Relationships - INSIDE

Welcome to New Hope! If you’re visiting for the first time - so glad you’re here. We’d love to connect with you at some level and would appreciate it if you stop by our Welcome Center and speak with the people there. We have a special gift we’d like to give you to for visiting with us.

I’d like to begin this morning by sharing some announcements:

I’d like to continue with a word of scripture to prepare our hearts for worship and our teaching… Psalm 100

Good morning… My name is Shane. I have the pleasure of being one of the pastors here at New Hope. And we are in week #2 of our series on RELATIONSHIPS. Last week, if you weren’t here, we talked about our most important relationship. The success or failure of every other relationship rises and falls on just one. There’s one that is without comparison far more significant than any other. It’s the relationship we either have, or don’t have with Jesus. When we have a relationship with Jesus - everything should change. Our filter, our perceptions, our passions, our view of other people - it all should funnel through our connection with Jesus.

This morning we will be building upon that foundation. What we are going to be talking about today is a building block upon Jesus. And I believe that today’s message piggy-backs very well on last week’s message. It’s what should result from a relationship with Jesus. But don’t let me get ahead of myself...

Many of us belong to groups. For example - Leadership Whitley County, Community Foundation of Whitley County, The Center for Whitley County Youth, YMCA, 4H, FFA, Senior Center, Rotary, Might be part of a golf league...

Why? My guess is, it’s because you believe in the cause. You connect with its mission. Your values align with its values. You realize you can accomplish so much more together than you ever could by yourself.

But there’s another reason. And it may be a more compelling reason than all of these others combined. In fact, I can tell you that one of these groups mentioned that I’ve been a part of, it’s the reason why I participated. It’s the reason why I said, Yes! And it’s probably the most compelling reason for me to say Yes! regardless of the group.

Why do you belong to the groups you belong to? Why do you choose to invest your time in some of the things you invest your time in?

I believe it’s - RELATIONSHIPS

I believe relationships are what help people connect, return, & stick in a church. But far before that, relationships between people in the church, Christians, make or break whether someone is even willing to step foot in the church.

Judgements are happening all the time; Conclusions are being drawn all the time; Perceptions are being formed all the time… Right, wrong, or indifferent…they are happening.

Conversations you have with others matter; what you say matters, when you say it matters, how you say it... matters

What you post on any type of social media matters; what you post, when you post it, how you post it, why you post it... matters. It doesn’t go away. Even though we can walk away from it and maybe never see it again, the coverage can be far greater than you can imagine. People can and have screen shotted posts and still hang on to them in their photos.

People are always listening and watching what’s going on around them. No one wants to be part of a toxic culture. They want relationships. They want friendships.

No one wants to be part of a toxic culture.

And God being God, knew all of this to be the case. This is why it’s so significant for the church to truly be all it’s called to be. This is why it’s so significant for disciples to be followers/learner/models of Jesus. This is why it’s so important for God’s people to not just believe in Jesus but to become like Jesus - to live out the values and principles found in God’s word. It’s not enough just to believe...

(NLT) You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! (Here’s your cookie! Here’s your ribbon! Here’s your participation trophy!) Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

19You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.

20How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

In context with what we’re talking about, what are those good deeds? Glad you asked...

(NLT) This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. COMMANDMENT

There is no greater love than - surrender / submission / humility / Giving / Being gracious / Showing mercy / Forgiving

Why is this so important for disciples to love each other? Why do relationships inside the church matter?

The world is looking for evidence, proof… Are believers really followers? Are Christians really disciples? The church doesn’t need to be perfect - it should be authentic. People outside the church aren’t looking for perfect people, they’re looking for real people.

(NLT) Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. EVIDENCE

35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.

(NLT) 8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. FORGIVENESS

Greek for “covers” - keep secret, hide, conceal. It’s as if it never happened. That’s what love does.

8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.

(NLT) Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

(NLT) 2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. MAKE ALLOWANCE

(NLT)

(NLT) 2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. MAKE ALLOWANCE

2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

(NLT)

13For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Greek word here means to be patient, in the sense of enduring possible difficulty

Who doesn’t know that people are difficult? We don’t have to cynical or quick to judge, but how about we expect to have difficulty, but love through it.

35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Lead with love; extend grace; share mercy; offer forgiveness

(NLT)

6Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

(NLT)

8Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.

(NLT)

12And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows.

23And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

6Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

(NLT)

9But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.

2Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

(NLT)

1Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.

8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

9Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

10For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.

11Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

12The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”

(NLT) 12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

12No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

19We love each other because he loved us first.

Lastly, I’d like to read the following passage...

(NLT)

4“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

(NLT)

1“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:

2“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.

3You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

4“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

5Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Communion

(NLT)

23For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread

24and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

25In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”

26For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.