Who's at your Table?

Welcome

Welcome to Celebration. We are so glad that you are here. My wife, Maegan and I are honored to serve as the Lead Pastors and if there is anything that we can do to better serve you and your family, please don’t hesitate to let us know. If you are joining for the first time welcome, or digitally, we welcome you as well and want to invite you to join us if you are ever in the Orlando area.

Introduction

I am excited to continue in our Momentum series. Simply put, momentum happens when we put our faith to work. 2 weeks ago we kicked off the series where we took a look momentum and how we have to keep the same energy, like a car merging on the highway. Last week we had Pastor Chris and he shared around the importance of being healthy requires getting free from our insecurities.

Today I want to continue in discussion, specifically in our relationships. There is no greater gravitational pull in your life than your relationships. Our relationships have their own orbit. Things that rotate around us. If you and I were to have a conversation about relationships and I asked you what/who were some of the most influential relationships in your life, who would you come up with? Me? There are the obvious, my family. Mother, step-father, grandparents, brother; cousin, Jerry. I also would mention my friend Dervon. I would mention Troy Matthews, my first adult friend and mentor. I would mention my mid-childhood best friend, James Gray. There are so many more. Our relationships have such a huge impact on our lives. Such an impact on our filters. However, I think many of us underestimate the importance of our relationships. We underestimate how the relationships in our lives have the ability to propel us or cause us substantial setbacks. We have relationships that can unlock something in us and we also have relationships that can lock us down. Relationships require intentionality.

Jesus was intentional with His relationships.

I think many of us underestimate the importance of our relationships. We underestimate how the relationships in our lives have the ability to propel us or cause us substantial setbacks. We have relationships that can unlock something in us and we also have relationships that can lock us down.

Context

Jesus began His ministry when He was 30 years old. He picked 12 men, that we know as His disciples to help Him accomplish His mission and carry it on. After 3.5 years, He is about to complete His mission. He is having a meal with His disciples, the passover meal, and He begins to unpack some crucial thoughts.

Scripture

Matthew 26:20-

Matthew 26:20–25 ESV

20 When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve. 21 And as they were eating, he said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 And they were very sorrowful and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 25 Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”

Today, I want to talk to you about relationships and the people that we give access to. I’ ve entitled this message, Who’s at your table?

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for giving us the space to worship you. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear, hearts to receive. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Illustration

Have you ever had a misunderstanding in a relationship? I am not talking about I thought you wanted a small fry, not large. I am not talking about I thought we were going to leave at 7:30, not we had to be there at 7:30. I am talking about the very framework of the friendship all together. Maybe for their birthday, you gave them a nice sappy post on your social media and when it is yours, no mentions. Not even in the story. You know stories are how we acknowledge but not commit because it disappears in 24 hours. Let’s go deeper. You ever have someone ask you for a favor that exceeded the level of the friendship? Someone asks to use your car? They ask you to move. I had a friend that called me once and asked me if he could borrow $5,000. I was totally floored because I would have said our friendship was “I’ll treat for dinner” level. I mean, we cool; but we ain’t that cool.

I am not talking about I thought you wanted

Have you ever had a misunderstanding in a relationship? I am not talking about I thought you wanted a small fry, not large. I am not talking about I thought we were going to leave at 7:30, not we had to be there at 7:30. I am talking about the very framework of the friendship all together. You ever have someone ask you for a favor that exceeded the level of the friendship? Someone asks to use your car? They ask you to move. I had a friend that called me once and asked me if he could borrow $5,000. I was totally floored because I would have said our friendship was “I’ll treat for dinner” level. I mean, we cool; but we ain’t that cool.

Transition/Definition

It is crazy to think such a thing could happen. Did I send out the wrong message? I tend to think of relationships like a book, there are different chapters and pages. We can be in the same book but on a different page, meaning we are getting different messages. It is important that we establish definition. Definition establishes boundaries and boundaries provide expectation. The key is not to define people but get a sense of what to expect from them. If you know you have a friend that isn’t a giver, you won’t be surprised when they don’t give. If you have a friend that only takes, you can make sure you have it in you to give to them.

Most relationships, friends or significant other has this definition in common; it is a person with whom you have a bond. Bonds can be different. They can close or they can loose but what they can’t be is neutral. Meaning, relationships will either move us forward or move us backward. Relationships can be seasonal.

Observations

Observations

Observations

Relationships are built on common ground.

Amos 3:3 NKJV

3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV

14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

2 cor

Your relationships are from God or the devil.

They either push you closer to God or draw you away from Him.

Upon surrendering my life to God, I had to reevaluate all of my relationships. I had to determine if our season was coming to an end.

If it is not the same foundation, there isn’t balance.

Relationships should make us better.

1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT

33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

Relationships should make us better.

Proverbs 27:17 ESV

17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT

33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

The people in your life will make you stronger or weaker

Amos 3:3 NKJV

3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

What’s around you, will eventually get on you.

What’s on you will eventually get in you.

Who’s around you will influence you.

2 Types of Relationships

2 Types of Relationships

Circumstantial

For what you’re for

Against what you’re against

Against what you’re against

Covenantal

For YOU

David and Jonathan

Equal value does not mean equal access

Equal value does not mean equal accessWhat’s around you, will eventually get in you; Who’s around you, will eventually get in you

What’s around you, will eventually get in you; Who’s around you, will eventually get in you

Points/People

Jesus was surrounded by people. He had layers and levels. He loved and valued everyone equally, but everyone did not have equal access. He had the masses that He ministered to. He had about 500 disciples that He appeared to after His resurrection. He had the 72 that He sent out to represent Him. Then He had is 12. Next He had His 3, the Inner Circle. Finally, the 1, John, who Jesus trusted to take care of His mother. Jesus loved them all equally but they all didn’t have equal access. Equal value does not mean equal access. Everyone can’t have access to everything.

Skeptics (Thomas) - Critical.

Skeptics (Thomas) -

Truthful (Nathanael) - Brutally honest

Justice (Simon the Zealot) - High Justice

Compromising (Matthew) - Just wants to survive

Passionate/impulsive (Peter) - Quick to love, quick to fight

Needy/insecure (James & John) - It is never enough

Offended (Judas) - Selfish, self centered

They each had a seat. They each played a part.

How to be better in relationships?

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Gal 5:

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-control

Closing

Exodus 33:11 ESV

11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

James 2:23 ESV

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

The most important relationship you can have, is the one with Jesus. Everything flows from that. The kingdom invites us into a relationship that pulls us up and challenges to image the king.