HUMILITY, TRANSPARENCY, INTIMACY

INTRODUCTION

We’ve been exploring the importance of authentic Christian community.

Jesus commanded us to make disciples. So, when do we become His disciple? When we obey His commands while loving like He loves. You cannot be discipled by simply coming to church.

You can no more be discipled by coming to church than you can become a movie star by going to the movies. It just doesn’t work like that. Life has to happen in a crowd.

Love one another - (This command occurs at least 16 times)

John 13:34–35 TPT

34 “So I give you now a new commandment: Love each other just as much as I have loved you. 35 For when you demonstrate the same love I have for you by loving one another, everyone will know that you’re my true followers.”

When you truly love, you will also give.

“for God so loved the world, He Gave...”

Whom you love, you serve.

We also learned that our authentic community was God’s plan for His witness in the earth.

We talked about that fact that one of the last things Jesus modelled to His disciples was humility as demonstrated by service.

Service is the only true currency of influence. Everything else boils down to pride, seduction, or intimidation.

Presentation without demonstration is just conversation.

He washed their feet, the duty of a slave.

We’re to do this along with another 31 “one another commands. The last one we mentioned was:

“Confess your faults to one another”

We’re going to spend some time today talking about the progression a spiritual maturity in a disciple of Christ.

Humility, leading to transparency, producing intimacy. This is process by which we create true Christian community that wins the world to Jesus.

God has commanded us to make disciples. So, when do we become His disciple? When we obey His commands while loving like He loves. You cannot be discipled by simply coming to church.

You can no more be discipled by coming to church than you can become a movie star by going to the movies. It just doesn’t work like that. Life has to happen in a crowd.

When we find our identity in Christ, we are free from a life of performance, fear, and offence.

James 5:16 NLT

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

Why don’t we operate in covenant?

Pride

Self Sufficiency

Selfishness

Fear

Shame

James 5:16 TPT

16 Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another and then pray for one another to be instantly healed, for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer of a godly believer!

James 5:16 AMP

16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

James 5:16 MSG

16 Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.