Becoming More Alive To God Through Authentic Community

Teaching Series: Alive To God: Christ In You

Beginning Thought:

We are not designed to do life alone. Without the involvement of other believers, we will NEVER be fully alive to God!!

Defining Authentic Community:

Consistent and persistent engagement with other believers for the purpose of encouragement, empowerment, accountability, and growth.

Foundation Texts: Hebrews 10:23-25

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Making the case for authentic community:

1.     Discovering and living in authentic community is hard.

• it requires trust
• it requires time
• it requires openness and vulnerability
• it goes against our selfish nature

Truth:

There is a part of every person that wants/needs unconditional love, trust, and acceptance. There is another part of every person that craves autonomy. We long to belong and long to be independent from the constraints of others.

2.     As humans, we are a confused hot mess.

14 So the trouble is not with God’s law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that God’s law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.
18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. Romans 7:14-20

 3.    Even the most spiritually mature person has blind spots.

 15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ Matthew 18:15-16

 4.     Believing without belonging won’t get you across the finish line of your faith.

9 Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

 Truth:

The devil is coming!! Trials are coming! Trouble is coming! Difficulty, confusion, hardship, and frustration are all coming!!! Those who live in authentic community have a much higher chance of survival.

 The “How To” authentic community:

 1.    Pray, ask God to show you who to be in community with.

 Truth:

You are not designed to be everybody’s soul mate/best friend.

 2.    Use the Paul, Barnabas, Timothy model.

• Paul was timothy’s mentor
• Barnabas and Paul were buddies
• Timothy was a newbie being mentored by Paul

 3.    Go slow, be brave, maybe use a book, and practice follow up/follow through.

Truth:

Most people are not trained/licensed therapists. Using an outside source, like a book, can help start conversations that lead to deeper things.

4.    Practice the art of listening and coaching.

Truth:

You are NOT THE EXPERT on the other person’s life…the Holy Spirit is. Communicate in such a way that helps the other person find what the Holy Spirit wants…not what you think they should do.