Family is Forever | Week 3 | Together Series
The Problem
Wilder, Jim; Hendricks, Michel. “The Other Half of Church”, Moody Publishers
The Enlightenment
The church became more focused on being RIGHT/CORRECT, instead of being COMMUNAL/LOVING!
The Industrial Revolution
Internet/Global Media Access
Denominationalism
Widespread failure among Christian Leaders
Lack of true Biblical Discipleship
What every Christian Needs!
Salvation- Romans 10:9-10
Baptism- Acts 2 :41
Share with Others- Matthew 28:19-20
Joy
The Face of Christ
Amazing: The prefrontal cortex grows to become about one sixth of the brain and is configured with neurological circuits representing three faces engaged with each other. Infant brains develop identity through joyful interactions usually with the mother and the father. The joyful faces of the parents are combined with the baby’s growing sense of self to form a triad of joyful interaction. In this ideal environment, joy becomes the baby’s strength, and this lays a foundation for a lifelong joyful identity.
Wilder, Jim; Hendricks, Michel. “The Other Half of Church”, Moody Publishers, pg 82
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 NIV
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
Psalm 89:15 NIV
In the Hebrew, “in the light of your presence” is literally “in the light of your face.”
God’s face is connected with joy in the Bible.
11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
Psalm 16:11 NASB
The original Hebrew renders this verse, “abundance of joy with your face.”
6 For You make him most blessed forever; You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.
Psalm 21:6 NASB
The original Hebrew renders , “You make him happy with joy with your face.”
6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:6 NASB
The Face of Others
This is the definition of joy: “I want to be with you”
Hesed
Hebrew word that means: “enduring covenant love.”
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
Lamentations 3:22 ESV
In different versions of the Bible, hesed is translated “great love” (NIV), “loyal kindness” (NET), “loving kindness” (NASB), “mercies” (KJV), “faithful love” (NLT).
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Peter 1:22 NIV
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8 NIV
You will change not because you ought to change, or because you learn to change or because you desire to change, but because you organically and automatically absorb new values from your shared community while experience life giving Hesed together!
Christian Growth Axiom
Transformation = truth + good choices + power
Transformation = power + love + truth + good choices
God defines love by bonded attachment!
John 15:5
Romans 8:38-39
Matthew 24:12
C. S. Lewis describes this avoidance of love in his book The Four Loves: To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.
Group Identity
8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
Ephesians 5:8 NIV
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Definition of Character: Our embedded automatic responses to our relational environment, our instantaneous behavior that flows naturally from our heart.
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. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:11-16
By living in the context of “we”, I change!
Declarations
“We are a people who spontaneously love our enemies and return blessings for cursing’s.”
“We are a people who remind each other who we really are whenever we forget.”
“We are a people who share other’s pain, even when we have caused it.”
“We are a people who choose to see what God is building in others.”
What every Christian needs!
Joy – Community of Loving faces that reflect the loving face of God
Hesed – Community of Loving people that are committed to lifelong character development and maturity of the Soul
Group Identity – Community of Loving people that inform one another what it means to be Christlike
Words of Knowledge
We believe the Lord wants to heal issues with ovaries (cancer, fibroids, cysts, reproductive issues).
We believe the Lord wants to heal right hip pain.
We believe the Lord wants to heal Type 2 Diabetes.
We believe God wants to heal you from a sickness that you have been dealing with in your body, the Lord wants to set you free from a spirit of infirmity.
We believe someone is dealing with the weight of family expectations and it is overwhelming, the Lord wants to give you peace and wisdom.
We believe God wants to restore things back to your life. Your restoration and healing starts with forgiveness.