In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

Barriers to having the mindset of Christ in our relationships:

1. SELFISHNESS

The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others - ignoring God! --- harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for it in his life is weeds. But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life and eternal life.

Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.

Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit, then you won’t feed the compulsion of selfishness.

2. PRIDE

Pride will destroy a person. A proud attitude leads to ruin.

First pride then the crash, the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.

…Be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves… your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God.

3. INSECURITY

The fear of human opinion disables.

Love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear.

4. RESENTMENT

Since my heart was embittered (resentful) and my soul deeply wounded, I was stupid and could not understand.

You must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

How to have the mindset of Jesus in our relationships:

Resist selfishness

Ephesians 6:10-13

John 10:10

1. Your relationships are under attack

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Your enemy isn’t your spouse, your parents, siblings, children, or boss.

2. The devil usually attacks with distractions and seductions.

Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people … but rather thanksgiving.

Play it forward: where is this distraction/seduction taking me? Is the end result something I want?

3. Take charge of your heart.

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

You understand the source of a thought by looking at the direction it will take you.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.

Tear down the lies that try to tear your relationship apart.

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Ask each other: where are we most vulnerable to spiritual attacks?

Fight back with the power of God. You have the power of His Word, the power of prayer, and the power of His love on your side!

Hebrews 12:14-17

Lies we believe that keep us from forgiving:

Lie #1: If I get even, I’ll get better.

Deuteronomy 32:35 – “Vengeance is mine, I will repay”

Lie #2: I can forgive quickly.

What does the process of forgiveness look like:

1. Face your pain

Questions you need to answer:

2. Release the offense

Forgiveness is infinitely more important for you than the person who hurt you.

Esau despised his birthright by trading it for a bowl of lentils. Don’t despise the freedom, forgiveness and love Jesus paid for by holding on to your pain.

3. Pray for the person who hurt you

What will happen if I refuse to forgive?

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What would change if we really believed that we were on mission together?

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

a. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

2. We aren’t called to be fruitful, but faithful.

a. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that we have to be fruitful in sharing the Gospel.

“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

1. There is a mission.

3. We’re not called to just proclaim the Good News, but to become the Good News.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

“Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”

What would change if we really believed that we were on mission together?

Mark 12:28-34

We all need relationships

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone."

We all have Relationships.

We all choose Relationships.

“Do not be misled: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'”

Who are we engaging with the Gospel?

Christ-Centered Relationships forgive.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Christ-Centered Relationships are a gift.

Christ-Centered Relationships are Christ Centered.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

What steps do you need to take to put Jesus back in the center of your relationship?

We share stories and celebrate what God did during SERVE week.

Psalm 112:1-6

Manage Exposure

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

1. Expose them to the joy of knowing God personally.

Now this is eternal life: That they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

2. Expose them to the presence and power of God in His Church.

3. Expose them to the thrill of being used by God.

Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10-13

I. Satan has definitely declared war on you!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Could it be that the Church of Jesus Christ is a sleeping giant in the world?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

The Devil is not God’s equal.

II. Weapons at our disposal: Prayer & preaching

III. It’s time for us to wake up!

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Ephesians 6:10-20

Vs. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Vs. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Vs. 13 …so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Vs. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…

Vs. 18-20 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Acts 2:1-13

1. The historical significance of Pentecost

John 7:37-39

2. Pentecost marks a cataclysmic shift in the way we relate to God.

3. The Holy Spirit is available to each and to all.

Acts 2:3-4

Joel 2: 28-32

4. The work of the Holy Spirit happens best when we are together.

Acts 2:1

Acts 1:14

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Why should you be filled with the Holy Spirit?

• Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit your Helper/Counselor/Advocate. John 14:26