Foyer

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Last Week For Nominations For Elder and Deacon

A Big Thank you to!!

Andria H and Joshua S

Stephanie

Angie G

Angela B

Lenay Fowler

Ashley G

Jose A

Missions Trip

GOAL: You set up a dinner date or appointment with someone that was a stranger when you walked in.

I set up 4 (doug, jeff’s friend, neil’s, wilson’s)

INTRO: Funny Story: Dinner

An elderly couple had dinner at another couple's house, and after  eating, the wives left the table and went into the kitchen.

The two gentlemen were talking, and one said, "Last night we went out  to a new restaurant and it was really great. I would recommend it very  highly." The other man said, "What is the name of the restaurant?"

The first man thought and thought and finally said, "What is the name  of that flower you give to someone you love? You know... the one that's  red and has thorns."

"Do you mean a rose?" “Yes, that's the one," replied the man.

He then turned towards the  kitchen and yelled, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went  to last night?"

Funny Story: Relationship...In-laws

This older man was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son-in-law, a world renown surgeon, perform the operation.

As the old man was about to receive the anesthesia he asked to speak to his son first.

'Yes, Dad, what is it?'

'Don't be nervous, son. Just do your best and remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me . . . your mother-in-law is going to come and live with you and our daughter.'

Behind every door, there is a sea of emotion from love, anger, happiness, hurt, depression,

There are adventures, abuses,

There is hope

There are dreams

There are dangers

There are defeats

There are struggling marriages

MESSAGE: FOYER PT 1

Quick Greetings and good byes

Step out of the cold or rain

Many people, even strangers, have been welcomed in our foyers.

You don’t have to remove your shoes in our foyer

You have access to the office, for professional purposes

Foyers are a place where masks don’t come off, guards are not lowered, confessions are not likely, it’s an easy place to hide insecurities and emotions because it is mostly surface level conversations.

It’s Merely an Entry Point into you home (Life)

What does God think about relationships?

What is the most important commandments? Jesus summarizes over 600 commandments into 2…

Mark 12:28–31 NLT

One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

God is a God of Relationships.

Exodus 34:14 NLT

You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

God is a communal God

Throughout the NT we see Jesus interact with people and we can learn a lot about relationships.

He knew how to take initiative (woman at the well John 4:7-42)

Jesus left room in His schedule for interruptions by friends and others enlisting His help (Jairus cry for help for his dying daughter Mark 5:23)

Jesus usually met people on their own “turf” (Peter’s mother-in-law that was sick Mark 1:29-31) (Rich Young ruler not ready to surrender Matt 9:16-30)

Jesus was interested in establishing common ground with others. (Zacchaeus’ house Luke 19:10)

I hear people say, and I have said, I am not a people person. (Task oriented)

If you say you are doing great in life but not in your relationships than life is not good.

James 5:16 NLT

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.

Evangelism is best spread through relationship

Influence - FLU - it just spreads rapidly

Through the social relations, Christianity comes in contact with the world.

Ellen Gould White

Co-Founder of 7th Day Adventist

Marriage

Marriage is another example of the God’s desire for deep relationships with one another.

Genesis 2:22-25

Marriage is an opportunity to have someone live with you and see who you REALLY are.

Living with someone that closely enables them to look us in the face and say that either you are a hypocrite or you’re the real deal.

It is so easy to be someone your not in the FOYER on the SURFACE but close relationships will challenge you, make you uncomfortable, and hold you accountable to growth and change.

If my wife can say I am the same person when I am on stage as I am at home

My kids can say I am an example of godliness…that is a win!!

Influence is all about letting people come close enough to you, that they see the real you.

That is terrifying and exciting all in one.

It’s not that people are going to see perfection, but that they will see humility and transformation.

ILLUSTRATION: The closer you get to a picture; the more pixelated and imperfect it becomes.

Christians are just hypocrites in transition!

STUDY: “Relationships keep us alive”

A cruel experiment was carried out by Emperor Frederick, who ruled the Roman Empire in the thirteenth century. He wanted to know what man’s original language was: Hebrew, Greek, or Latin? He decided to isolate a few infants from the sound of the human voice. He reasoned that they would eventually speak the natural tongue of man. Wet nurses who were sworn to absolute silence were obtained, and though it was difficult for them, they abided by the rule. The infants never heard a word—not a sound from a human voice. Within several months they were all dead. (Joe E. Trull)

CONCLUSION:

WHAT IF…Our FOYER became a place where you welcome people to take off their shoes and enter a deeper part of your home where meaningful conversations take place?

Connection - strengthens our immune system, reduces anxiety and depression, lack of connection with others is worse for us than smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure. Lack of social connection can kill us.

STORY: Camping trip to Amana Colonies. I felt like I just had to get away from people for a while so we left with no kids for 7 days. I was so ready to see other people.

STUDY: Brigham Young University Study in 2015

A study showed that 30 years ago on average people had 3 close friends, now we are lucky if we have 1 close friend.

Social isolation increases your risks of death by 32%

25% of people in America say they have no one to connect with or depend on. That would be all the people living in Texas, New York and California combined. 80,000,000 people.

Think what covid did to people…Isolate, distance, treat others with contempt,

What is Satan’s tactic?

John 10:10 NLT

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

That is why the church is so essential!!

In the Natal Tribes of South Africa they greet one another with:

Sawubona - I see you

Sikhona - I am here

What your not changing your choosing.

CALL TO ACTION:

Set down the cell phone

2. Look at people differently!

Truly look at one another with interest.

Make eye contact

3. Sharing something your grateful for

It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Lutheran Pastor)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

ILLUSTRATION: We make our kids share positive things about each other when they fight

4. Share the best part of your day with someone you care about

5. Make connections that go beyond the FOYER