Community

Session 2

Personal Story - After we left our last church, there was a period of time where I felt alone. I thought I was by myself. I love having relationships with people and getting to know them, but at what point do you get exhausted from having to start all over? It can make you not want to even try. You begin to feel alone.

Have you ever been in a place in your life where you have felt alone? (Take a few minutes, and write about a time when you have felt like this.

Lets look at some scripture to help us what God says about being alone and without people in our lives. Read it to yourself first, and write your name in the blanks.

Ephesians 1:5 “God decided in advance to adopt INSERT NAME HERE into his own family by bringing INSERT NAME HERE to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”

How do you think it feels like to have someone willingly choose you, when you have not been chosen by anyone? (Discuss)

God did not intend for CHRISTIANS to live in ISOLATION. (Discuss)

How do you know when you are in wanted by someone? When you are KNOWN, CARED for, held ACCOUNTABLE, and ENCOURAGED.

GOD FORMED YOU FOR HIS PURPOSE!

Most of the time however, as groups become to come closer, and as they make strides to come close, we tend to push new people out. We want to be in control of who we let in and let out.

Personal Story - I had a student who brought a bunch of people to church over a period of six months. Our ministry started to grow and things were taking off. One of the students that she brought, started bringing a group of friends that she did not like. She planned ways to let them know that they would not be welcomed at our church because of their past. She used the veil of our church as her justification. It almost tore the group apart. One year later, it did. Here is the point of this story.

1 Timothy 3:15 “so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.”

1 Peter 2:17 “Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.”

Why is it hard to accept someone new? (Discuss)

The Second Purpose of Life it to LOVE others.

How do you define love? (Discuss)

Write the name of someone you find hard to love. How can you take steps to becoming more like Christ?

We all want to be loved, and she should desire to love other people. As hard as that may be, we have to love Christ.

Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus replied, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.””

If we can do what Christ is commanding us in these three verses, we will quickly understand that:

THE BIBLE CALLS THIS FELLOWSHIP!

Application:

Identify someone on this trip that you do not know.

Write their name HERE HERE HERE HERE HERE

Identify three things about them that make them happy:

SOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHING

SOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHING

SOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHING

Identify three things about them that make them mad:

SOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHING

SOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHING

SOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHINGSOMETHING

Write about it:

In a paragraph, share what you learned about that person.