Core| Great Friends | Aug 20
Core: Great Friends
August 20th, 2023
Act 2:42
John 10:10 (Message) A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
Spiritual influence is the impact of moving someone one step closer to Christ as a result of your connection or interaction.
Gateway’s Core
Becoming spiritually influential through a connection to God (fresh starts), one another (great friends) and the world around us (real purpose).
Fresh Starts, Great Friends, Real Purpose are the 3 key elements of a thriving spiritually life and an spiritually influential life.
“In the past 25 years 40 million Americans have stopped going to church.” He says, “that’s bad news for America as a whole because religious community generally correlates with better health outcomes and longer life, higher financial generosity and more stable families all of which are needed in a nation with rising rates of loneliness, mental illness and alcohol and drug dependency.”
Jake Meador “The Misunderstood Reason Millions of Americans Stopped Going to Church” July 2023 Atlantic
A people carry the promise together and a people proclaim that Promise together.
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV) 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.
Their gatherings weren’t generic hangs – that were purpose-filled and life-giving.
They were learning and being transformed by the teachings of Jesus.
They were experiencing and celebrating Passover regularly.
They were eating together in each other’s homes which fostered a sense of family.
Their relationships were characterized by glad and sincere hearts – which resulted in praise to God.
Living this way attracted others who wanted what they had.
Why is community hard?
Pastor Dodd
Why is community hard?
1. Satan is against it.
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Why is community hard?
Satan is against it
Relationships take time
John 13:34 (NIV) - A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
Why is community hard?
Satan is against it
Relationships take time
People are messy
Proverbs 14:4 (ESV) - Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
Only love gets close enough to know. -Dietriech Bonhoeffer
How to live in community…
How to live in community…
Show Up - Your Presence Matters
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
How to live in community…
Show Up - Your Presence Matters
Be a Friend - Pursue Another’s Good
Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
How to live in community…
Show Up - Your Presence Matters
Be a Friend - Pursue Another’s Good
Give Grace - See People as People
Ephesians 4:32 (AMP) Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you.
How to live in community…
Show Up - Your Presence Matters
Be a Friend - Pursue Another’s Good
Give Grace - See People as People
Risk Vulnerability - Refuse to Hide
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
We impress people with our strengths but we connect with people through our weaknesses. -Craig Groeschel
How to live in community…
Show Up - Your Presence Matters
Be a Friend - Pursue Another’s Good
Give Grace - See People as People
Risk Vulnerability - Refuse to Hide
Don’t Give Up - Aim for Reconciliation
1 John 4:12 (NIV) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.