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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
Q and AQ and A
WelcomeWelcomeNew Family!New Family!
Food MinistryFood Ministry
Early Service Early Service MissionariesMissionaries
Tonight, 6 PMTonight, 6 PM
Guest CardsGuest Cards