COMMUNITY: THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS

The Daniel Plan #4

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Sunday, March 19, 2023

(Romans 12:5, LB) “Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.” (Romans 12:5, LB)

1. I NEED OTHERS TO WALK WITH ME.

(Colossians 2:6–7, ESV) “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him…”

(Genesis 2:18, NLT) “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

(Hebrews 10:25, GN) “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together…Instead, let us encourage one another.”

• Community is God’s answer to: loneliness.

(1 Corinthians 14:30–31, Message) “When you gather for worship, each one of you be prepared with something that will be useful for all: Sing a hymn, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight….Take your turn, no one person taking over. … you all learn from each other.”

(Ephesians 4:16, NLT) “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

(1 Peter 4:9, GN) “Open your homes to each other without complaining.”

2. I NEED OTHERS TO WORK WITH ME.

(Ephesians 2:10, NCV) “God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.”

(Ecclesiastes 4:9, NCV) “Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.”

• Community is God’s answer to: fatigue.

(Galatians 6:10, Message) “Every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.”

3. I NEED OTHERS TO WATCH OUT FOR ME.

(Philippians 2:4, GNB) “Look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own.”

(Hebrews 13:1, CEV) “Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord’s followers should.”

(Ecclesiastes 4:12, NLT) “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.”

• Community is God’s answer to: defeat.

(Ecclesiastes 4:10, NLT) “If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”

4. I NEED OTHERS TO WAIT AND WEEP WITH ME.

(1 Peter 3:8, LB) “You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other…”

(1 Corinthians 12:26, ESV) “If one member suffers, all suffer together.”

• Community is God’s answer to: despair.

(Romans 12:15, ESV) “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:11, GW) “Encourage each other and strengthen one another.”

5. I NEED OTHERS TO WITNESS WITH ME.

(John 13:35, NLT) “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

(2 Timothy 1:7, LB) “The Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.”

• God’s answer to fear is community.

(Philippians 1:27, CEV) “You are working together and you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the Good News.”

GROWTHWORK

1. Who is your Nathan? Editor

2. Who is your Jonathan? True Friend

3. Who is your Jethro? Butt Kicker

4. Who is your Timothy? Protégé

5. Who is your Barnabas ? Encourager

6. Who is your Peter/Paul? Yoda

7. Who is your Deborah? Back-Coverer

8. Who is your Zacchaeus? Reject

9. Who is your Rhoda? “Little One”

10. Who are your VIPs? Lydia and Lazarus, Rich and Poor

11. Where is your Jerusalem? Place

12. The Invisible 12th. Paraclete

Leonard Sweet, 11 Dispensable Relationships You Can’t be Without