January 15-16, 2005, Selected

BETTER TOGETHER - 40 DAYS OF COMMUNITY
WHY WE NEED EACH OTHER!

HAPPINESS COMES FROM INTERDEPENDENCE, NOT INDEPENDENCE!
*** Phil. 1:3-8 “Every time I think of you, I thank my God. And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns. You have a special place in my heart…God himself knows how much I want to see you. He knows that I care for you in the same way that Christ Jesus does.” [Contemporary English Version]
*** Romans 12:5 “And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” [New Living Translation]
*** Phil. 2:2 “Make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.” [NLT]

WHY WE NEED EACH OTHER:

1. I NEED OTHERS TO WALK WITH ME!
*** 1 John 1:7 “If we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.” [Message Bible]
*** Col. 2:6-7 “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” [NASV]

GOD NEVER INTENDED FOR YOU TRAVEL THIS JOURNEY ALONE!

THREE REASONS WE NEED TO WALK TOGETHER:
IT’S SAFER! IT’S SUPPORTIVE! IT’S SMARTER!

*** Pr. 27:17 “People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.” [TEV]
*** Genesis 2:18 “God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a companion who will help him." [NLT]

THIS COMPANIONSHIP CAN BE FOUND:

IN LARGE GROUP CELEBRATION! - Hebrews 10:25 “Some people have gotten out of the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other….” [CEV]
IN SMALL GROUP COMMUNITY! - 1 Cor. 14:26-27, 30 “When you gather…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. 30Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other.” [MSG]

THE COMMUNITY IS GOD’S ANSWER TO LONELINESS!

2. I NEED OTHERS TO WORK WITH ME!
*** Eph. 2:10 “God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” [New Century Version]
*** Hebrews 10:24 “We must also consider how to encourage each other to show love and to do good things.” [God’s Word to the Nations]
*** 2 Cor. 1:24 “We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy as you stand firm in your faith.” [NLT]

COMMUNITY IS GOD’S ANSWER TO FATIGUE!

*** Ecc. 4:9 “Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.” [NCV]

3. I NEED OTHERS TO WATCH OUT FOR ME!
*** Phil. 2:4 “Don't be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others.” [GW]
*** Acts 20:31 “Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.”
*** Heb. 13:1 “Keep being concerned about each other as the Lord's followers should.” [CEV]

COMMUNITY IS GOD’S ANSWER TO DEFEAT!

*** Ecc. 4:10 “If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble.” [CEV]

4. I NEED OTHERS TO WAIT AND WEEP WITH ME!
*** John 16:33 "In this world you will have trouble.” [NIV]
*** Matthew 6:34 “Each day has enough trouble of its own.” [NIV]
*** Galatians 6:2 “Help carry each other's burdens. In this way you will follow Christ's teachings.” [GW]

COMMUNITY IS GOD’S ANSWER TO CRISIS!

*** 1 Cor. 12:25-26 “He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.”

5. I NEED OTHERS TO WITNESS WITH ME!
*** 2 Cor. 5:18 “…God gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with him.” [NCV]

TWO KEYS FOR WITNESSING:

WE HAVE TO SHOW AND SHARE THE GOOD NEWS!
*** John 13:35 “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." [NLT]
*** Acts 2:44-47 “All the believers were together and shared everything. They met together…. in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.” [NCV]

COMMUNITY IS GOD’S ANSWER TO OUTREACH!

*** Phil. 1:27 “…You are working together and…are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news.” [CEV]