Happy New Year

  • Something fresh and exciting about a new year, think the Lord wants us to be hopeful.
    • He himself is our wellspring of hope.

Step Out

I’m grateful for some recent times with some of you:

  • Visiting the Micklers’ backyard. 
  • Christine and E cooking a meal (I ate it). 
  • Coffee on Starbucks patio with 2 guys…

Element of fun and spirituality in each. 

  • Fulfilling – made for relationships.

The Lord has been speaking to us a lot recently about being outward. Probably the number 1 theme over the last few months.

  • To be knit together with one another, serve one another, to step out of our comfort zones, to serve our neighbors, to be a light

Yes, we’ve encountered challenges. But we can overcome them—not even that hard.

What will it take?

1. A willing attitude.

            Thankfulness for what we do have (Zoom, backyards, a beautiful community).

2. Faithful love for one another.

            Relationships are the end, not the means.

3. Creativity.

            Think outside the box and make do with the resources we have.

Let the Scripture Speak about Prioritizing Our Relationships

Several passages to be assigned.

Sharing about the passages:

  • What can this passage teach us about community?
  • How can you personally respond to this word?

Example: 

Philippians 2:19–21

19I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 21For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

  • We would all love to be esteemed by Paul like Timothy was.
  • We know that genuine concern is so rare in the world.
  • What are the concerns of Jesus Christ? The welfare of the people around us. That’s what he’s most interested in.
  • For me, contacting the members of my small group more regularly, talking and meeting with them.

1. Romans 14:19

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

2. Philippians 2:3–4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

3. Ephesians 4:1–3

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

4. Ephesians 4:11–13

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

5. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing…

6. 1 Thessalonians 5:14–15

14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

7. Hebrews 3:12–13

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 

8. Hebrews 10:24–25

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,25 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.

9. John 13:34–35

34 “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.”

10. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.