Get in the Game

Jesus said he wanted us to make disciples. Inviting friends and acquaintances to come to church is a great way to get in the game. After all, Christianity is really helpful with major problems people are struggling with today. Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus commissioned the church to make disciples of all nations. This is the “game”. Are you in it or on the bench? Five Problems that Christianity Helps With 1. Plunging Birthrates (Gen 1:28; Prov 17:6; Mark 10:13-14) 2. Addiction (John 8:34-36; Rom 6:5-8; 1 Cor 10:13) 3. Choosing an Identity (Luke 9:23; John 10:27-28) 4. Loneliness (Isa 41:10; 1 John 1:3; 1 Cor 12:25-26) 5. Meaninglessness (John 3:16; Psalm 73:25-26; Eph 2:8-10) Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program: “A considerable body of research has suggested that religious service attendance powerfully affects health and also affects other aspects of flourishing such as meaning in life, character, and close social relationships. Specifically, research has indicated that those who attend religious services at least weekly are about 30% less likely to die over a 10- to 20- year follow-up, are about 30% less likely to become depressed, and are over five times less likely to commit suicide …. Other evidence suggests that religious service attendance is associated with subsequently greater meaning in life, greater social connection and social support, and a 30% to 50% reduction in divorce. See https://hfh.fas.harvard.edu/how-to-flourish. The post Get in the Game first appeared on Living Hope.