Escape Room

 Open up your Bibles to Genesis 6. In verse 13 we see that God is going to destroy the world, but in verse 18 he tells Noah that he's going to save Noah and his family. At this time the world was very wicked full of debased people doing debased things. They had no regard for godly men like Noah who knew God's word. God did however give Noah the means to escape the world.
 Fast forward to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. God is telling us Christians that if we remain long enough (until the end of time) He will personally come for His people. Jesus will come down and we'll fly up into the air to meet Him (HOW COOL IS THAT?). We call this the Rapture. Again, at this time we see a debased world, doing debased things and God tells His faithful people (the church) in Thessalonians that He will provide the means for them to escape the world.
 Well right now, saints, I think we live in a wicked world. I think there are debased people doing debased things. I think God has spoken just as He did to Noah and to future saints in 1 Thessalonians. I think he has made a way for us to escape; namely, the church.
 In Hebrews 10:25 God tells us not to give up meeting together, but to encourage each other until the Rapture happens. We are supposed to be encouraging one another every time we meet together: in homegroups, in church, or just when we meet randomly in a gas station, grocery store, or go out to eat with other saints.
 In John 13 we see Jesus washing His disciples feet. Now remember, we need to escape from the world. Our feet are what come in contact with the world every day. It is a symbol/picture of being in the world, however we need to have our feet washed. We need to be cleansed from the world. Jesus modeled that we also need to wash each other's feet. We should have the attitude every time we meet at church and especially at homegroups that we're there to minister to others. That we're there to pray for, to love, and share God with others. Our meetings need to be different than meetings in the world. This isn't done only with Bible studies. This has to be intentional, loving fellowship that actually cleanses people from the world.
 This washing can only happen if people allow it to. Remember Peter? He didn't want to have his feet washed in John 13. There will be people who are averse to opening up. They are averse to telling people how they can be ministered to. They don't want people to see their smelly feet. Our response should always be Jesus' response: deliberate, loving instruction that we model ourselves.
 Guys we need to care about each other. We need to minister to one another. We need to get real with each other and tell others how we're struggling, how we could be held accountable, how we can be encouraged, how we can be prayed for. This doesn't come naturally, it comes supernaturally. It can only happen by the Holy Spirit. That's what we should want  for our homegroups. That's what we need in our homegroups. And, most importantly, it's what God desires for our homegroups.
 Do not forsake the assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near Hebrews 10:25