes from message by Mike Shelton at The Porch

Check https://www.theporch.live/blog/media for the podcast or video of the message.

Intro: story from Kanakuk Kamp, tower jump (terrifying yet exhilarating for kids, 40ft jump into 50 degree water)

• The only way down once up is to jump (no backing down)

• Evan, a kamper, gets to the edge, looks down, and stops

• Evan decides he'll jump with Mike holding his hand, but Evan doesn't jump when Mike does

• Evan hits the water head first, nose bleeding; Mike had promised that it wouldn't hurt (it did)

We get that way with our faith--we come to worship and get excited, but then don't act. We're excited about the idea of Christ, but not the actual jump in our Christian life.

Mike's mission statement:

God wants a life for me that is deeply connected with others, treasuring Christ above all else, and never giving up on what God wants for me.

Three things (Colossians 1:28-2:5)

1. Connected to others ("knit together"), 2:2
   

• Knitting takes time and is hard

• It is something that happens that cannot be completed on our own

• In Mike's community group, the process of being knit together has taken time

• Mike's group & guys look different as a result

• Who are you knitting your heart with?

• It's easy to go miles wide (Facebook, twitter, etc)

• How many of those people would take a bullet for you? Would be there for you?

• It's easy to network with people, but how many are you truly connected to?

• Connecting looks like asking each other, "Help me to become more like Christ."

• Don't just be a networker; be connected with other believers!

Ecclesiastes 4:12...

Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

2. Knowing and treasuring Christ, 2:3

• Jesus Christ is the ultimate treasure. There is more value and worth than anything else on this planet!

• Matthew 6:19-21, don't store up treasure on earth, but in heaven; where your treasure is, there your heart is also

• We all find treasure somewhere; we either find it with Christ or something smaller in the world

• Maybe your treasure is your job, or maybe it is sex, or maybe in the idea of getting married someday, or in being single and uncommitted, or in money and shopping

• What is it that you treasure?

• If you treasure what the world wants you to treasure, it will always say "now" and it will not last

1. Never giving up, 2:5
   

• Never give up; keep pursuing Christ

• Luke 9:23, "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"

• Hebrews 12:1-2, run with endurance, do it because Jesus didn't give up

• There is a cloud of witnesses, followers of Christ, who are saying, "keep running!"

Video: Cody's Story...when you dream, dream big...