Love People (Community)

Intro (Get them connected me, we)

We all have an experience with church.

When you think church you think of…

Music style

Preaching style

Building style

How many of you, without showing hands, think of these phrases…

Mean

Judgemental

Rude

Unloving

Uncaring

That was what I thought of. We were allowed to have fun and they always gave their opinions and everything else, no one cared about people.

Spiritual Journey → everyone is on it and it’s a theme we see throughout the Bible and particularly throughout the life of Jesus.

Let me show you what it looks like.

People

Then Jesus takes it a step further and says that having a vertical relationship with God is insufficient. In order to truly move in your spiritual journey you need to have relationships with people.

Paraphrase ⬇️

Matthew 22:36–40 (NIV)

36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

38This is the first and greatest commandment.

39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Show the line concept.

The Western church has lied to you and culture has lied to you. And what I’m about to say is controversial and probably going to make you uncomfortable…

When it comes to faith and you’re faith journey, stopping at the first step is not enough. However, the culture has said it is. I had a friend who said they believe in God and they don’t need the church. The problem with that is it’s not true, and it’s not Christ-like.

Jesus, who was the closest to God still had people in his life. 12 disciples, Lazarus was his friend. Not just follower, friend.

Here’s the point I want to make, you need people.

Created in the image of God → you need people.

Here’s the other thing, being connected to people is how you keep from being the mean church person we avoid.

Body (Scripture)

The early church knew this and Luke recorded it for us

When the HS came upon them.

Acts 2:1 (NIV)

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

After the Spirit came Peter went out preaching to the masses and telling them about Jesus. Why? b/c he watched Jesus be crucified and then he had breakfast with him on the beach days later.

After Peter preached people accepted the relationship with God and they came to know and love him.

Luke explains what happened after Pentecost

Acts 2:42–47 (NIV)

42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Fellowship – something that is shared, meaning they shared in their time together.

They hung out. They had friends. They had a community.

43Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

44All the believers were together and had everything in common.

45They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

They were so close they knew what the person on their row was going through.

They pooled their resources together to help those who were in need.

46Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

b/c they weren’t just big; they were small.

Community marked the early church.

Acts chapter 2 serves as an example of the ideal community.

A place where people are seen and known.

That’s what the early church looked like and that’s what our church should look like.

Application (What should I do?)

That’s very hard to do here in rows. This space is not a good place to do that. That happens in our life groups.

I have this → pastors group.

I had a life group and I loved it, we’re starting it back up in January.

B/c it’s a place to share life with people. You aren’t meant to do it alone.

Here’s what I know you need to be intentional about it. Oh, Brandon I don’t want manufactured relationships, it’s just so fake. Time out, all of your relationships except for your closest family is like that.

Work

Friends at school

College friend

All revolved around one major thing, time spent together. Someone put you in a space with people and before you knew it you were building relationships with people who you never would have.

Parents – isn’t it true that you do this with your kids?

“Have you talked with Timmy? He’s good people, his family is good Xtians”

Play dates, with who? People you want your kids to spend time with and develop friendships.

Leah and I with Harrison, Conner, and Levi.

Your Heavenly Father wants the same for you. Good relationships, that build you up and build your faith.

Here’s another reason this is important → each time I hear people talk about their faith journey, they always have someone they can attribute it to. These perfectly timed and divinely inspired relationships. They come at just the right time and spur them along in their faith journey.

Charlotte → Leah → Robert → Brad → Jonathan

You need relationships like that in your life.

Who are you doing life with?

This leads me to this last thing, we are growing and our church needs some people who are ready to lead these types of environments, people who are ready to step up and host a life group. If that’s something you want to do then here is your opportunity.

Go on the app and sign up to become a life group host, I will train and equip you, preparing for our January group semester.