![\"\"](\"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Saturate.png\")
<\/p>\nThough the memory of the cause of my angst has faded with time, the way in which my friend addressed me in that moment is burned on my mind. He pulled me aside and said, \u201cHow are you doing? Where is your understanding of God\u2019s grace right now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Honestly, I wanted to push him away or maybe even punch him in the face! I felt I had good reason for being mad, and he wanted to ask me about God\u2019s grace?! I think I responded to his question by saying something like, \u201cIt\u2019s not very present! I\u2019m pretty upset!\u201d<\/p>\n
But I instantly knew he was right: I needed a reminder, in that very moment, of the grace of God. The question, and the gentle, compassionate way in which he asked it, proved to be a helpful light shone on the darkness of my heart. I was not entitled to being treated a certain way, nor could I rightly make demands of others. My friend\u2019s pursuit of me was the beginning of the Spirit breaking in and leading me to repentance. God\u2019s grace was exactly what I needed.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” top_padding=”40″ text_align=”left” el_id=”deux”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Encourage One Another Daily” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:125%25|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1588971605404{margin-bottom: -10px !important;}”][vc_column_text]In his helpful book, Instruments in the Redeemer\u2019s Hands<\/a>, Paul Tripp points to Hebrews 3:12-14 as a scriptural basis for the kind of care I received from my friend that night; a care that is imperative for all communities of believers to offer one another.<\/p>\n \u201cSee to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called \u2018Today,\u2019 so that none of you may be hardened by sin\u2019s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.\u201d<\/p>\n This passage and many experiences like the one I described have helped shape my thinking on care in community. The New Testament paints a clear picture of the need for small bands of believers to speak the truth of the gospel to one another on a regular basis. Within the context of a missional community, stories are shared and trust is built. The people in a MC can begin to speak the truth in love to one another in ways that comfort and challenge. These communities should be more than a once-a-week meeting, but rather like a life that\u2019s lived together as a family. This passage speaks directly into that daily life-on-life reality.[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”If the ship of their faith was going to go down, it would be lies and unbelief that sank her.<\/em>” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:125%25|text_align:left|color:%2338559b|line_height:1.5″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][vc_column_text]The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish believers who were tempted to abandon their faith in the face of persecution. The author\u2019s primary concern is that they endure and that they \u201chold fast,\u201d a phrase used four times throughout the book.<\/p>\n And in chapter 3, he identifies the main threat to this life of endurance. Somewhat surprisingly, the threat is not an external threat, which would have made sense in light of the persecution they faced. Rather, the primary threat to these believers teetering on the edge of apostasy was \u201can evil, unbelieving heart,\u201d a heart \u201chardened by the deceitfulness of sin.\u201d<\/strong> This threat is internal, aimed straight at our hearts.<\/p>\n The author calls his readers to \u201csee to it,\u201d that is, \u201cwatch out!\u201d lest they fall into this trap. If the ship of their faith was going to go down, it would be lies and unbelief that sank her.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” top_padding=”40″ text_align=”left” el_id=”trois”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1\/1″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Preach the Gospel to Yourself\u2026and to One Another!” font_container=”tag:p|font_size:125%25|text_align:left|color:%23000000|line_height:1.2″ google_fonts=”font_family:Lato%3A100%2C100italic%2C300%2C300italic%2Cregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic%2C900%2C900italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” css=”.vc_custom_1588971706150{margin-bottom: -10px !important;}”][vc_column_text]Lies and unbelief are poisonous to our faith. But sandwiched in between these two killers is the antidote: \u201cencourage one another daily.\u201d<\/p>\n Regular encouragement from our brothers and sisters is a vital weapon against the onslaught of lies and unbelief with which we are assaulted.<\/strong> And note the content of the encouragement in Hebrews 3:14. \u201cFor we have come to share in Christ\u2026\u201d We need daily gospel encouragement from one another. We need reminders of the truth of\u2026[\/vc_column_text]\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/missionqc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Abe_400x400.jpg\")
<\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”3\/4″ column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Abe Meysenburg<\/strong> is the pastor of shepherding at Summit Crossing Community Church in Huntsville, Alabama. Prior to their move to join Summit Crossing, Abe was a founding leader and elder at Soma Tacoma in Tacoma, Washington. Abe has contributed to a number of Saturate’s gospel shepherding resources and was an author of Growing in Christ Together<\/em>. Abe and his wife, Jennifer have two daughters and two sons.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner]