Known - Kingdom Connections

Intro

Good morning church family.

I want to say thank you for allowing us to go on the pastors retreat this past week. We had a time of refreshing and some down time to check out Lake Tahoe.

God has some things coming down the pike that we are excited about. He has confirmed some things for us.

You have heard us say before that God has us on a wave that we have been riding. I spoke with Cal Swenson who is over our “LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, PASTORAL CARE” in our district this past week and he said, “After riding a wave they go back out to catch the next wave. Surfers only come in when they are done surfing. ”

We are not done surfing church. We are getting ready to catch the next wave of God that He is bringing to us. I don’t know about you but I am not ready to come in yet. And I know God is not done yet. There is more coming our way!

Last week we started a series called KNOWN and we looked at how we are fully known by God. This week I want to look at being known by others.

I want to speak to you for a few moments about KINGDOM CONNECTIONS.

1 Peter 2:4–5 (NASB95)

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Kingdom Connections

As Christians we are called to have Kingdom Connections. Peter tells us in our Scripture today that we are “living stones” that are connect to the main cornerstone which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus is building His church and in building His church you and I are called to connect with one another.

Nobody is called to walk their spiritual journey all alone. The whole “Jesus and I have our own thing going so I do not need to connect to others” is not biblical.

All through Scripture you will find that God has connected people together in order to fulfill His purposes here on Earth. From Adam and Eve , Jesus and His disciples, Paul and Silas, and I could keep going.

Genesis 2:18 (NASB95)

18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NASB95)

9 Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.

John 14:16 (NASB95)

16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

We are called to connect with one another. I think we do not connect the way we should is because we are looking at our connections in the wrong way. We see our relationships with one another as more transactional than transformational.

Transactional Relationships

While transactional relationships may work in the economy, they do not work within the body of Christ.

A transactional relationship is based on exchange of money, goods, or services. They serve a very clear point. And when that point no longer makes sense or has been fulfilled, the relationship ends.

Too often we look to our relationships with one another as “what can you do for me?” and when that need is met, the relationship ends until I need something else and then the relationship starts back up.

Transformational Relationships

Transformational relationships are not so.

While transactional relationships are focused on goods, the product, the service, transformational relationships are focused on the person. In other words, the relationship continues on.

God is not in the business of having a transactional relationship with us. God didn’t send Jesus to die so our sins can be forgiven and then that is it. He died so we can be transformed.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB95)

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

We are made new.

Romans 12:2 (NASB95)

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

God’s desire is to transform you into a completely different person.

It wasn’t just a transaction where an exchange of goods - Jesus body for your forgiveness - and then the relationship ends. God desires to continue that relationship with you until Jesus comes back or calls you home.

Through that transformation, God has called you to connect with other living stones, people, in order for you to help them and they to help you along this spiritual journey we are on.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB95)

11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Transactional relationships is having expectations of others. You do this so I can get this.

While transformational relationships inspire one another.

As a disciple of Christ, I want to inspire people to become more like Christ. I hope people come to Christ and those who have live in a godly manner, but I can’t expect them too.

When I expect those who don’t know Christ to be like Christ, it is a transactional relationship.

When I expect those in the church to be like Christ, it is a transactional relationship.

Or I expect everyone to come to my church, if they don’t then the relationship is over.

When those expectations are not met, the relationship is usually over.

I think this is why so many in the church world today end relationships with those who fall and stumble. If someone in leadership has a failure, we disown them and cast them out because they failed to meet our expectations.

Are there times to stay away? Absolutely.

Titus 3:10–11 (NLT)

10 If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.

11 For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.

Romans 16:17 (NLT)

17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.

Causing division in the church is different than someone not meeting our expectation of living a certain way. God doesn’t take those who sow seeds of discord lightly.

I question the salvation of hose who sow seeds of discord in the church.

Transactional Vs. Relational with God

Why do we have this transactional view of relationships?

I believe we end up with transactional relationships more that transformational is because our relationship with God is transactional.

Think about it.

How often have you seen someone ask God for something or pray about something and they did/didn’t get it or God did/didn’t answer and then they left God altogether?

God if you don’t do this, then I will do that. Transactional.

This is a distorted view on our relationship with God. God is anything but transactional.

Let me show you.

John 14:27 (NASB95)

27 “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Jesus came to give us peace in this upside down world. He died not only for our sins, but so that we can live a life in peace. On the surface that may seem like a transaction. Jesus death, for our peace.

Matthew 5:9 (NASB95)

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

We are not just called to live in peace, but to make peace. A peacemaker is a person who brings about peace, especially by reconciling adversaries.

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 (NASB95)

18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Let me give you one more. This is a BIG one.

1 John 1:9 (NASB95)

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We are forgiven because of what Christ did on the cross. He died the most horrific death in order that we may receive forgiveness of our sins.

On the surface it seems like a transaction. An exchange of Jesus’ blood for our sins. Not so. God is not in the transactional relationship business. He is in the transformational business.

Colossians 3:13 (NASB95)

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Ephesians 4:32 (NASB95)

32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

You see, the old James couldn’t forgive. But now I can. God has transformed me through Christ so I can forgive those around me. Transformed.

If we view God as a transactional God, we will view each other the same way.

Closing

As we close I want to go back to our main Scripture.

1 Peter 2:4–5 (NASB95)

4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

As Christ’s church we are called to connect with one another. If Jesus is the cornerstone, and we reject the idea of connecting with one another, we are essentially rejecting Christ.

I want to urge you church, to connect with one another. Not for the sake of getting something in return, transactional, but to inspire and encourage one another towards transformation.

So we as the church can reveal to our community who Christ is.

Let us pray.