A Church That Fosters Community (Part 2)

The Kind of Church God Builds
A Church That Fosters Community (Part 2)

I. Introduction

A. Matthew 16:18b (NIV) I will build my church.

B. American society is experiencing what sociologists are calling relational poverty.

1. Key thought for today’s talk: You may be a relationship away from changing the trajectory of your life!

C. Americans are extremely .

D. The #1 reason why people fail spiritually today is because of .

1. We need other to help us grow in Christ!

2. you have in your life is more important than you have in life!

3. Proverbs 13:20 (ESV) Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

4. Proverbs 13:20 (The Message) Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces.

E. If you or someone you care about are having a problem in almost any area of your life, you need to think about as being part of God’s solution for that problem!

1. Usually, God employs other to supply what we need!

2. “When we live our lives in isolation, what we have is unavailable and what we lack is unprocurable.” – St. Basil

II. Four Things God Uses Other People For

A. To help us

1. Galatians 6:1 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

2. “Deep relationship with other Christians is a to your spiritual well-being.”

3. Genesis 2:18a (NIV) The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

4. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT) ⁹Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. ¹⁰If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

5. Galatians 6:1 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

6. If you’re a follower of Jesus and you’re trapped by some kind of sin, I guarantee you that you’re not living in your sin.

a. What you think about, you eventually . What you feel, you eventually .

7. When you’re trapped in sin, or when you’re involved in some kind of compulsive behavior—when you’re “addicted”—you won’t be able to without the help of other people.

a. “Some people may stop their addictive, or compulsive behaviors apart from other people. But, if their relational patterns do not change, they will relapse if they’re not involved in a group.” – Henry Cloud, How People Grow

8. Galatians 6:1 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

a. “Restore” – – “setting a or putting together a dislocated bone”

9. “When a Christian falls and they are part of a normal church small group, their first instinct is to run away from their small group and hide. But, when people who are in recovery groups fall, their first instinct is to run to their group and find help.”

B. To help us genuine

1. 1 John 4:11-12 (NLT) ¹¹Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. ¹²No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

2. Psalm 139:14 (NIV) I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

3. Psalm 139:17-18 (NLT) ¹⁷How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! ¹⁸I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

4. The way we learn things in our is different than the way we learn things in our .

a. Our hearts learn through .

C. To and support us

1. A small group is meant to “ you ”—to tell you that you can keep going—to tell you that you can do it.

2. 2 Corinthians 4:8 (NLT) We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

D. To with us

1. 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

2. Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT) A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

(The Message) By yourself you’re unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.

III. Conclusion

A. We’re not designed to do .