Community of Faith

At Destiny Church we have long identified ourselves as a:

Christ Honoring

Hope Giving

Community of Faith

We spend a lot of time talking about how our lives need to HONOR CHRIST every week as we come together, and prayerfully we have been offering HOPE to those who enter our doors and need to encounter the author of HOPE - Jesus Christ.

This morning, however, I want to talk about being the COMMUNITY OF FAITH!!! A faith community is a community that shares a common belief. That part - I think we are doing pretty good at — but what does it mean to be a community?

Many have entered in and because of the warmth and welcome they have received in our services, meet and greet time, pre service fellowship - have felt welcomed — but it is the deeper connection that people need that bind them to a church.

Few churches have that point of deeper connection - and in many ways ours is amongst the few — but it is something that needs to be NURTURED and GROOMED and FED to continue.

Last year I spent a small fortune having TRUGREEN come out and treat my lawns to bring back health, get rid of weeds, and stimulate a dream lawn. By end of summer it was looking pretty good, this year I thought - I am not spending any money on that, and I now have this native grass weed that rears its ugly heads just a few days after mowing. Totally annoys me!

That lawn is a living organism that has to continue to be CULTIVATED to be healthy and beautiful. Likewise, our church community is the same!

Just as a 100 degree day can challenge the strength of a lawn, things like a building project can do the same for a church community. We must be intentional to keep cultivating our patch of the KINGDOM OF GOD!!!

One of the misnomers of many are that they can just step into a church and immediately find the same connection that they may have had in a previous church before moving, or they look to the church body to do ALL THE WORK in bringing them into community.

The reality is — EACH OF US are responsible to not only create COMMUNITY for others, but most of all CREATE COMMUNITY FOR OURSELVES!!! WE HAVE TO MAKE THE CHOICE TO CONNECT into the lives of other believers, and be patient as community grows and strengthens, goes through times of storm and testing, and comes out with a rebounding strength that is long lasting.

The EARLY CHURCH had to create strong community because the society around them was so pagan, so persecuting, so anti Christ that without their faith in Christ would struggle. I believe those same conditions apply today.

So this morning I want to talk about building COMMUNITY! The principles we are going to talk about can be applied to our marriage, family, friendships, church, etc. It is about developing strong relationships that last!

I. E. F. T. S.

1. Initiated by Interest

Who is glad that Jesus sent His HOLY SPIRIT to initiate an interest in our lives???? That is right! Without the Holy Spirit gently convicting us of sin and drawing us to Himself and Christ we would have never entered into community with CHRIST!!!

We also see this principle of initiating interest in the person of Christ - especially when He called His disciples to himelf.

John 1:35–50 NLT

35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”). 42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”). 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. 45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. 47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” 48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” 49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.”

V. 43 - FOLLOW ME! Do you also remember the account of the fishermen when Jesus told them to cast their net on the other side and then called them to become fishers of men...

Jesus initiated INTEREST in the disciples and called them to follow....

Today, it is vital that we initiate interest in others!

There is an old saying - if you want to make a friend - you have to show yourself friendly!!!

It is not about waiting for another to come to you --- YOU GO TO THEM...

I see in young people today a great deformity in friendship making — they judge each other because another is not initiating friendship to them, the expectation is always on the other person, but they are doing nothing in themselves to initiate that friendship. HMMMMM --- I wonder where they are learning these principles.

Becoming a friend on SOCIAL MEDIA is not the same as initiating interest in a person face to face.

First of all - what vibe do we give off (Man who sat and looked mean and chased everyone away from him), and are we INTENTIONAL about creating relationship with others!

Guys, you had to get intentional about creating relationship to get to know that wife of yours --- someone has to become the pursuer --- ideally it should be BOTH PARTIES!!!

When Kimberly and I moved to Colorado we knew we would be away from our families. We had constant relationship with parents and siblings when we lived in AZ --- we made a DECIDED EFFORT to meet other ministers and spouses to initiate relationship with them. TO CONNECT - to form COMMUNITY --- and we still have to do that!

STOP WAITING for someone else to come to you - GO TO THEM!!! Don’t expect it to be the best friend you have ever had in the first month --- it takes time - but it will never start unless you are willing to INITIATE THE INTEREST!

IN Initiating interest it is essential that you take an actual INTEREST IN THAT PERSON and not just having them REGARD YOU! In other words - it will always take a GIVE on your part… you must be genuine in wanting to know who THEY ARE --- and not just getting them to care about YOUR NEEDS.

COMMUNITY BEGINS by INITIATING INTEREST

2. Enriched by Encouragement

Relationships we forge with other need to be ENRICHED BY ENCOURAGEMENT !

I am not saying that we never open up and get through the tough stuff - but are our relationships building one another up.

Romans 14:19 NLT

19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

Acts 4:36 NLT

36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus.

Barnabas was that guy who lifted others up, performed acts of kindness that were encouraging. He was a great contributor not just to the church, but to help individuals.

I am not saying we have to become the financier of all, but do we aim to encourage.

Is our friendship with others positive, lifting up, helping to encourage or do we discourage through constant negative talk, always having the crisis, bringing down burdens on all??? (You can ask the same for your home life and marriage)

Is our speech always critical of others, gossiping about others issues, or finding the problems because we have a need to FIX THEM!!!

That is not encouraging!

I am not saying that we don’t ask others to come beside us in our need, but are we coming beside others!!!

Our lives are enriched by encouragement! Everyone needs it! As a pastor I often hear the negatives, the troubles, the problems, etc… this week I had an experience where someone became the encourager instead...

I was having a frustrating day, I reached out to one of our deacons - i just said I was discouraged - within 5 minutes he was at the church ready to give an ear, speak encouraging words, pray and say I want to make a difference! WOW!!! I cannot tell you what that meant to me… the next day was a text saying I am praying for you and will be through the weekend.

My life was enriched by that encouragement!!! WE ALL NEED IT! WE all need to aim for being encouragers - if we are all down in the dumps and focused on negative we draw each other down instead of lifting each other up.

We don’t have to FIX THINGS either!!! Sometimes we just have to pray together! Cast our cares on Christ, and allow the Holy Spirit to work. Who do we think we are if we are always trying to be the fixers...

COMMUNITY must be a place of ENCOURAGEMENT!

3. Fortified by Faithfulness

Relationships are strengthened when people are committed to them! When we continue to be loyal and there for each other.

We endeavor to build community through Life Groups in our church - let me tell you - those groups that are FAITHFUL and COMMITTED to meet with each other build so much strength and fortification into each others’ lives!

When a problem or celebration comes up - they are there for one another!

Are we committed to each other? Are we faithful???

No one would want to be in a marriage where the other person is always checking out another person, always wondering if someone else would better meet their needs---

AHHH — no relationship can gain strength if we only look out for OUR NEEDS --- RELATIONSHIPS ARE FUNNY and need to be mutual!!!

They also require us to be faithful when another is not being as mutual as they should!!! or giving back as much.

Faithfulness is being there for each other

Faithfulness is showing up

Faithfulness is being committed

We AFFIRM by our COMMITMENT!!!

Look at the disciple - the one Jesus was known to love - John. When the others all abandoned Christ in His hour of need, John was there beside Mary, Jesus mother. Dependable, loyal, faithful. It was John that Jesus asked to watch over his mother.

John 19:26–27 NLT

26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, “Dear woman, here is your son.” 27 And he said to this disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

There was a faithfulness John had in not abandoning Christ in that moment, where Christ could depend on Him to entrust his mother’s care (the responsibility of an eldest son) to Him.

John was there for HIM!

When we are there for each other, when we are faithful and committed to one another - we STRENGTHEN the bond of relationship and COMMUNITY!

Are we there for each other in the church? Are we willing to serve the needs of others or is coming to church just to serve our needs????

Everyone loves a BIG CHURCH because of how it serves THEIR NEEDS — but those super churches - as effective as they often having to depend on PAYING PEOPLE to serve --- from musicians to children’s workers and nurseries, and custodial....

Where has the day of faithfulness to each other in the body of Christ gone???

True community comes through FAITHFULNESS to one another!

True community comes

4. Tested by Truthfulness

No relationship can stand the test of time without being truthful!!!

Being truthful is not always saying, displaying or doing what the other wants, but what each other NEEDS to hear, have done, etc.

When we hide our behaviors, present ourselves differently than what we are, or are dishonest when confronted than the lack of truthfulness puts cracks in the relationship.

No marriage survives ongoing lies! At some point truth has to come forth, even painful truth, to be dealt with, corrected, overcome and rebuild TRUST AGAIN.

Truthfulness IMPLIES TRUST!!! Do we trust each other

The latest term out there these days is “Being real” or “Authentic” — I dare say there is so much lack of truthfulness if we have to fake authenticity or proclaim it...

We all know Jesus words...

John 14:6 NLT

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

John 8:32 NLT

32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

We fear people’s reactions to the truth!!

In fact, people often avoid truth because they are afraid of losing relationship...

If a relationship cannot handle truth it has been tested and failed - why do we want to remain in that??

We need truthfulness because TRUST begins with Truth!!! IF we cannot rely on something to be truthful how can we place trust in it.

This is the same for relationships.

Acts 5:1–10 NLT

1 But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. 2 He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. 4 The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” 5 As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. 6 Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” 9 And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” 10 Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

The Holy Spirit would not allow the church to advance forward based on untruthful “kindness and encouragement”

Biblical community requires TRUTHFULNESS that can be tested!

5. Secured by Sacrifice

The greatest sacrifice ever was when Christ gave up His life for us!!! He laid down His ALL so that we could live.

You know you have truly achieved COMMUNITY and are engaged in lasting relationship when sacrifice is there!

This is when the relationship is not just for oneself!

We don’t see this in marriages, let alone church community!!! or friendships!

(DON’T BE DISCOURAGED BY THAT--- SACRIFICE is not instantaneous! It grows --- we don’t abandon relationship and community if they are not at this level yet---)

Sacrifice is just a level of relationship and community that becomes lasting — it becomes SECURE - SOLID!

We all see the picture of Christ’s sacrifice for us… but do we take that verse to heart as TRANSFERABLE to our lives???

John 15:13 NLT

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Are our lives so self absorbed with our own stuff that we are no longer willing to lay them down for each other - or for a friend....

Will we lay down our lives for our friends???

Jesus declared He is our friend because He would lay down his life for us… He did not say He was the only one who could do that!

In fact, He taught us to lay down our lives for the Kingdom of God...

Matthew 16:25 NLT

25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

In other words --- when your a part of the Kingdom of God --- it is not just about your needs, but the needs of others in the community!

We saw the exemplified in greatness when the early church sold possessions to help those in their community with need.

Acts 4:32–37 NLT

32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. 36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Sacrifice of time, talents, resources, in the Kingdom of God do not go unnoticed by the Lord!!!

In fact, you know when COMMUNITY is hitting the mark when it becomes secured by the sacrifice of those within it!

It takes time for that level of community to build, it takes time for that level of relationship to build --- but if we never begin to engage or move through the various levels of relationship and community --- if we are not intentional about building relationship with one another and community - when will it develop???

I came from a church where I saw this level of community demonstrated. It was powerful!!! In fact that church community and the relationships fostered there produced a generation of full time ministers and servants in the Kingdom!

You can’t force sacrifice, it must be chosen --- but when chosen we need to remember that God becomes the REWARD GIVER! It may not come back from another member of that community, it may, but God is the one who honors that.

Sacrifice on this earth for the COMMUNITY of God stores treasure in heaven!

Matthew 6:20 NLT

20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

Yet, the benefit on earth is the security of relationships we encounter while we are traveling through this life on the road to our Destiny!

Not only in linear relationships between one another, but in our church community

Every person who serves cleaning, teaching, leading, worshipping, serving --- each play a part in creating a secure community for others to be a part of!

Not just receiving from community - to giving back to community!!!

Sacrifice secures community!

Conclusion

SOOO,

Relationship and community must be

Initiated through Interest

Enriched by Encouragement

Fortified through faithfulness

Tested by Truthfulness

Secured by Sacrifice

This is not placed out here to judge our community or even judge our relationships — because EVERY RELATIONSHIP AND COMMUNITY is growing in its depth and effectiveness.

It is not given to make an excuse to abandon community or relationships because then we would be defeating the purpose of growing in these areas of our lives!!!

It is given to evaluate our part in our relationships and community of faith, to look at Biblical principles of community and how we can grow and improve spiritually in these areas of our lives.

It is given to help us stop criticizing what lacks to become a part of contributing what is needed!!!!

PRAYER

Lord, help me to be a part of increasing my relationships and the community of faith I am a part of!!!