Purpose Driven Life Lesson 19

Purpose Driven Life

Lesson 19

Cultivating Community

Scripture Focus

James 3:18 The Message

18 You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.

Acts 2:42 NIV

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Introduction:

Community requires commitment.

Two things are needed in a church family

The power of the Holy Spirit

A commitment on our part.

Ephesians 4:3 NCV

3 You are joined together with peace through the Spirit, so make every effort to continue together in this way.

· The book makes a good point about some people have grown up in unhealthy relationships

· The bible is great at teaching how to do this

· To have real fellowship you’ll need to make some tough choices and take some risks.

Cultivating community takes honesty.

a. Speaking the truth

i. I hate conflict

ii. While it is much easier to remain silent when others around us are harming themselves or others with a sinful pattern, it is not the loving thing to do.

iii. Many fellowships have been sabotaged by fear

iv. No one had the courage to speak up in the group while a member’s life fell apart.

Ephesians 4:15 NLT

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

vi. Speaking truth into someone life is not easy.

b. Frankness

i. Frankness is not rudeness

ii. Speak words of love but also truth

iii. Being frank, when handled correctly will draw people even closer.

iv. Churches have been ruined because they would not confront an issue.

Cultivating community takes humility.

a. Selfishness

i. This is the modern-day sin

ii. And it destroys fellowships

iii. Pride builds walls between people; humility builds bridges.

iv. Humility is the oil that smooths and soothes relationships.

1 Peter 5:5 NIV

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

b. Pride blocks God’s grace in our lives

i. We receive God’s grace by humbly admitting that we need it.

ii. Pride is in opposition to God

c. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.

Admit your weaknesses

Being patient with others weaknesses

By being open to correction

Pointing the spotlight on others

Philippians 2:3–4 NCV

3 When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. 4 Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.

vi. Humble people are so focused on serving others.

Cultivating community takes courtesy.

a. Respecting our differences

i. Tell us how you really feel about tattoos

ii. People have feelings

iii. People irritate us (being patient)

iv. People can be difficult

v. We do live in an age of outrage

“Extra Grace Required”

God places these people for us to grow in grace

ii. They help us grow, test or fellowship

Romans 12:10 GW

10 Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.

iv. Every saint has a pass, and every sinner has a future

v. Real community happens when people know it is safe enough to share their doubts and fears without being judged.

Cultivating community takes frequency.

a. Relationships take time.

i. We don’t build relationship listening to a message on the couch

ii. We don’t build relationships with a 2 minute hello before the message

iii. The first Christian meet together every day

iv. It is so important that meet together

Nine characteristics of biblical fellowship

i. We will share our true feelings

ii. Encourage each other

iii. Support each other

iv. Forgive each other

v. Speak the truth in love

vi. Admit our weaknesses

vii. Respect our differences

viii. Don’t gossip

ix. Make meeting together a priority