the elephant in “the faith” how do you know what place god has for you to be in community?

The ElephantThe Elephant

In “The Faith”In “The Faith”

How do you know what placeHow do you know what placeGod has for youGod has for you

To be in Community?To be in Community?

What do you have to offer me?What do you have to offer me?

What do you have to offer me?What do you have to offer me?

Trained by our cultureTrained by our cultureTo be continual consumersTo be continual consumers

Same type of personSame type of personWill always know self-criticismWill always know self-criticism

When I make things When I make things All about meAll about me

That's where my eyes areThat's where my eyes are

And my world becomesAnd my world becomesSmall and sadSmall and sad

Go…and make disciplesGo…and make disciples- Jesus- Jesus

The beginnings:The beginnings:

In CommunityIn CommunitySeeking to ServeSeeking to ServeLiving for more than selfLiving for more than selfCarrying a crossCarrying a cross

……they devoted themselves to they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…of bread and the prayers…

……all who believed were together all who believed were together and had all things in commonand had all things in common

And they were selling their And they were selling their possessions and belongings and possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, distributing the proceeds to all, as any had needas any had need

……And day by day, attending the And day by day, attending the temple temple togethertogether and and breaking breaking

bread in their homes, bread in their homes, they they received their food with glad and received their food with glad and

generous heartsgenerous hearts

……praising God and having favor praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by added to their number day by day those who were being savedday those who were being saved- Acts 2:42-47- Acts 2:42-47

We make disciples who change We make disciples who change their world for Christ…their world for Christ…

So that God will be glorifiedSo that God will be glorifiedAnd people will become wholeAnd people will become whole

Discipleship demands weDiscipleship demands weLose our livesLose our lives

While promising it will lead to While promising it will lead to Real LifeReal Life

In other words…In other words…Your healing, growth, maturityYour healing, growth, maturity

Will come from serving GodWill come from serving GodBy helping others heal, grow By helping others heal, grow BecomeBecome

Very different fromVery different from"What's in it for me?""What's in it for me?"

My dear children, let’s not just My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s talk about love; let’s practice practice real lovereal love

Jesus defines what love is…Jesus defines what love is…

This is the This is the only way only way we’ll know we’ll know we’re living truly, living in we’re living truly, living in

God’s reality God’s reality

It’s also the way to shut downIt’s also the way to shut down debilitatingdebilitating self-criticism, self-criticism, even wheneven when there is there is something to itsomething to it

When I carry a crossWhen I carry a crossLook to follow JesusLook to follow Jesus

And serve And serve as he leads…as he leads…I'm freeI'm freeBecause dead people don'tBecause dead people don't

Struggle with esteem issuesStruggle with esteem issues

For God is greater than our For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows worried hearts and knows more about us than we more about us than we do ourselvesdo ourselves

Designed how we operate bestDesigned how we operate best

And friends, once that’s taken And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer care of and we’re no longer

accusing or condemning accusing or condemning ourselves, ourselves, we’re bold and we’re bold and

free before God!free before God!

The freedom you wantThe freedom you wantIsn't found in seeking freedomIsn't found in seeking freedom

But finding a way to practice loveBut finding a way to practice loveIn FellowshipIn Fellowship

We’re able to stretch our hands We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases himsaid, doing what pleases him

Again, this is God’s command: to Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to He told us to

love each other, love each other, in line with in line with the original commandthe original command

- 1 John 3:18 -24- 1 John 3:18 -24

"What do you have to offer me?""What do you have to offer me?""What's in it for me?""What's in it for me?"

Doesn't give me what I wantDoesn't give me what I wantDoesn't set me freeDoesn't set me free

"God, where do you want me?""God, where do you want me?"

"What are the needs and "What are the needs and How have you equipped meHow have you equipped me

To be involved?"To be involved?"

Bold and free before God!Bold and free before God!

Your freedom is foundYour freedom is foundIn this:In this:Let us practice real loveLet us practice real love

May not be seenMay not be seenOr noticedOr noticed

(By people)(By people)

We train disciplesWe train disciplesTo carry a cross andTo carry a cross andKill self-centeredness so thatKill self-centeredness so that

God is glorifiedGod is glorifiedPeople become wholePeople become whole

EGREGR

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