Putting It Into Practice

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. Jn.17:21 “ Our relationship with each other is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful— Christian community is the final apologetic” Francis Schaeffer # 1….Self Disclosure: To Know and Be Known “True Community is more than being together. A person does not develop trust in others simply by being in a group where members study together, pray together, and share a common group leader. Trust involves relatedness. Relatedness is more than presence although that is the beginning. To relate, one must know, and to know one must work at being open to trust.” Julie Gorman Fuller Seminary There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom.8:1 #2….Care Giving: To Love and Be Loved Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Eph.4:15-16 #3….Humility: To Serve and Be Served Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Phil.2:3-8 (ESV) #4... Truth-Telling: To Admonish and Be Admonished Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. Col. 1:28-29 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 Admonishing can be done in a spirit of worship And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Col.3:15-16 Admonish means “to put in mind, or to warn” “The ministry of admonishing calls people to change, then provides encouragement and teaching to help them change. It is an expression of genuine love and truth from which there can be no turning.” Bill Donahue #5 Affirmation: To Celebrate and Be Celebrated We live in an affirmation deprived culture “Rejoice” is used 42x in the NT “Joy” is used 60x in the NT But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. Jn.17:13 Rejoice in hope Rom.12:12 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord…Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Phil.4:1,4 Rejoice always I Thess.5:15 “ There is no fast food at the table of community.” “Christians want change without challenge, strength without suffering, community without commitment.” Bill Donahue To cultivate a culture of community requires that the quality of life transcend the traditional experience of most churches how and let us consider to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Heb.10:24-25 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up…. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order. I Cor. 14:26,39-40 Acts 2:41-47 W…orship I…nstruction F…ellowship E…xpression Remembering the core values….the irreducible minimums Acts 2:41-47 W…orship I…nstruction F…ellowship E…xpression Acts 2:41-47 I…nstruction F…ellowship E…xpression W…orship Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3 W…orship Next week ….new series Explore new avenues of worship…. Songs Scripture reading Devoting on an attribute or act of God Testimony Instruction… Teach…Discussion & Questions Fellowship …. “To have in common” To participate together A meal Lord’s supper Burdens, joys, needs Pray for local, our country, our world Expression… Finding ways of penetrating our community and our world with acts of love (missional living) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 the church needs to be the message Facilitating an environment to grow a community of grace ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Eliminate Sunday School C3 Ministry (Calvary Children’s Community) Face one another Change is difficult and requires time to accustom ourselves ▪ Embrace the five irreducible minimums as our core values Launch Date: June 9th Time: 10:30am I will commit… To knowing and being known To loving and being loved To serving and being served To admonishing and being admonished To celebrating and being celebrated