Culture and (Confessional)
"Debbie…"
Show no weaknesses
Over-disclosure All over the place…
"No regrets"
I beat my girlfriends: No regrets?
I steal from my job: No regrets?
Religion= guilt. Therefore… Show no weaknesses (Except minor infractions)
Cross= Freedom
Jesus= Grace Conviction leading to repentance Therefore…be real
We are called To engage one another In Community
- Not to hide and pretend - Not to blurt out and be proud But to confess and be free
The church is jacked… - Always has been
The church is jacked… - Jesus created her knowing it
The church is jacked… - Died for her anyway
The church is jacked… - Is coming back for her
Jesus created a Community - Body (various parts- 1 body)
Jesus created a Community - House (Spirit's dwelling place)
Jesus created a Community - Family (Same Father)
Jesus created a Community - New Man (Distinctions fade)
Jesus created a Community - Mystery (Unity in Christ)
Jesus created a Community - Bride (Loved by Jesus)
We are called To engage one another In Community
Gospel-Based Community: Creation Fall Redemption Restoration
How does Community Participate in Restoration?
Older men are to be sober- minded, dignified, self- controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine.
They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children.
Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity - Titus 2:2-7
God's Plan for Redemptive Community: - Relationships modeled/taught - Age respected & youth celebrated
Homogenous Christian Community ignores the Mandate of Discipleship
How does Community Participate in Restoration?
Humbly Teach and Learn from One Another
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…
…singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God - Col. 3:16
In Community: We teach and learn from one another Based upon scripture
…if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness - Gal. 6:1
- Not Opinion - Not Conviction/Debatable - Not for Power - Always out of Love - Humility on both sides
Eye has not seen… "Pastor- look at the next verse"
...he gave…the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ…
Pastors Equip Believers Equipped People Do Ministry
…until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ…
…so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Ministry together - Serving Jesus By serving each other- Brings unity and maturity
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ…
Truth without love Is harsh and ugly Love without truth Is Compromise
We are called To engage one another In Community
from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love - Eph. 4:11-16
- Everyone has a ministry - No one is unimportant- we need each other - Our differences are a strength - We speak truth in love to one another
Restorative Community: - Teaching One Another - Speaking the Truth in Love - Confessing to One Another
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him,
…anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective…
Freedom!
God designed his church to be a Mutually-confessing Continually praying Community of Faith
In that context God's Spirit works powerfully
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back…
…let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins - James 5:14-20
God designed his people To love so much They risk friendship For the sake of Family
Restoration Community (We got each others' backs)
We are called To engage one another In Community
Culture: Over-disclosure With no repentance
Religion: Hide sin and Front perfection
Christ's Community: - Learn from (generationally) - Speaking the Truth in Love - Confessional Christ's Community: - Learn from (generationally) - Speaking the Truth in Love - Confessional
We're in this together Fighting for each other Against anything that keeps us From God's best for us
"Debbie…"