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Everyone knows that in order to have a successful trilogy, the third part is the
lynchpin. It kind of brings everything together, ya know? Case in point; “The
Godfather Part III.” If you want to know how not to conclude a trilogy, watch two of
the greatest movies ever within a trilogy, Godfather part I and II, and then shower
yourself with disappointment in part III.

That being said, hopefully this will tie everything together in this three part series
of “What Is The Common Thread Community”.

It was about two years ago when I began to study one of the most life changing
passages of scripture. In Luke chapter 16 verses 1-13 Jesus tells this really
interesting parable about a dishonest manager, who takes what his master has
entrusted him with and uses it on what he deems desirable rather than his masters
bidding. What’s interesting though, (and you’ll have to read the parable) is that after
his master discovers what he’s done and how he’s been dishonest in an effort to
store up for himself treasure on earth, his master commends him. He commends
him!!? The reason being that, his master knew he was a son of this world, a child
of the devil, and he was being shrewd with what temporal hope he had. And Christ
says in verse 8; “for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their
generation than the sons of light.”

This one little statement shook my whole foundation. Jesus was drawing a truth
out that cannot be mistaken. Which is this: when we perceive the way that people
who live for this world use their shrewdness in dealing with their temporal future,
it should not even compare to the way we use our shrewdness in dealing with our
eternal future.

So often Christ followers forget that we have been given a charge from our King
to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling”. Jesus said to use every
resource, every gift, every avenue as a means to invest in His eternal Kingdom. Not
this temporal dwelling.

Without this “Common Thread” running through all of us, then community is
useless. This is the cornerstone of The Common Thread Community. It is an effort
to gather like-minded believers with unique gifts, talents, trades, abilities, and
personalities, and be shrewd with them for the Kingdom of Heaven. The common
thread that runs through all of us is to expose and be exposed to the greatness of
God’s glory. He’s our master! He’s entrusted us with the resources we have. With the
abilities we have. Why would we EVER want to use them for any other purpose?

So whether it’s roasting coffee, writing music, organic farming, graphic design,
building homes, cooking, painting, sports, photography or anything that your mind
can imagine, we’re coming together as a community of believers, with a desire to

live simplistically, with great zeal and passion to get the hope of the gospel to the
nations. Ours included!

Everyone needs some coffee. Why not our coffee? Everyone needs pictures taken.
Why not our pictures? EVERYONE needs community. Why not this community? Why
not give yourself to something that is relying on the strength that the scriptures tell
us we have in the body. The church was never meant to function on Sundays alone!
In fact the battle is Monday through Saturday. How naïve of us to think that we can
win this battle apart from the army of God.

This is what I know to be true. I am here today because of the faithfulness of those
who have come before me and died never knowing the impact their shrewdness
would have on my life. The great cloud of witnesses that have prepared the way
through Christ so far. We are a results driven society, but more often times than not,
just like Jesus said in Luke 16, we will not ever truly know that results until our life
ends here.

His grace sustains us. His glory drives us. Our commission is to go to the uttermost
parts of the earth and make disciples. Every gift, every talent, everything else, is just
an avenue to get there.