Connecting Like Jesus
Notes
Transcript
Community / Fellowship
Introduction –
Today we continue our series, Living Like Jesus.
Last week we discussed how Worship is the means of becoming like Jesus and this worship is meant to be fully encompassing in our lives, heart, soul, mind, strength, reflecting to God and society the very nature and glory of God.
Next week – Growing in the way of Jesus
Week 4 – Serving like Jesus
Week 5 Going to the lost and forgotten like Jesus.
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Today – Connecting Like Jesus
Our Core Value
Joyful-Beautiful Relationships – Connect
We value time together as we gather regularly to build unity and genuine love for one another both inside and outside the of sanctuary. We value relationships in our community as an opportunity to share the life of Jesus in love and compassion.
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The Psalm James read, I love it!
A Song of Ascents, of David.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.
This psalm tells us two really important things
This psalm tells us two really important things
There is an anointing in Unity and Fellowship
There is a blessing in Unity and Fellowship
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The act of fellowship and unity has always been the way of the Church
The act of fellowship and unity has always been the way of the Church
So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
What is this fellowship?
What is this fellowship?
Sharing in purpose, direction, and mind, working together for a common purpose and goal. Sharing resources to accomplish a shared goal, walking together.
· Following Jesus is not an individualized sport, there are no Lone Rangers. Those who act as a Lone Ranger will be eaten by wolves or are themselves wolves.
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Today I want to talk to you about
4 WAYS WE EXPERIENCE ANOINTING AND BLESSINGS THROUGH UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP.
4 WAYS WE EXPERIENCE ANOINTING AND BLESSINGS THROUGH UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP.
1. UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP IN THE LORD PRODUCES AN AWE, THAT THE WORLD CAN FEEL AND EXPEREIENCE.
1. UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP IN THE LORD PRODUCES AN AWE, THAT THE WORLD CAN FEEL AND EXPEREIENCE.
Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
When we are unified around Jesus and the mission of Jesus the Holy Spirit loves to hangout and show out.
Amish forgive shooter / World in Awe / Amish community in unity and fellowship in living out the Law of Forgiveness.
Atheist - I can feel God dripping off the walls - 24/7 prayer group unified around worshipping and experiencing the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit LOVES TO HEAL AND ENCOURAGE THE UNIFIED PEOPLE OF GOD LIVING IN FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS.
2. The Holy Spirit LOVES TO HEAL AND ENCOURAGE THE UNIFIED PEOPLE OF GOD LIVING IN FELLOWSHIP WITH JESUS.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
Paul tells us the Spirit loves to manifest in powerful ways that build up the unified Body of Christ.
When we live in the fellowship of Jesus together, we can expect the Spirit to manifest in awesome ways, building His Church.
Why miracles in the early church / missions abroad / in times of persecution?
Early church - devoted themselves daily to the values and mission of God and Jesus.
Persecuted church has no time to divide over personal values and motivations - they need each other
Mission field - A fresh wind of Jesus unites people who were previously divided. Waring tribes begin to worship together
Church if we want to see the Holy Spirit manifest in powerful ways to build and encourage the church, we need to devote our selves to unifying around Jesus and His mission.
3. UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP CREATE THE MIRACLE AND BLESSING OF BROTHERLY LOVE.
3. UNITY AND FELLOWSHIP CREATE THE MIRACLE AND BLESSING OF BROTHERLY LOVE.
TRUST / DEPENDABILITY / KNOWING MANY PEOPLE HAVE MY BACK.
LOVED EVEN WHEN I DON’T DESERVE IT
FORGIVEN WHEN I MAKE A MISTAKE
KNOWN / LOVED / HEARED /
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
A real love for the odd ball - Ronnie Brae
A real love for the unloveable - Martin Williams (I rebuke you, LOL)
Real fellowship joins the odd couples together to accomplish His mission. (Fox hole - mission - Your odd but I got your back.)
4. Fellowship and Unity in Christ Trains us to Live the in Kingdom of God.
4. Fellowship and Unity in Christ Trains us to Live the in Kingdom of God.
And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Love your enemies, turn the other cheek, walk the extra mile, pray for those who insult you and persecute you.
I don’t like that person / that person offended me / they get on my nerves / not like me / think differently than I / Not my class, race, status, etc.
The church allows us to train in the way of Love so we can rightly deal with the world around us.
If you cannot forgive in the church how will you ever forgive those outside the church that hurt you?
If you cannot pray / Love / Seek the good / of those in Christ, how can you ever expect to live the law of Love outside the fellowship of the Church?
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How do we build this kind of Fellowship and Community?
How do we build this kind of Fellowship and Community?
Acts 2: 42, 46-47
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
It all starts with Jesus.
It all starts with Jesus.
Before you and I can be in this kind of fellowship together we must be in this kind of fellowship with Jesus.
Are we following Jesus
Are we of the same mind as Jesus
Are we devoted to the mission of God as Jesus was?
As we each find fellowship with Jesus, we find fellowship with one another.
Continually Devote yourself to fellowship and community.
Continually Devote yourself to fellowship and community.
Fellowship takes continued devotion.
It is a decision not a magic trick
Have one mind – Live together in purpose (Great commission - Church mission)
Have one mind – Live together in purpose (Great commission - Church mission)
We must follow the way of the Faithful witness, Jesus our Lord.
moving to accomplish the mission of God, using our particular gifts and callings.
The mission of God will overshadow our differences.
Eat together, play together, suffer together, work together, be together.
Eat together, play together, suffer together, work together, be together.
Learn, sing, pray together regularly
Learn, sing, pray together regularly
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Next Step -
Table talk
Summer Life Group (Fellowship) Men’s, women’s, young adults, etc
Fall Rooted Group
Commit to Sunday worship
Hang out - Yelp even with those who you think you have noting in common with outside of Jesus - Jesus is enough!
Praying together
And understanding God’s word together
Go do an outreach together / pray for lost friends together.
Simply put - Share in Jesus and His mission together and not just on Sundays.
God desires to fill us with his anointing and blessings
So, lets devote ourselves to unity and fellowship in HIM!