Real Relationships
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Welcome
Welcome
Welcome to Renew!
We are in the midst of our Values series
Passionate Pursuit
Chasing after God, and what he has for us, with everything!
Selfless Service
Being the hands and feet of Jesus, to serve and love until they ask why
We continue our values series this week
These values are part of what makes us who we are
But first let’s PRAY! - First Southern Baptist Church
One Thousand Five Hundred Eighty One
One Thousand Five Hundred Eighty One
That is how many friends I have on Facebook.
They are all connections from every walk in my journey
From childhood to high school. College to adulthood
I have acquired one thousand five hundred and eighty one “friendships”
Most of the people that are “friends” couldn’t tell you my birthday unless Facebook reminded them
They probably don’t know my kids’ names or how many dogs I have
This “relationship” I have with them is only as deep as my computer screen
One of the values of Renew Bryant is Real Relationships
It is a direct reflection of the second part of our mission “Develop Relationships”
We don’t want to develop Facebook type relationships
We want Real ones
relationships that cause us to feel like family more than anything
We have talked with several people who say they want a small church instead of a large church
Large Church = Impersonal
Small church = Everyone knows you!
But what is the reason for that?
In a small church you get to build those real relationships because that is all that is there
In large churches it is easy to get lost
But what if we could build a relationship so deep that as we eclipse the 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and beyond mark it always felt like a tiny small church?
It is possible
The church of Acts is the model church for us
IT is what we strive to be!
But let’s look at the first few weeks of the church’s existence
Acts 2
120 people
They are spending time seeking the promise that Jesus had left
They had spent years together, they knew each other well!
Then the Holy Spirit falls and all 120 are part of an amazing experience.
From that experience, they were able to lead over 3,000 people to Jesus in 1 day!!
Their little church just became a mega church in less than 12 hours!
But the next few verses give us what a thriving church full of real relationships looks like
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
So if this is the model church then let’s follow this so we can be the church. THE REAL CHURCH!
Koin
Koin
Kŏinōnia -
Kŏinōnia -
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Handy trivia for you - my favorite word in the Greek
Yes it means to fellowship
Get together and hang out
Break bread
Commune
DO LIFE TOGETHER!
But it also translates to participate or to share which one has in anything
To participate in what we are doing!
Part of our kŏinōnia is doing this work together!
kŏinōnia is doing this work together!
Getting our hands dirty together
This is exactly what they did
Prayer -
Prayer -
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
They were DEVOTED to prayer!
There devotion to prayer produced results!
We must be devoted to seeking God for what he has for us
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
We afford you every opportunity to pray
Constant in
I would love to see us constantly praying in this building 24/7
Worship -
Worship -
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
I love to worship
There is something special about coming into this place and lifting my voice to God!
To thank God for what he has done or for what he is going to do
I love being here!
I love coming into this place with each of you and being able to worship together
Being here helps us to build real relationships with each other
The stronger your vertical worship is, the stronger your horizontal fellowship will be.
The stronger your vertical worship is, the stronger your horizontal fellowship will be.
Serving -
Serving -
And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
We are and will be even more a serving church!
Getting our and providing for the needs (spiritual, physical, emotional) of our community will always be a priority for Renew
It was for the early church
They gave everything they had so they could serve those people around them
Serve and Love until they ask why is not just a motto but a method
It begins to build a bridge to an open door
Relationships are built in the midst of serving
We have an opportunity today
Serving allows us to build the relationship with each other and with the ones who will come in!
Authenticity - ,
Authenticity - ,
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Why is this important
Why is this important
And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
This church was AWE INSPIRING!
This isn’t another message to just get you to come to church more
Well it is but..
These things
It’s a message to prove why these real, deep authentic relationships are important
We Develop Relationships with each other because the way we form them leads to AWE INSPIRING EVENTS!
We are striving to make a SIGNIFICANT spiritual impact on Saline County.
The way we do that is to be the church full of real people
describes the early church. It is presented as a model church, but this does not mean that it was perfect. A few chapters further on, we are going to find that it was far from perfect. It had hypocrites in it, as our churches also have. It had doctrinal errors. It certainly had sinful human beings of all types, as our churches do. Yet it was a model in many important respects, and it is as such that it is described in . These verses tell what developed in the church and how it functioned in those remarkable days after Pentecost. Obviously this description is intended as an example for us and our assemblies.
describes the early church. It is presented as a model church, but this does not mean that it was perfect. A few chapters further on, we are going to find that it was far from perfect. It had hypocrites in it, as our churches also have. It had doctrinal errors. It certainly had sinful human beings of all types, as our churches do. Yet it was a model in many important respects, and it is as such that it is described in . These verses tell what developed in the church and how it functioned in those remarkable days after Pentecost. Obviously this description is intended as an example for us and our assemblies.
Boice, J. M. (1997). Acts: an expositional commentary (p. 55). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
We have decided to be clique-free / a hospital for the soul-sick / color blind / a place for second chances
We have decided to be clique-free / a hospital for the soul-sick / color blind / a place for second chances
We have decided to welcome people with tattoos or not, piercings or not, suits or shorts, fat or thin, young or old, rich or poor.
This is important because these are decisions that define who we are!
Real relationships create unity that will propel us forward as a force for the kingdom!
Real relationships create unity that will propel us forward as a force for the kingdom!
Where do we go from here?
Where do we go from here?
If the are decisions that we have made then we have to act on it
Fellowship together
Break bread, commune enjoy each others company!
Pray with each other!
Come on Monday nights, come early to church, reach out and ask how you can pray!
Serve!
Who have you impacted this month as we are in our Serve and Love month?
Be Authentic
Come as you are. Become who you were created to be!
Not Facebook friends, Real friends. Soaked shirts from tears shed in sadness and joy. Hands dirty from working and lives enriched from growing together!
Meditate -
And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
Ask - Help me to develop real relationships with my family here so we can be an AWE INSPIRING FORCE!