How Jesus Connected

Bible Introduction (2m)

Like Lego, Humans were Designed to Connect

Lego

Last time > Creation story > God who is plural/of relationship created us in his image/for relationship.

Colossians 1:15 NLT

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,

If so, then how Jesus connected = important

Mark 3:13-19 (Major Elaine) as J began connecting.

Introduction (5m)

Our God is a God of Relationship

Genesis 1:26 NLT

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

Before time, God was in relationship with himself - Father, Son & Spirit.

Made us in his image - relationship with him and with others:

John 1:14 The Message

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.

Jesus perfect image/revelation of God - Stands to reason he craved companions

Needed time alone. Needed to rest from busy schedule. But needed others to serve with him, to be in fellowship with him.

So Christianity Began with a Group (Barclay)

The Gospel of Mark The Chosen Company (Mark 3:13–19)

The Christian faith is something which from the beginning had to be discovered and lived out in a fellowship.

J spent much of his time in opposition to Pharisees - “separated ones”

Christianity would be different - task of living with/for each other.

Explanation (5m)

At the beginning of ministry, Jesus calls together his small group

Mark 3:13–14 NLT

Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach,

12 - first purpose simply to be with J

Travelling companions, live with him 24/7. Crowd may come/go, but 12 would identify with him. But more than that. Learned abandoning own will. Adopting J’s agenda. Became life mission/ultimate loyalty - making J “Lord.”

Mark—Jesus, Servant and Savior The Master’s Management of the Demands (vv. 13-19)

The result was, they really came to know Jesus. There was an exchange of soul, and ultimately a profound identification—word for word, breath for breath, emotion for emotion, volition for volition.

Special training, sent out on mission together. Impact - started Christian church.

3 = small small group!

Simon Peter, James & John = inner circle. Experienced most significant/revealing points of gospel - raising of Jairus’s daughter, Transfiguration, Gethsemane.

Being Together with Jesus Changed Them

They were a diverse group!

Mark 3:16–19 NLT

These are the twelve he chose: Simon (whom he named Peter), James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

Mixed! Matthew hated tax collector. Simon = Zealot - fiery, violent nationalists who would happily murder/assassinate to get rid of foreign powers. All kinds of backgrounds/opinions.

But God insists Christians live and serve together and enables us to do so as we live with Jesus.

And As They Do So, They Are Changed

They fought over who should have the most power. Argued about who would sit at RH of God. They cussed. They cut people’s ears off. They denied Christ. They cowered behind closed doors. They wanted to call fire down from heaven. They said things they shouldn’t have said. They doubted. They had issues!

But Simon - wavering, inconsistent, afraid became Peter - the Rock on which church was built. “Sons of Thunder” finally gave up all talk about who would be first/most powerful and became dynamic, HS-filled disciples. Thomas the Doubter became a tenacious man of faith. They were all changed.

Application (5m)

We are a family, not lone ranger Christians

Lego

Like lego, designed to connect. J shows us there is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian. We must create/maintain special family relationship between us.

Congregation can only be extended family; small groups operate as nuclear family

On Sunday morning can only really be extended family - like the uncles/aunts/cousins you know are family, but not deeply.

It’s small groups who really operate as close family. Close, intimate relationships. Place for lonely. Place where bonds of faith strengthened. Share prayer, Word - yes, but share lives and homes, model God’s love to one another. Adopt one another. Commit to one another. Accept responsibility for one another. Care for one another. Love for another.

When we do that it becomes Good News for Everyone

John 13:35 NLT

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

Our love for each other is a mission to our community

We can help restore community and people in it in the power of HS - spiritually, physically, socially and even politically.

God is calling us to connect more deeply with each other

Jesus shows us how. The essence of Christianity is community. What will you do to strengthen it?

God promises even greater things for Basingstoke Corps if we are one in holiness, faith, harmony, love

Next Steps