As followers of Christ and as a body of believers, Peter calls us “exiles” and “transients” of this world (1 Peter 2:9–11). This world now includes our digital reality. We will have to rediscover and rethink how we live out our faith in the social media world. What does it mean to be in the world but not of the world and to have received a new identity and citizenship in Christ? How should these be integrated as we navigate the digital world?

The book of Colossians can help us in this. It’s a letter by Paul to the troubled believers in a place called Colossae. The believers were said to be in danger of doubting God’s sovereignty, salvation, and sufficiency, causing them to reduce the gospel to mere religious maxims—having separated their belief in Christ from their behavior for Christ. And so to strengthen and keep the believers from the ideas and influences of their generation, he exhorted the believers on the good news of Christ’s preeminence: His Lordship over all of creation—both the physical and the spiritual, the seen and the unseen—and that in Him, we are complete. Indeed, for us to be the light in this digital world, we are to rediscover who Christ is, what He has done for us, and how He expects us to live.

Social media is the extension of our real lives. Through these materials and as we live out our faith every day, may we honor God and inspire others to follow Jesus as well.
Connected is a four-lesson material that seeks to help individuals navigate the digital world. Through this, we will learn what God’s word says about who we are and how we can use our social media platforms to accomplish His purpose for our lives as individuals and as a spiritual community.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿
The digital space has great potential to reach a lot of people, but it also has a lot of potential pitfalls. As Victory group leaders, we need to be mindful of how we interact on social media and
encourage our members to do the same. Here are some things to keep in mind as we engage in the digital space:

• 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱. With all the fake news and misinformation we are receiving online, our hearts have to be anchored on the truth. Instead of going straight to our social media platforms, we can start each day by consuming the word of God first, trusting that His truth will guard our hearts and minds from the onslaught of lies and misinformation.

• 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. We don’t necessarily have to post Bible verses to do this. It means that our response to posts we strongly disagree with or negative comments we receive online should all be brought under the Lordship of Christ. Before posting, for example, reflection, prayer, and discussion can all help.

• 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁. Our personal causes and passion should not derail us from advancing His kingdom here on earth. Therefore, what we do online should reflect His kingdom, which is characterized by love, peace, and unity.

• 𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀. Before we post or respond to someone else’s post, we can pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide our words and actions or reveal something in our hearts that He may want to change.

• 𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. Social media is just one of the ways to connect with people. We can bring discussions offline and strengthen ties even with people whose opinions are different from ours.

As Christians, we are to align ourselves with what God is doing in our midst. Since the digital space is a tool that God is using for His redemptive purpose, our behavior online should contribute in uniting His Church and making Him known to the world.

𝑇𝑜𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑀𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑏𝑢𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠:
𝑅𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑎 𝐵𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑜
𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝐵𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑒 𝐶𝑟𝑢𝑧,
𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑜 𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑎𝑑𝑜
𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑆𝑜𝑛𝑛𝑦 𝑂𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑛
𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝐽𝑜𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑃𝑎𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑙
𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑖𝑒 𝑆𝑦
𝑌𝑒𝑡 𝑈𝑦