Sermon Notes
PROJECT 20
20 Christ-centered communities in the next 10 years
We can’t do new things for God without allowing him to do new things in us.
Biblical Authority
We believe the Bible is God’s Word and shows us the right way to do life, if we are willing to follow what it says is right and true.
Relational Intimacy with Jesus
We believe no matter what we have done, we can have an intimate relationship with God by grace and through faith in Jesus.
What was the first problem in Scripture?
The first problem in Scripture was loneliness.
Genesis 2:18
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Genesis 12:1–3
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. . . and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Exodus 5:1
Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go. . .”
Matthew 4:19
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
Acts 2:41–47
Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Authentic Community
We believe pursuing truth together is the best opportunity to discover and apply truth to life.
1. Small groups are the Biblical model.
Acts 20:20
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
2. Small groups are where people can be fully known and fully loved.
We learn in rows. We grow in circles. The Bible says they met house to house, not church service to church service.
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
3. Small groups allow growth to happen in relationships.
Arena—I know and you know.
Mask—I know but you don’t know.
Blind Spot—You know but I don’t know.
Potential—I don’t know and you don’t know.
- Christ Hodges
Why do we resist them?
Encourage
Scripture
Prayer
Next Steps