Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “not alone”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  “not alone”

We have just a couple of things left to learn about the Bonsai Christian Life and the Bonsai church. One of the characteristics of a Bonsai church is that it is alone. A lone tree shown in a pot all by itself. This is the exact opposite of what the church is supposed to be. We are called to be in fellowship with each other.

1.      Not Alone
a. Ecc 4:9-12 Better results in ministry, helping each other up, encouragement and power.

b. Ecc invests in friends because you will need them.

c. Gal 6:1 Carry each other’s burdens

d. Romans 12:1-8 given gifts to serve the body

e. Eph 4:1-13 So that we may grow

f. Hebrews 10:23-25 meeting together for encouragement

2. Growing apart
            a. Build exclusive friendships (clique)
            b. lack of forgiveness and grace
            c, shame
            d. old age
            e. conflicting priorities in life
            f. work schedules

3. Growing together
            a. purposefully schedule time with others
            b. invest in a circle of friends
            c. purposefully invite people out or over for dinner
            d. Visit and pray for people who are sick or homebound
            e. Make a deliberate practice of inviting new people

It is the natural habit of churches to grow apart, if we are going to overcome the Bonsai Christian Life and the Bonsai church, we must invest in others. We must build new ways to be together. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.