Guest speaker: David A. Zimmerman

IDOLATRY ---> DISILLUSIONMENT  ----> EMPATHY

Left to our own devices, we would live in a self-centered form of idolatry.

God calls us OUT of where we are…

Far too often, we want to SETTLE somewhere other than where God wants…

The CHURCH is not meant to be a PLACE we go (destination death or “We-Ville”) but rather a JOURNEY or PROCESS.

Those who make their local church connection out to be their whole world; are guaranteed unhappiness and disillusionment.

Dietrich Bonhoffer in “Life Together” wrote about this disillusionment and said that those people within the church that become disillusioned will become accusers of the brethren, accusers of God, and finally accusers of themselves.

The two great commandments that Jesus taught went out of the way to subvert the idolatry of Self and calls us to Empathy.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Love others

The goal is Empathy in God’s manner: walk as God walks, do what God does, notice what God notices, befriend who God befriends…

How can we be priests for one another since we are called to be a holy priesthood?

How can we minister to one another? How can we communicate grace to one another?

How can we communicate our need(s) to one another so others can minister to us?

What are our responsibilities as not just individual Christians but together as “a holy nation”?

Where is God taking us and sending us as His church?