This site requires flash

Burdens... Yours, Mine and Ours

Galatians #16


We want to be a church of creative, interdependent, restorative burden bearers.

“Live creatively, friends.  If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself.  You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out.  Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed.  Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law.  If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.  Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.  Don't be impressed with yourself.  Don't compare yourself with others.  Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.”   -  Galatians 6:1-5

1. A community of creativity

Church should be one of the most creative places on the planet!  Creative is who God is, not just what He does.  When was the last time you did anything for the first time?

Work is not a job you go to in order to get a paycheck. Work is the expression of your unique set of gifts.

 2. A community of interdependence

Independent – wrong
Co-dependent – wrong
Overly dependent – wrong

Interdependent - we each stand on our own together.

Others can stand with you – but others can't stand for you.

There are some arenas of life that no one can handle for you. You have to do it yourself. To help would be like helping the caterpillar break out of its cocoon  -- it needs the experience to build its wings.

The wisdom component in this is to know when to help – and when to stay out.

 3. A community of restoration

We are not fault finders – we are forgivers.  We aren't critical – we are complimentary.

Right in the middle of every failure, every sin, every mistake - God is thinking redemption and restoration. Gentleness restores – it has a restoration quality to it.

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”   - Romans 2:4

Understand this - you're not above any fall yourself.

4. A community of burden bearers

“Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”   – Romans 15:1

Being spiritual is not just about you and God. It always includes the dimension of sharing what you have with others.

Let’s be a church of creative, interdependent, restorative burden bearers!