The Lie:
VULNERABILITY IS WEAKNESS OR I HAVE TO FAKE STRENGTH
Mark 2:1-4 (NIV)
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.
The longing of the human heart is community - There are three ingredients of community
Commonality - We have to have things in common
We are all saved by grace. You’ve got a story. I’ve got a story. It’s all His-story. We shouldn’t be here enjoying this freedom and grace. But He is that good. We don’t look alike but what we have in common is His outlandish grace that’s changed us and His Spirit living in us.
Unity - We have to live in and strive for unity for us to live in community
We have to stand united. Believe the best in each other.
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Consider - Look at. Examine. Study
What’s inside of them is valuable. You’ve got to do the work to pull it out of them.
We know this to be true...
We are created for community (Man shouldn’t be alone Gen. 2:18)
• You need a clique to cruise with
• You need a crew to challenge you
• To achieve God’s purpose you will need a Godly gang
Not all community is created equal
• People find community every where (Bar, club, job, video games, social media)
• You were created to be plugged into a life giving community
• Not a gossip gang but a church that is the hope of the world
Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 (NLT)
Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
SATAN LOVES TO ISOLATE
WHAT SATAN CAN ISOLATE HE WILL DECIMATE
1 Peter 5:8 (MSG)
Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up.
KEEPING YOUR GUARD UP IS NOT KEEPING PEOPLE OUT! GOD'S TELLING YOU TO GUARD YOUR HEART AND CHOOSE CAREFULLY THE COMMUNITY YOU CHOOSE TO RUN WITH - ONE THAT PUSHES YOU CLOSER TO HIM!
The enemy wants to use hurts (past, present, and future) to drive you away from Godly community & ultimately God
Community helps soften the blow of satans attacks & OVERCOME THEM - BUT...
WE HAVE TO BE VULNERABLE
James 5:16 (ESV)
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Hebrews 3:13
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
IF YOU WANT TO BE MISERABLE, NEVER BE VULNERABLE. VULNERABILITY IS A MUST! JESUS SERVES AS A PROFOUND EXAMPLE, REVEALING THAT OUR CALLING AND PURPOSE OFTEN LIE BEYOND VULNERABILITY ITSELF, AS HE CHOSE TO MANIFEST IN THE FORM OF THE MOST VULNERABLE: A CHILD.
• Someones gonna have to carry you at some point
• To experience the fullness of community you have to open up
• You have to allow people in -
• Double edge of vulnerability (You have to open up and let people in but you may get hurt)
YOU HAVE TO BE AVAILABLE
For community to work you have to be available
• Sometimes you may be the one paralyzed or you may be the one carrying
Galatians 6:2-3 (NLT)
Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
LIFE CHANGE IS THE PURPOSE
We all have been marked by the outlandish grace and love of God. What has marked us is also what fills us. When we are in Godly community and vulnerability is present the byproduct is life change. You become who you hang around. We will always celebrate life change in this house. This is what God came for. To establish His Church - For them to be vulnerable and take this life change, this message, this Spirit to the world. To invite the world. Have you been running from Godly community? Have you been running from the thing God has created you for? Stop running today. We are better with you being in this tribe.