Principle 5: Face to face is best
We need to work hard to create physical face to face connections with people.
Three benefits of meeting face to face:
1. Eating together - Something happens when we break bread together! Jesus did it all the time!
o ""Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"" Mark 2:16
o When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them - fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread. ""Bring some of the fish you've just caught,"" Jesus said. ""Now come and have some breakfast!"" John 21:9
2. Touch - There is power in physical touch
o Washing feet
o Children in his arms
o Touching lepers
3. The presence of Jesus
o Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them. Matthew 18:20
Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25
o The phrase ""our meeting together"" is the same the one Jesus used ""gather""
When the people of Jesus are in physical proximity to one another...watch out for Jesus. He is right there. And when Jesus is in the room all kinds of things can happen!
4 Ways to Be Face to Face:
1. Go out of your way to spend time together.
2. Join a Rooted group (https://gracechurch.us/rooted)
3. Pray together
4. Come to church every weekend rather than watching online
So there it is, the good life awaits us in the digital world. But approach technology with caution and purpose and balance and do it together...face to face.