Better Together

What is the most valuable substance on earth? Plutonium, gold, and diamond are like dirt compared to antimatter, which is valued at $1750 trillion per ounce. While antimatter is obviously valuable, I believe people are more valuable. Value is determined by the price paid. God spent the blood of his only Son to purchase our salvation. People are priceless!

Every person should be part of a small group. At Cornerstone Church we call our small groups LIFE Groups. LIFE is an acronym from Love In Full Evidence. Win Arn said, "Love is intentionally doing something caring or helpful for another person, in Jesus' name, regardless of the cost or consequence to oneself." Love is best expressed from close range.

Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, "Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in one accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others as more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:2-5)

There are many reasons to NOT be part of a LIFE Group. More people means more problems. There is much conflict and disagreement in a group. Being part of a group is too much commitment for some. It requires accountability.

However, Psalm 133 promises that God commands his blessing on the place of unity. Jesus promised authority in the prayer of agreement (Matthew 18:18-20). Close friends have a way of dividing one's griefs and multiplying one's joys. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego successfully stood up to the king's threats and the furnace together. Everything is better together.

Disciple One Ethos

Ethos is the disposition of a community. It is the underlying sentiment that forms the beliefs, customs or practices of a group. There is a certain essence or ethos associated with every church. Disciple One is the ethos of Cornerstone Church in Chillicothe, Missouri. Jesus calls you and me to be his disciple. A disciple is one who is becoming a spiritually mature zealot for Christ. A zealot is one who shows earnest and diligent enthusiasm for a cause. Discipleship is the path we have chosen to follow. Disciple One is a map to guide us and to measure our progress.

Disciple One means that first I am one. We pray first. We put God's word first place in our life. We make fellowship a priority in our lives. We make a commitment to outreach. Disciple One means that I am helping one other person become a disciple also. Helping one other person is as easy as befriending a new person, inviting them to us in activities, then begin including them in the inner circle of our life.

The call to discipleship is a call to die. Jesus said that it is necessary for a seed to fall into the earth and die that is might bear much fruit. The cost of discipleship is death, "take up your cross daily and follow me." A cross is an instrument of death. Following Jesus requires the loss of personal identity and desire. The reward is righteousness and the inexplicable joy associated with spiritual growth and maturity.

Westminster Catechism of AD 1647 question #1 is, "What is the chief end of man?" The answer is, "Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever." Allow Disciple One to become the ethos of your life. Glorify God and enjoy him forever.

Peace,

Stan