Purpose Driven Life Lesson 18

Purpose Driven Life

Lesson 18

Experiencing Life Together

Scripture Focus

Colossians 3:15 CEV

15 Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.

Psalm 133:1 The Living Bible

1 How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live in harmony!

Introduction:

Life is meant to be shared.

· I love going on adventures – But I want to share the experience

· Widows are draw to church for the social

We were meant to experience life together

· Our spiritual journey is exciting because we are doing it together

· Fellowship –

Fellowship hall

· But it’s more than that

It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other “one another” commands found in the New Testament.

· When it comes to fellowship size matters.

· The psychology of small groups

· Jesus chose 12

· God has made an incredible promise about small groups of believers

Matthew 18:20 NASB 2020

20 For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

What does real fellowship look like?

In real fellowship people experience authenticity.

a. Real breakthrough happens

i. People will open up more

ii. We wear a mask on Sunday morning

iii. Humble honesty can happen in a small group

1 John 1:7–8 NCV

7 But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

“Darkness is used to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in the light, we bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.”

b. Being authentic requires courage and humility

i. We face the fear of exposure

ii. What if we are rejected?

iii. I’ll be hurt again

iv. Why take the risk?

1. Because it’s how you grow

2. Spiritually and emotionally

James 5:16 NLT

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

In real fellowship people experience mutuality.

a. We depend on each other

1 Corinthians 12:25 NLT

25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.

ii. The Bible commands mutual accountability, mutual encouragement, mutual serving, and mutual honoring.

Romans 12:10 NLT

10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

In real fellowship people experience sympathy.

a. When one cries…

i. Sympathy says, “I understand what you’re going through, and what you feel is neither strange nor crazy.”

Colossians 3:12 GW

12 As holy people whom God has chosen and loved, be sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle, and patient.

iii. Every time you understand and affirm someone’s feelings, you build fellowship.

iv. Training as a chaplain

When fellowship happens at a deep level

i. When we serve each other

ii. We go even deeper when we suffer together

iii. When circumstances crush us to the point that our faith falters, that’s when we need believing friends the most.

In real fellowship people experience mercy.

Fellowship is a place of grace

i. Mistakes aren’t rubbed in but rubbed out

2 Corinthians 2:7 CEV

7 When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair.

iii. Everyone gets a second chance

b. You will inevitably be hurt

i. It will take a massive amount of mercy to forgive

Colossians 3:13 NLT

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

iii. Will you use my energy and emotions for retaliation or for resolution? You can’t do both.

Forgive vs Trust

i. Forgive instantly

ii. Trust takes time and needs a track record

1. Using encouragement and accountability