Q) have you ever played with Legos? No matter the size of your creation with legos - Connection is the key. Legos work best if they’re connected…
The same is true with us.
*keep that in mind today as we talk about the next step in growing an irresistible faith – a faith centered around BELONGING to an irresistible community of God – this movement of community that God initiated.

*this is a radical comment about the fundamental importance of human relationships…(though marriage is highlighted here; this truth is not limited to marriage)

*what’s important to note: is that the Fall of humanity hasn’t happened yet – there is no sin, no disobedience – nothing that can mar the relationship between God and man. And God still says: something is not good here…the human being is in a state of perfect intimacy with God. He is known and loved to the core of his being by his omniscient, love-filled Creator. Yet the word God uses to describe him is: “alone” – and this aloneness is “not good”

-Isolation is not to be the divine norm for human beings; Community is the creation of God. God establishes relationships: Relationships are to a part of fulfilling us. Because it’s only in relationships – that love can flourish!

God’s pre-wired each of us uniquely; but we ALL have been created to crave and function best within CONNECTION – relationships matter!
Part of our purpose is to discover how to love one another – to model how relationships should be & can be!

We’ve been made FROM connection and FOR connection. We are fashioned in the image of God – bearers of his image. Jesus had one main practical community challenge – it was a relational challenge. (see John 13:34-35)

It’s why Jesus modeled that true spiritual growth, true maturing in the faith, true flourishing with God’s love – must happen at the intersection of our relationships!Our relationship with God and our relationships with one another.

We are exhorted to cause a stir, (not negatively) but (positively) one which leads to love and Christian activity (doing good). And such stirring cannot be done from a distance – it happens only within proximity; within community – where we can come alongside one another.

Quote:
“God’s aim in human history is the creation of an inclusive community of loving persons, with himself included as its primary sustainer and most glorious inhabitant.” ~Dallas Willard

God desires us to be in community – because he knows the damage that can happen when we choose to go solo; loneliness & emptiness that can be experienced when we’re left on our own. It’s NOT GOOD for man to be alone.

We live in an age of miraculous advancements – we’ve solved so many ills, but a hollow, nagging loneliness seems to remain in many. Friends, we might be the most technologically connected generation ever, but – is it possible that we might just also be one of the loneliest?

Quote: “Loneliness is the leprosy of modern society” ~Mother Teresa

“The Church” is to be that place of relational oneness(that’s the whole prayer of Jesus in John 17)

We’ve been given a new membership as a follower of Jesus – our lives are now enfolded into the FAMILY of God. + The Apostle Paul speaks so emotionally about how we as believers have been fashioned into the Body of Christ – it’s not longer just this group that you belong too – you’ve become a part of something dynamic.

To live this out biblical community: takes godly ATTENTION and TIME. I can build a lot of things with money & resources, but I can’t build relationships without ATTENTION & TIME.

Quote:
“If you think you can fit deep community into the cracks of an overloaded schedule – think again. Wise people do not try to microwave friendships, parenting or marriages.” ~John Ortberg
-you can’t listen in a hurry
-you can’t truly connect in a hurry
-you can’t mourn in a hurry
-you can’t rejoice in a hurry
-you can't demonstrate accountability in a hurry
-you can't encourage in a hurry
-you can’t love in a hurry

Busyness is perhaps, one of the great enemy’s of biblical community. *Maybe the biggest barrier to deep connectedness for most of us is simply the pace of our lives.

Learning how to love within biblical community, opens us up for spiritual growth as we invest our ATTENTION AND TIME with one another. Spiritual growth will happen at the intersection of your relationship with God & your relationships with others.

Quote:
“Our relationship with each other is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful—Christian community is the final apologetic.” - Francis Shaeffer

Q) are there DIFFICULTIES in community? YES!

Being in the community of faith does have its difficulties and frustrations; it can’t be otherwise since it is made up of people.
The mark of community - true biblical community - is not the absence of conflict and difficulties but the presence of a reconciling and overcoming spirit.
In our humanness we all do things to rub others the wrong way and to offend. We all, at times, will be hurt and we will hurt others. Our old sinful nature often causes problems. Nevertheless, we must not back away from the fellowship of faith.

Quote:
"Christ works on us in all sorts of ways…But above all He works on us through each other." ~CS Lewis

Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

"When we grant each other the Spirit-led blend of grace & truth – of ‘come as you are’ & ‘I love you too much to let you stay as you are’ = we give one another the supreme gift of true biblical friendship and community."–Scott Sauls

*Our community living this out – becomes more irresistible to a lonely, longing and connection seeking world.

we’re to invite others to a place of BELONGING – into the gospel focused / global family of God!
All are broken
All are in need
All are welcome
All can find forgiveness
All are loved
All can come home THROUGH JESUS

NEED PRAYER?
....we've got some of our prayer team and pastors available following service to pray with you. You can also submit your prayer request via our app. We look forward to partnering with you in prayer.

IF YOU'RE NEW:
we throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room, if you're new, we'd love to meet you and welcome you! We invite you back next weekend as we continue this series...

Again - HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to our amazing moms!