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The Big Idea: Christian community, while difficult and terrifying, is God’s ongoing incarnation of His love.
Read the 4 biographies of Jesus and it is clear that he had 2 core commitments:
• Solitude with the Father
• Life in Community
1 John 3:11-18
What is Community:
Not Connection
Not Chemistry
But Koinonia: People with a shared commitment, physical proximity, and regular engagement.
Matthew 10:1-4
Enemies of Community:
Individualism:
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Francois Fenelon - “Within every person is a vain, complaining, babbler - self love. We can identify it because it always wants to entertain itself and never feels sufficiently attended to. I beg you not to listen. Self-love whispers in one ear and the love of God in the other. The Self is grasping and impulsive, whereas the love of God is peaceful and simple. When we listen to the self, we no longer hear the whispering of the Spirit.”
Idealism:
“He who loves his dream of community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The two resident realities inside true community:
Vulnerability and Accountability
James 5:13-16
Response:
Commit to the two core practices of Jesus
Partner with the Holy Spirit to build community
B.L.E.S.S. Your Oikos
DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY
► This week's Passage: Joshua 1:7-9
► Connection questions:
1. What are you thankful for?
2. What is a challenge you are facing?
3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?
► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words
► Individual answers to five questions:
1. What stands out to you?
2. What does this passage tell us about people?
3. What does this passage tell us about God?
4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)
5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)
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The Big Idea: Christian community, while difficult and terrifying, is God’s ongoing incarnation of His love.
Read the 4 biographies of Jesus and it is clear that he had 2 core commitments:
• Solitude with the Father
• Life in Community
1 John 3:11-18
What is Community:
Not Connection
Not Chemistry
But Koinonia: People with a shared commitment, physical proximity, and regular engagement.
Matthew 10:1-4
Enemies of Community:
Individualism:
2 Timothy 3:1-5
Francois Fenelon - “Within every person is a vain, complaining, babbler - self love. We can identify it because it always wants to entertain itself and never feels sufficiently attended to. I beg you not to listen. Self-love whispers in one ear and the love of God in the other. The Self is grasping and impulsive, whereas the love of God is peaceful and simple. When we listen to the self, we no longer hear the whispering of the Spirit.”
Idealism:
“He who loves his dream of community more than the Christian community itself becomes a destroyer of the latter, even though his personal intentions may be ever so honest and earnest and sacrificial.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The two resident realities inside true community:
Vulnerability and Accountability
James 5:13-16
Response:
Commit to the two core practices of Jesus
Partner with the Holy Spirit to build community
B.L.E.S.S. Your Oikos
DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY
► This week's Passage: Joshua 1:7-9
► Connection questions:
1. What are you thankful for?
2. What is a challenge you are facing?
3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement?
► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in their own words
► Individual answers to five questions:
1. What stands out to you?
2. What does this passage tell us about people?
3. What does this passage tell us about God?
4. Based on the passage, what is one thing I could do differently starting now and what would happen if I did? (each person commits to their action for one week using an “I will…” statement)
5. Who are you going to tell about what you discovered? (each person commits to having that conversation before the next meeting)