“Now you are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven, but you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.”
—Ephesians 2:19


“The truth is, we all have quirks and annoying traits. But community has nothing to do with compatibility. The basis for our fellowship is our relationship to God: We’re family.”
—Rick Warren


Two Ways to Respond to God’s Call to Community:


1. Worship Together


“They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day…
—Acts 2:46a


In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we?
—Romans 12:4-5


Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.
—Hebrews 10:25


“When I first became a Christian, about fourteen years ago, I thought that I could do it on my own, by retiring to my rooms and reading theology, and I wouldn’t go to the churches and Gospel Halls….I disliked very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music. But as I went on I saw the great merit in it. I came up against different people of quite different outlooks and different education, and then gradually my conceit just began peeling off. I realized that the hymns (which were just sixth-rate music) were, nevertheless, being sung with devotion and benefit by an old saint in elastic-side boots in the opposite pew, and then you realize that you aren’t fit to clean those boots. It gets you out of your solitary conceit.”
—C.S. Lewis


2. Small Groups


“They worshiped together regularly at the Temple each day, met in small groups in homes for communion, and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness,”
—Acts 2:46

“My dream is that someday we can have a kind of community life.”

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2 For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. God’s will is for you to be holy…
—1 Thessalonians 4:1-3a


Three Ways God Calls us to Character:

1.) Morally


God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.
—1 Thessalonians 4:3


Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.
—1 Thessalonians 4:4-5


Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. 8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
—1 Thessalonians 4:6-8


2.) Relationally


But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. 10 Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more.
—1 Thessalonians 4:9-10


3.) Vocationally


Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.
—1 Thessalonians 4:11


For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. 12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living. 13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.
—2 Thessalonians 3:7-13


Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
—Colossians 3:23

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called youout of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.
—1 Peter 2:9-10


What does it mean to be “Called to Christ”?


1.) Called out of Darkness

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness…
—1 Peter 2:9


For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness…
—Colossians 1:13a


2.) Called into Light

…for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”
—1 Peter 2:9b-10


This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
—2 Corinthians 5:17


For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
—Colossians 1:13-14


God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
—2 Corinthians 5:21


And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
—Luke 9:23

Two Keys to Encounter God’s Power:

Impossible Prayers

Joshua 10:8 (NLT) – “Do not be afraid of them, for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.”

Joshua 10:12-13 (NLT) – “On the day the Lord gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the Lord in front of all the people of Israel. He said, ‘Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.”

Joshua 10:14 (NLT) – “There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the Lord answered such a prayer. Surely the Lord fought for Israel that day!”

Ruth Haley Barton: “What is the use of praying if at the very moment of prayer, we have so little confidence in God that we are busy planning our own kind of answer to our prayer.”[i]

2. Irrational Faith**

Mark 5:25-26 (NLT) – A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. 26 She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse.

Mark 5:27-28 (NLT) – She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

Mark 5:29-32 (NLT) – Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. 30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” 31 His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it.

Mark 5:33-34 (NLT) – Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. And he said to her, “Daughter, YOUR FAITH has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

Tim Keller: “There is nothing illogical about miracles if a Creator God exists. If a God exists who is big enough to create the universe in all its complexity and vastness, why should a mere miracle be such a mental stretch.”

Be Born of the Spirit
John 3:3 (NLT) – “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

John 3:5-8 (NLT) – “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

John 3:16-17 (NLT) – “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

Romans 3:22 (NLT) – We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Titus 3:4 (NLT) – But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.

Be Filled with the Spirit
Matthew 3:11 (NLT) – “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

Acts 2:1-4 (NIV) – When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:14-17 (NIV) – Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Acts 2:36-39 (NLT) – “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God [SALVATION], and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins [WATER BAPTISM]. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [SPIRIT BAPTISM]. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Acts 1:4-5 (NLT) – Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:39 (NLT) – This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Be Led by the Spirit
Romans 8:14 (NLT) – For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

Galatians 5:16 (NLT) – So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Three Insights from Moses about God’s Presence:

Moses Valued God’s Presence

Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.” 4 When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. 5 For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” 6 So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.
—Exodus 33:3-6

“If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. 16 How will anyone know that you look favorably on me—on me and on your people—if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.” 17 “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”
—Exodus 33:15-16

Moses Practiced God’s Presence
It was Moses’ practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the Lord would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside.
—Exodus 33:7-8

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
—Jeremiah 29:13

As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses…Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.
—Exodus 33:9, 11a

*We don’t connect the PLACE we want to the PATH we’re on. *

Three Warnings Lights:

1. The Attitude of Judging

When we judge, our misinformed assumptions produce misguided accusations.

Don’t speak evil against each other…
—James 4:11

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?
—James 4:11-12

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2 For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.
—Matthew 7:1-2

2. The Spirit of Pride

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.
—James 4:13-16

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
—James 4:17

3. The Love of Money

Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 2 Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. 4 For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.
—James 5:1-6

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
—James 5:13-16

3 Ways That Prayer Changes Everything

1.) Prayer Activates Our Faith

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
—Hebrews 11:16

If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
—Matthew 17:20b

If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop praying about it.

2) Prayer Aligns Our Heart’s Desires with God’s Will

“Father, if you are willing take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
—Luke 22:42

2) Prayer Works

Every Situation

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.
—James 5:13

Every Emotion

Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
—James 5:13

Every Sickness

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
—James 5:14

Every Battle

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
—James 5:16

Three Types of Conflict:

1. External Conflict

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you?…
—James 4:1

2. Internal Conflict

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.
—James 4:1-2

*Key Thought: Our unfulfilled internal wants produce our uncontrolled external wars. *

3. Upward Conflict

Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
—James 4:2b-3

You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
—James 4:4-5

And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
—James 4:6

Upward Peace Creates Inward Peace
That Produces Outward Peace

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
—James 4:7-8

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
—Ephesians 6:12

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
—Matthew 28:19

Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
—James 4:19-10

If you are wise and understand God’s ways…
—James 3:13

So give me the wisdom I need to rule your people with justice and to know the difference between good and evil. Otherwise, how would I ever be able to rule this great people of yours?”
—1 Kings 3:9

“I will do what you have asked. I will give you more wisdom and understanding than anyone has ever had before or will ever have again. 13 I will also give you what you have not asked for: all your life you will have wealth and honor, more than that of any other king. 14 And if you obey me and keep my laws and commands, as your father David did, I will give you a long life.”
—1 Kings 3:12-14

*The Fruit of Godly Wisdom: *

1. Godly Wisdom Produces an Honorable Life

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life…
—James 3:13

Wisdom is “skill in living righteously.”

“Knowledge—even biblical knowledge—is like sodium in raw form. Sodium can be destructive to humans…until it gets converted into a higher form: sodium chloride, or table salt. In the same way, knowledge is never an end in itself. It must be converted into a higher form—wisdom—for it to become useful and beneficial to us.”
—Wayne Cordeiro

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
—Matthew 7:24

“When truth comes to the wise person, they adjust themselves to the truth, but when truth comes to the fool, they adjust the truth.”
—Dr. Henry Cloud

So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you.
—Proverbs 9:8

2. Godly Wisdom Produces Humble Service

James 3:13 (NLT) – If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

James 3:14-15a (NLT) – But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom.

James 3:15-16 (NLT) – For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Godly Wisdom Cultivates Healthy Relationships
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
—James 3:17

When you talk to or respond to a friend, a family member, or even a stranger, are the words you speak…

Peace-loving
Gentle
Yielding to others
Full of mercy
Full of good deeds
Without favoritism
Always sincere