Home is Not a Place

HomeIS NOT A PLACE

Home isn’t a WHERE.Home is a WHO.

2 QUESTIONS

1. Why does community matter?

2. How do I move from wanting community to actually living it?

WHY DOES COMMUNITY MATTER?

1. We were designed to belong.
"It is not good that man should be alone."– Genesis 2:18, NKJV

“The promise of social media is to be fully seen and fully liked. But the promise of real friendship is to be fully known and fully loved.”– Justin Whitmel Early

"To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial.To be known and not loved is our greatest fear.But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.It is what we need more than anything.It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness,and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us."– Timothy Keller

God made us to belong to him and one another.Pride separated us from him and one another.Jesus is bringing us back to him and one another.

2. Spiritual Growth Happens Together.
"If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge,and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,but do not have love, I gain nothing."– 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

3. Belonging Anchors Identity

"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…" – 1 Peter 2:9"You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of His household." – Ephesians 2:9

HOW DO I MOVE FROM WANTING COMMUNITY TO ACTUALLY LIVING IT?

7 SECRETS TO LIVE OUT COMMUNITY

1. Show Up Over Time.
We cannot live like church is optional and expect our kids to treat it as essential.

2. Be OK with Awkward.
"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin." – Zechariah 4:10

3. Lead with Vulnerability.
"We impress people with our strengths, but we connect with people through our weaknesses."

"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another…" – 1