December 5, 2022

This Week's Teaching | Prayers | Christmas Meetup

Click above to watch this week's teaching

This Week's Teaching: "The Best Way to Have a Strong Relationship with God"

Many Christians have a habit of reading devotionals to help them feel close to God or grow in their faith. What others have written can be helpful. Absolutely. Just like listening to preachers and teachers can be helpful.

But if you only read devotionals or listen to preachers and teachers, you're missing out on something better.

Hands down, the best "devotional" is probably something you already have: Your Bible. And the best thing you can do to have a good relationship with God is to spend time in scripture and prayer. I know that's intimidating to a lot of people, but just think of it as a conversation. Get to know him through private conversations where it's just you and God, listening and talking.

But still, just doing our private devotions isn't enough. We need to know God in conversation with others, studying the scriptures and praying together. This is the beauty of what we're doing in X242! When we have that conversation with others, it expands our perspective and we learn new things!

I say more in the teaching above. And I use an illustration of something I experienced last week in two different microchurches. I wonder if you've had similar experiences.

Open your Bible to the following scriptures as you watch/listen above:

• Acts 9
• Galatians 1
• 1 Corinthians 6

Prayers for you as you apply yourself to these things!

Prayers

• Pray for the disconnected believers in your life — those who are not in regular, intentional, spiritual fellowship with other believers. Even if they're good people, sincere in their faith, doing their devotions regularly, and listening to preachers and worship music and podcasts, etc., pray that they would recognize their need for being in spiritual conversation with other believers. Pray that the Holy Spirit would stir up in them this desire. And pray that you would have opportunity to recommend what we are doing in X242.
• Pray for the unbelievers in your life — those who either have never believed or have stopped believing. Pray that God would stir up faith in them. And hope. And conviction. And pray that you would have opportunity to be the voice of faith and hope and love to them.
• X242 Network. Keep praying for our microchurch hosts and leaders, and for new church plants. 
• Health & Provision. May it be said of us that "there were no needy persons among them."

Christmas Sing & Dessert, December 20, 2022

The Sarasota churches are meeting Tuesday night, December 20, at 6:30pm to eat desserts and sing Christmas carols. Bring your favorite dessert to share with others. We'll provide plates, utensils, and drinks. We'll eat, sing, and pray together. Mark your calendars and RSVP here for the address!