One Family - Relationships
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Good Morning & Welcome to New Hope!
Good Morning & Welcome to New Hope!
Last week we kicked off the new year with a new series titled One Family - all about the mission & vision of the church. Specifically, the values / DNA that I believe God has given this church. Now some of what I say applies to the “Church” and some of it I believe is specific to New Hope.
Last week I said that I believe based on - Jesus said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations.” It’s the mission of the church to be disciples, and it’s the mission of the church to be disciple makers. We’re going to talk more about that in the next two weeks.
Last week I shared 4 “is & is nots” about discipleship - Decision, not indifference; Discipline, not disregard; Direction, not destination; Community, not exclusion.
This morning, our conversation is more about values. What are the guiding principles that we believe God has equipped New Hope with? What are the things that we want to be about? What are the things that we would hang our hat on? What are the things that if you are having a conversation on Friday night with friends and they say, “Hey, what’s your church all about?” What are the things that we believe should be infused in everything we do? Children / Youth / Men / Women / Life Groups? If we desire to become a church of disciples who make more disciples, what are our defining characteristics? What are our values?
If we desire to become a church of disciples who make more disciples, what are the defining charact
Well…This first value that we’re going to talk about is so foundational when it comes to the church. It’s important in so many ways. Besides Jesus, I believe this first value the glue that holds things together in the church. It’s what makes us one another. In fact, it’s what makes a family. It’s the soil with which growth happens.
It’s what makes us one another
It’s what
The first value we’re going to talk about is RELATIONSHIPS
Definition: the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected.
Here’s what makes relationships
Relationships are the soil
Secure in who you are… Good relationships begin with you. If you’re not healthy your relationships won’t be healthy. You need to know your identity. You need to be self-aware. One of the best things you can do for those around you who you’re close with is to know who you are. When you know who you are you know your tendencies; you know how you react in given situations; you know how you respond in times of stress; you know what to expect from you. And when you’re secure with who you are in Christ, it doesn’t matter what others might say about you. It doesn’t matter what others don’t say about you - Because you’re secure in your identity in Christ!
Connection… The essence of relationship is connection. Without a connection there can be no relationship. Without being in proximity to someone there is no relationship. Yes, long distance relationships can exist, but even they long for something more. Everyone, even the greatest of introverts, has a deep sense/desire to connect to someone.
Communication… Relationships grow through communication. We get to know one another through talking and listening. Those who are married understand this… Or don’t understand this. In order to have a relationship you must communicate. In order for a relationship to grow, you must communicate.
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
Honesty...
But here’s what happens over time...
Connection...
Our security in who we are can fade and insecurity creeps in; we begin to doubt, wonder, & question
Life happens, calendars fill up, we don’t see each other like we once did. We can be less connected than we once were.
Because we don’t see each other, we don’t have as much time to catch up and chat. We don’t text each other as much. Our likes and shares on IG, FB, & TW become less and less. Our communication can become splintered.
So… In order to BE the church... In order to BE the church that God calls us to be… In order to BE a church of disciples… In order to BE a church of disciples who make disciples… we must do “relationship” well. A couple days ago at the pastors conference that you so graciously send this staff and spouses to, John Maxwell said something like, “Before people will listen to you tell them about Jesus, they must LIKE you first.” One of the early stages of discipleship is sharing Jesus with others.
Unfortunately, some of us Christians can be not easily liked. We can be rude, pushy, overbearing, condescending, know-it-alls, judgmental…shall I go on? It ought not be!
Turn with me to the book of 1 Peter in the New Testament… I believe Peter shares with us an incredible insight for us to employ when it comes to relationships.
You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
Does this characterize your relationships with one another?
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
Deep love - Eager; fervent; ready love
Covers - to cause something to be covered over and hence not visible
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.
Deep - eager; fervent
Covers - to cause something to be covered over and hence not visible
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
(NLT)
“As God with His love covers my sins if I believe, so must I also cover the sins of my neighbor” [LUTHER].
(NLT)
1If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Hatred stirs up quarrels, but love makes up for all offenses.
7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Col
you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.
Relational equity
Relational equity
Relationships with others inside the church
Relationships with others inside the church
Relationships with those outside the church
Relationships with those outside the church