Welcome back to Missoula (for those of you that did come back). What an odd world we are living in. It’s been nearly a year since the covid-19 changed the way we live. And with one semester under our belt, living in this strange world hasn’t gotten any easier. Sure the masks, the social distancing, the online classes, the smaller circle of friends, have all become normal. But it all still feels off. I mean I certainly feel it.
As Christians, there is this really strong tension we are also feeling. On one hand we want to be safe. We want to take all the precautions necessary to minimize the spread of this virus, to keep our family and roommates safe, and to follow all the guidelines and ordinances of the University and the city. But on the other hand there is a Christians duty to one-another, to be in community and relationships, to not hide the light of the gospel under a lamp or in our dorm rooms!
And an added element of all of ths, is the question of where my priorities are? What matters most? The beautiful thing about the Bible is that it often answers questions like these before we ever ask them. Matthew 22:37-38 says, “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.““ And Matthew 10:37 says, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.“
Every Christians first priority should always be Jesus. I say that as a man married for over a decade now, and a dad with a two and a half year old and another little girl on the way. The Christian’s very first responsibility on this earth is to God. Providentially, it’s that responsibility that will make me a better husband and father. And it will make me a better friend and co-worker. Loving Jesus first will make you a better roommate and student.
My challenge to you this semester is to assess your priorities. Are you loving Jesus more than your schoolwork? Are you loving Jesus more than yourself? Are you loving Jesus more than life itself?!
Part of navigating this new world is figuring out how best, as GCF, to help you love Jesus more. Admittedly, we’ve struggled with that. But we don’t want to stop trying. So this semester we have landed on a couple of ways that we are going to do that with you. Wherever you land at in your risk from the virus, or your comfort level around others, we want to serve you in helping you love Jesus more, in whatever way you are comfortable.
To that end we will be hosting GCF Large Group online every single week this semester. No more plans changing Wednesday morning only to change Wednesday afternoon before the meeting. GCF Large Group will be at the same time every week, allowing anyone (anyone who makes it a priority) to join in learning from God’s word and from each other how to love Jesus more. 7:30, Wednesday nights, online, every week, we will host a discussion based Bible study.
We also recognize the draught of friendship and relationship that many of you have experienced over the last 10 months. The greatest commandment is loving Jesus. The second is loving others. Also to that end, we will be hosting in-person men’s and women’s Bible studies. We are separating groups to keep them small, isolated and safe. But we want to serve and love those who despite the surrounding circumstances, feel the need and conviction of being with people in relationship and community.
It will be safe. We will be taking every necessary and given precaution. But we will be trying to meet in person in even this small capacity during the spring. And in the context of loving Jesus more, we are going to try and do that. There will inevitably be breaks, and hiccups, and cancellations, that is the nature of our world right now. But we do want to make an effort to serve those who feel strongly enough the need to be with each other.
Finally we are going to prioritize discipleship. If you're new to GCF, discipleship is just a way to say we like people meeting together in one on one contexts. Where both people are committed to helping the other follow and love Jesus more and more. The beauty of this being a two man game is that this can be online or in person. Whatever comfort level you have, this can and should still happen. As a Christian you will spend the rest of your life a part of God’s church. And a vital part of being amongst his people is loving others enough to help each other follow Jesus.
So I challenge you. I challenge you to make Jesus your first priority. You were never meant to do this alone. Trying to follow Jesus by yourself is a fool's errand that will likely leave you the same way this pandemic has: lonely, isolated, lost, and hungering for someone to talk to.
Join us, everyone, Wednesday night, as we try to start this semester strong. Join us around God's Word, as we help each other love Jesus more every day.
