Strengthen Your Core Series

Biblical Community: Building Healthy Relationships

November 17, 2019

Pastor John Lloyd

Our physical bodies are made up of several core muscles. If kept in shape through exercise, they will function properly. God’s goal for followers is to make us more like Jesus. This happens when we think like Jesus, CORE beliefs, act like Jesus, CORE practices and be like Jesus, CORE virtues. We need to exercise our CORE in order to glorify God. We are now at the halfway point in our study of the key beliefs, practices and virtues. We have looked at the practices that deepen our relationship with God: worship, prayer, Bible study, single-mindedness and total surrender. Now we shift to those practices that bless our relationships with the people around us. The first of these is Biblical Community. All who put their trust in Jesus receive a new identity and come together to form a new community, the church. It is through this community we fulfill the purposes of God for our lives.

Key Question: How do I develop healthy relationships with others?

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Memory Verses: Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Three big ideas: Created for Community, the presence of God and the marks of Biblical Community (what does it look like).

Key Idea: I fellowship with Christians to accomplish God’s purposes in my life, in the life of others and in the world.

I. Healthy _________________ begin with a relationship with God.

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

II Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. (John 3:16) Fellowship broken… fellowship restored!

Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

The greatest community in all of creation awaits those who call on Jesus. God made us to be in community with Him.

II. In the center of healthy relationships is the ________________ of God.

I Timothy 2:4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Ephesians 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 1:19-23)

2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation

Hebrews 7:25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Jesus can save and transform anyone.

Jesus’ presence in us makes Biblical Community possible now!

III. Healthy relationships __________ in biblical community. God accomplishes His purposes through communities of Christ followers.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; New identity/new community.

Philippians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. (Romans 13:8, I Thessalonians 5:11). Biblical community fulfills the deep desire of God.

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Romans 15:14 I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another.

Hebrews 13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

We fellowship with other believers to keep our relationship with God strong.

We fellowship with other believers to keep our relationship with others strong.

We fellowship with other believers to accomplish God’s will on earth.

Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Reflective questions: What is impeding your ability to experience biblical community? How can you overcome this obstacle? What is one action step can you take this week to develop biblical community?

Biblical community is the glue holding us together, through which we have opportunity to grow in favor with God and to keep our relationships right with others. Are you struggling in your relationship with God? Do you find yourself simply wanting to love him more than you do? Are you finding yourself in continual dysfunction with those around you? Or do you desire to strengthen your relationships to a greater degree? Connecting to, submitting with, and walking alongside brothers and sisters in Christ can get you on the right track, while also keeping you on the path to God’s truth and his will. Randy Frazee

God’s purposes are accomplished through Biblical Communities.

Spiritual Growth Questions for November 17, 2019

(Take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

Based on your understanding of Biblical Community, use a scale of 1- 6 to rate how well you are living out the statements below: (1=not living out at all, 6= living out completely).

____ I have a close relationship with other Christians who have influence on

my life’s direction.

____ I participate in a group of Christians who really know me and support

me.

____ I allow other Christians to hold me accountable for my actions.

____ I daily pray for and support other Christians.

Key Idea: I fellowship with Christians to accomplish God’s purposes in my life, in the life of others and in the world.

1. Read Acts 18:1-3, 18:18-19, 18:24-26, Romans 16:3-4. Describe the impact of the biblical community you see demonstrated by Priscilla and Aquila. What did they do? Why was it so impactful?

2. Read I John 1:1-7 two times. What is the apostle John teaching about Christian fellowship? How can this fellowship purify us and help us fulfill God’s purposes in our lives?

3. Read Hebrews 10:19-25 two times. What is the writer trying to convince the Hebrew believers to believe? What is he teaching them about biblical community and its importance to them?

4. Read Romans 15:5-7, 15:14 and Galatians 5:13, 6:2. What does each passage teach us about biblical community? Who could you apply this to in your life right now? Ask God for his help.

5. Read Hebrews 13:1-3, 13:15-16 two times. What is the writer exhorting us to do? How would it build biblical community? Where could you make application of these verses?

6. How would the practice of biblical community express itself in your life? In a world where people are becoming more isolated and self-centered, what can be done to nurture a vibrant others-focused community?

7. What is impeding your ability to experience biblical community? How can you overcome this obstacle?

8. What is one action step can you take this week to develop biblical community?

Sermon Podcast

John Lloyd - Church: Biblical Community: Building Healthy Relationships

Dolores Park Church