THE LINC COLLECTIVE

Scriptures:
Genesis 2:7
Genesis 2:20-25
Genesis 3:7-10
Matthew 22:34-40
Romans 8:16 (MSG)

Points:
The Enemy attacks connection through:
1. Sexuality
2. Distraction
3. Shame

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Connection is what makes us happy – connection is what feeds our soul – and it’s the one that human beings were designed for above all else.

1. Sexuality

“The union of two bodies is nothing less than the union of two souls, so don’t do with your body what you’re not ready to do with your whole life.” – Ann Voskamp

“Sex has enough combustible power to destroy character, marriage, vows, conscience and religious devotion.” – Jon Tyson

“Modern culture encourages us to create our own beliefs and morality, the only rule being that they must resonate with who we really feel we are. The worst thing we can do is conform to some moral code imposed on us by society, parents or the church. It’s  deemed to be self-evident that such imposition would undermine our unique and authentic self.” – Jonathan Grant (Divine Sex)

1. Distraction

“We live in an era where it’s possible to go through your entire life and never really be alone because even when we’re alone we’re on our phone or the internet or in our entertainment queue.” 

“It is now possible to completely banish solitude from your life. The moment most of us are ever alone in a room or even our cars we reach for the appendage of our device, check our texts, open social media, put on a podcast… our devices keep us tethered to the world of nose and the threat of all that noise and distraction isn’t just to our minds or even to our bodies, but to our souls. ” – Carl Newport (Digital Minimalism) 

1. Shame

Genesis 3:7-10 – “Shame is the only human emotion God never wanted us to feel.”

How we speak to our families is going to build or break connection within our homes. Our homes need to be places of unconditional love – not shame.

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So, what can we do?

• We have to take time to process our emotions in a healthy way and we need to model this for our children. 
• Give your brain a break (quiet time – unplug and connect with each other)
• Create margin in your life (“hurry is the great enemy of the soul”. Create time in your life to connect with God, with yourself & with others – learn to say no to busy)
• Seek God (above all else) (all other connections must come from this one (Acts 17:28 – “for in Him we live and move and have our being”) – outside of Him, we cannot do it. We have to abide deeply. 

Romans 8:16 MSG

“As followers of Jesus we are all just walking each other home.”

Question: How do we practically foster, build, prioritise & strengthen the connection within our homes?