This
fall when you saw the geese heading south for the winter, flying along in
V-formation, you might be interested in knowing what science has discovered
about why they fly that way. It
has been learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the
bird immediately following. By
flying in a V-formation, the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying
range than if each bird flew on it’s own.
(Christians who share a common direction and a sense of community can
get where they are going quicker and easier, because they are traveling on the
thrust of one another.)
Whenever a goose falls out of
formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone,
and it quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power
of the bird in front. (If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in
formation with those who are headed the same way we are going.)
When the lead goose gets tired, he
rotates back in the line and another flies point.
(It pays to take turns doing hard jobs with people at church or with
geese flying south.)
The geese honk from behind to
encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
(What do we say when we honk from behind?)
Finally, when a goose gets sick or
is wounded by gun shot and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and
follow him down to help and protect him.
They stay with him until he is either able to fly or until he is dead,
and then they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up
with their original group. (If
people knew we would stand by them like that in church, they would push down
the church walls to get in.)
You see, all we have to do in order
to attract those who are missing back to church is to demonstrate to the world
that we have as much sense as a goose here in church.
That seems little enough price to pay to win those who are lost and
minister to one another. Even
geese have sense enough to know it works most every time!
We will never become a church that effectively reaches out to those who
are missing out, if we shoot our wounded and major on the minuses.
Instead of being fishers of men, as Christ called us, we will be
keepers of an ever-shrinking aquarium!
Scripture
Text:
Romans 15:1 (NIV) We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of
the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor
for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but,
as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on
me." 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach
us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might
have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a
spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with
one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to
bring praise to God.
So then as Christians we
Should:
I.
Bear One Another: Support
one another. The strong help the
weak.
II.
Be like-minded: One
to another. According to Jesus
Christ. Staying together and working together. We should have the same mission.
Our mission is to live our lives everyday so that others can see Christ
living in us.
III.
Work to Please God and to please the other.
IV.
Have patience with one to another.
Just as God has had to us.
V.
Go the same direction.
VI.
Have one mouth to praise God and encourage one another.
VII.
Christ has received us then we ought to receive one another.
Fill in the blanks with your
name and church. This is the way
we were created by a God who loves us so much He has already provided the way
and shown us the way.
HONK!
HONK! HONK!