BIBLICAL COMMUNITY

BIBLICALCOMMUNITYMinistryLift Small Group ConferenceACTS SeminaryFriday, February 28, 2014

Large group gatherings provide the safety of relative isolation from the lives and needs of other people. But in a small group of people I am provided with the opportunity of becoming a functioning member of lifeboat #14.

The core values of any church demand a setting where they can work. Your large group worship and preaching gatherings are encouraging and beneficial but the true accomplishment of your core values is only found in a small group gathering.

1. Your goal is to be a family where each person is known and cared for.

1. Your goal is to be a family where each person is known and cared for.

Colossians 3:12-15: Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

2. Your goal is to be a hospital, caring for those who have been hit and run over by life.

2. Your goal is to be a hospital, caring for those who have been hit and run over by life.

Isaiah 61:1-3: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners—and provide for those who grieve—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.

3. Your goal is to be a celebration rejoicing in the attributes and the acts of God.

3. Your goal is to be a celebration rejoicing in the attributes and the acts of God.

Psalm 105:1-4: Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.

4. Your goal is to be a school, training in biblical truth and a biblical lifestyle.

4. Your goal is to be a school, training in biblical truth and a biblical lifestyle.

Colossians 1:28-29: We proclaim Christ, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end we labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

5. Your goal is to be an army that invades this dark world to bring people from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.

5. Your goal is to be an army that invades this dark world to bring people from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.

Acts 26:17b, 18: I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.

I Peter 2:4,5—As you come to Him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him—you also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Our identity is found in a metaphor—we, as Christians, are living stones, being built into a spiritual house.

1.We are a community – verse 5Christianity that is not lived in community is not Christianity at all!


2.We are a people – verse 10A Christian is called out of insignificance into significance.


2.We are a people – verse 10A Christian is called out of insignificance into significance.

3.We are called – verse 9, 10A Christian is called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light.We are called out of no mercy into mercy.

WE ARE CALLED TO BE:

WE ARE CALLED TO BE: A Chosen People

We have been chosen by God and He has a covenant relationship with us.



A Royal PriesthoodWe have been given access to God and the task of bringing others to God—we are bridges!




A Holy NationWe are chosen to be different, to be set apart.




A Holy NationWe are chosen to be different, to be set apart.

A People Belonging to GodWe have a new value, a new dignity, a new purpose because we belong to God.

Peter Senge in his book THE FIFTH DISCIPLINE, noted that “…to change

the behaviour of any system, you must identify and change the limiting

factor.”

Mistrust is a suspicion, a belief that someone has a hidden agenda; it expresses itself in doubts and suspicions

Mistrust is a suspicion, a belief that someone has a hidden agenda; it expresses itself in doubts and suspicions

Distrust is a certainty; you are sure that someone is acting dishonestly or can’t be relied upon

Perhaps trust could be defined as:

An assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or

honesty of anyone.

STOP PASSING JUDGEMENT ON ONE ANOTHER


Romans 14:13 says, “Let us stop passing judgment on one another.”


Romans 14:13 says, “Let us stop passing judgment on one another.”

Do not judge or you will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you....why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?Matthew 7:1-5

DEFINITION: considering your own position on a disputed matter as superior to others and expressing criticism and condemnation at their disagreement.

DEFINITION: considering your own position on a disputed matter as superior to others and expressing criticism and condemnation at their disagreement. The Bible leaves some issues of conduct and

doctrine up to the conscience of the individual believer. Conformity is not necessary for mutual love.



We are not to make demands on other believers which the Bible does not make.



We are not to make demands on other believers which the Bible does not make.

Issues that the Bible leaves to the conscience of an individual believer should NOT be made the basis for an individual's belonging

DO NOT SLANDER ONE ANOTHER


James 4:11—Brothers, do not slander one another.


James 4:11—Brothers, do not slander one another.Definition: Speaking of a fellow believer in such a way as to discredit, dishonour, depreciate or belittle his/her character or actions.


James 4:11—Brothers, do not slander one another.Definition: Speaking of a fellow believer in such a way as to discredit, dishonour, depreciate or belittle his/her character or actions. It indicates contempt for God. James 3:9—With

the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.


James 4:11—Brothers, do not slander one another.Definition: Speaking of a fellow believer in such a way as to discredit, dishonour, depreciate or belittle his/her character or actions. It indicates contempt for God. James 3:9—With

the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.

God’s motivation is restoration. Galatians 6:1—Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

DO NOT LIE TO ONE ANOTHER


Colossians 3:9-10—Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self.


Colossians 3:9-10—Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self.

Definition: Distorting the truth in any way so as to deceive a fellow believer.

Proverbs 6:16-17—there are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue…

Proverbs 6:16-17—there are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue…

Proverbs 12:22—the Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful.

BUILD UP ONE ANOTHER


I Thessalonians 5:11— ...therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.


I Thessalonians 5:11— ...therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Definition: Building up one another is a process of interaction among believers that promotes, by example and teaching, the development of Christ-like character and behaviour in one another.



No believer can fully develop Christ-like character and behaviour apart from the ministry of other believers.



All believers are to be involved in building up other believers.



All believers are to be involved in building up other believers.

Building up one another is a highly individual process.

How does building up happen?

How does building up happen? Teaching the Word of God

How does building up happen? Teaching the Word of God Words of prophecy

How does building up happen? Teaching the Word of God Words of prophecy Admonition

How does building up happen? Teaching the Word of God Words of prophecy Admonition Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual

songs


songs Using your spiritual gift


songs Using your spiritual gift Love

Peter Senge in his book THE FIFTH DISCIPLINE, noted that “…to change

the behaviour of any system, you must identify and change the limiting

factor.”

I heard a definition of being a part of a church:

I heard a definition of being a part of a church: Living at the intersection of human need

and God’s ability


and God’s ability Inhabiting a community where men and

women who don’t fit in are welcomed; where children are noticed and valued; where stories of Jesus are told


and God’s ability Inhabiting a community where men and

women who don’t fit in are welcomed; where children are noticed and valued; where stories of Jesus are told

Being strategically placed at a heavily trafficked intersection between heaven and earth

Love always demands action! Without love, the church is nothing and does nothing of value.

I Corinthians 13:1-3 in Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase says:

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. 2If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. 3-7If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

John 13:34-35 (NIV)—A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

Galatians 5:13-14For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Let me suggest a definition:

Serving one another is voluntarily committing myself to fellow-believers to do any task that might benefit them spiritually, physically or mentally.

It is self imposed. It is not done because it is demanded by others but because of a motivation to show love


It involves everyone


It involves everyone It is spontaneous. We meet needs as

they occur



they occur It demands involvement because you

cannot serve if you don’t know people’s needs.



they occur It demands involvement because you

cannot serve if you don’t know people’s needs.

It assumes self-sacrifice because it involves time and work

The oldest son took one-half or nine camels, the middle son took one-third or six camels; and the youngest son took one-ninth or two camels. Nine plus six plus two camels totaled 17, and the neighbor took back his 18th camel and all the sons were happy.

This story of the 18th camel is a story of unessential necessities!

This story of the 18th camel is a story of unessential necessities!

So what is the missing 18th camel?

Core Values are critical

Core Values are critical a family reunion where each person is known

and cared for


and cared for a hospital for those who have been hit and

run over by life



run over by life a school training in biblical truth and biblical

lifestyle




lifestyle a celebration rejoicing in the attributes and

actions of a living God




lifestyle a celebration rejoicing in the attributes and

actions of a living God an army that invades this dark world to bring

people from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light

A Christianity that is not lived in community is not Christianity at all!

A Christianity that is not lived in community is not Christianity at all! To change the behaviour of any system, you must identify and change the limiting factor.

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BIBLICAL COMMUNITY