This document discusses new ways of relating that are guided by God, including:
1) Grace-giving acceptance, where we accept others unconditionally as Jesus accepts us.
2) Authentic vulnerability, where we agree to openly share our struggles so we can support each other.
3) Healing confession, where we confess struggles to God and each other, which can heal marriages and lives.
4) Speaking the last 10%, referring to saying encouraging or difficult truths in love.
2. Were going to go on a Picnic, everyone get in a circle
3. All About RelatingGod is in the process of reclaiming, redeeming, and restoring what our broken little kingdoms have destroyed, and Hes doing it by guiding us into new, Christ-like ways of relating
4. When asked for the greatest commandment, Jesus gave two: (Matthew 22:34-40)
5. Also, Dear friends let us love one another (1 John 4:7-12)If we are following Gods lead, listening and responding in new ways, we will learn how to truly love people, then we will fulfill the commandments of Scripture. Simple, right?
7. God wants to lead you into a freedom to fully be you who he created you to bePay attention to how you treat those closest to you.Love Not the Easy ThingPoll by Barna: What do you want out of life?HealthA Marriage that LastsIntegrity / Close, Personal Friends.So, with this information, this next study shouldnt be possibleGeorge Gallup: [Americans are the] loneliest people on the planet.He says ours is a crowded lonelinessWe have lots of friends but dont know how to connect in life-giving ways.
8. We long to connect, but we are terrified of being hurt. We want deep relationships, but deep distrust keeps us relationally bankrupt.When we reach out to others, things get in the way: jealousy, insecurities, fear of being rejected, indifference, busyness, annoying behaviors, etcthese all keep us from relating in powerful ways.
9. Lets look at 4 new ways of relating that Gods Spirit will lead us in to:1. Grace-Giving Acceptance:Come-As-You-Are GraceRead page 107 (Rembrandt)
12. How should we accept others, love others?In this unity, we will fully realize our potential as a body.This morning, Pastor Tim showed that a Great Ministry is a Corporate BodyHow about you, who do you need to treat more like a masterpiece?
13. 2. Authentic VulnerabilityIf you want to pretend to have no struggles, no problems, no sins, no wounds, then go play that game somewhere else, because thats not real.
14. But, if we can agree to be authentic, then we can actually walk together, pray for each other, and help each other grow.
15. As much as our families and the chaos of a broken world wound us, Gods new family can restore and heal us!3. Healing ConfessionPsychotherapy has its place, but there is something powerful happens when ordinary people simply confess their sins and struggles to God and to one another.
16. We all hold a mysterious power: the ability to either wound or heal one another.
17. Small groups of believers have been healing marriages and lives since time began.4. Speaking the Last 10-PercentSaying the Truth in LoveWe often say most of the encouraging or hard-to-hear words, but for some reason, we hold back. We say 90%, but it is the last 10% that has the most power.Proverbs 27:6 says, .Read page 115How about you, who do you need to treat more like a masterpiece?