I See You - Stronger In Community: Seeing is Seismic & Systematic

Seeing is Seismic and Systematic.

Seismic is the product of seeing.

Systematic is the process of seeing.

Seeing is a Spiritual Discipline

Mark 2:1-5 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Seeing is a Spiritual Discipline. Practice it!

Seeing is a Spiritual Investment

Mark 2:13-17 13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Seeing is a Spiritual Investment. Invest it!

Seeing Takes Spiritual Boldness

Acts 3:1-10 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Seeing is Spiritual Boldness. Trust it!

Seeing Leads to Compassion

Matthew 9:35-37 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Seeing leads to compassion. Feel it!

Seeing Seeds Community

The Good news about Jesus doesn’t come in a box it comes in a community. A strong community of faith strengthens me and transforms outsiders into insiders when they experience it.

Seeing Seeds Community

Acts 2:42-47 is a one stop shop for witnessing the collective power of community. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Here is the community’s impact on each other.

·      Stronger in “God” knowledge. Christianity is Community.

·      Stronger in “God” experience. They witnessed the power of God together.

·      Stronger in life security. They were more secure together.

·      Stronger in daily life. They were more fulfilled together.

·      Stronger in worship. They were more hopeful together.

·      Stronger in reputation. They were more impactful together.

Seeing Seeds Community. Sow it!

Our country’s issue isn’t that it doesn’t have enough spiritual content at its finger tips but that it doesn’t have enough healthy spiritual community at its door steps.

We hide our stories for a number of reasons.

1.    We have been conditioned to believe we don’t matter.

2.    We have been conditioned to protect ourselves.

3.    We are afraid that if people knew who we really were – all of the blemishes, wrinkles, scars, still open wounds we would be rejected.

One seeing encounter begins to disarm anti-seeing defenses.

Seeing: Practice it. Invest it. Trust it. Feel it. Sow it. to experience a seismic shift in our church and our world.