January 22-23, 2005, John 13:35, selected

BETTER TOGETHER - 40 DAYS OF COMMUNITY
REACHING OUT TOGETHER!

WE ARE CREATED FOR COMMUNITY! WIRED FOR RELATIONSHIPS!
*** Ecc. 4:12 “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.” [New Living Testament]
*** 1 Cor. 12:25 “The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part….” [MB]
***John 13:35 “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." [NLT]
*** Phil. 1:14 “…Many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ.” [NLT]
*** Phil. 2:15 “You live among people who are crooked and evil…. Try to shine as lights among the people of this world….” [Contemporary English Version]
*** Phil. 1:27 “…You are standing side by side with one strong purpose--to tell the Good News” [Living Bible]
*** Phil. 1:5 “…Because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ….” [NLT]

AM I WILLING TO BE UNSELFISH AND CARE ENOUGH TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS?

_______YES

_______NO

HOW WE CAN PARTNER TOGETHER TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS?
PRAY TOGETHER!
*** 1 Tim. 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone…. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved….” [New International Version]

PRAYER CAN DO WHAT GOD CAN DO!
*** Col. 4:3 “…Pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people his message.” [New Century Version]

ACTION STEP: MAKE A GROUP PRAYER LIST!

APPEAL TO COMMON INTERESTS!
*** 1 Cor. 9:22-23 “…Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ.” [LB]

ACTION STEP: DISCOVER COMMON INTERESTS IN YOUR GROUP!

*** John 4:39 “Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, "He told me everything I ever did!" [NLT]

REACH OUT IN LOVE!
*** Acts 1:8 “You will be my witnesses…in every part of the world." [NCV]

THREE REASONS TO REACH OUT IN LOVE:

A. WE HAVE GOOD NEWS!
*** 2 Cor. 5:18-21 “God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” [NLT]
B. WE HAVE GRATITUDE!
C. WE HAVE GOD IN US!
*** 1 Jn 4:16 “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” [NIV]
*** 1 Thes. 2:8 “Because we loved you, we were happy to share not only God's Good News with you, but even our own lives!” [NCV]

ACTION STEPS: ASK GOD TO DEEPEN YOUR LOVE FOR OTHERS!
ASK: HOW CAN I PRAY FOR YOU?

TELL YOUR STORY!
*** 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are the ones chosen by God…God's instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you….” [Message Bible]

ACTION STEP: WRITE OUT YOUR STORY AND SHARE IT IN YOUR GROUP!
*** Col. 4:5 “Make the most of your chances to tell others the Good News.”[LB]

NURTURE FRIENDSHIPS!
*** Romans 12:16 “Be friendly with everyone. Don't be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people.” [CEV]
*** Luke 5:29 “In his home Levi gave a big dinner for Jesus. Many tax collectors and other guests were also there.” [CEV]

ACTION STEP: BRING A FRIEND TO YOUR GROUP – PLAN A PARTY!

EXPECT GOD TO ACT!
***Mark 2:5 “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." [NLT]

ACTION STEP: PRAY, INVITE & EXPECT LIKE THEIR ETERNAL LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

REPRESENT CHRIST IN YOUR LIFE!
*** Col. 3:17 “Whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus…” [NLT]

WALK THE WALK AND TALK THE TALK!
*** 1 Thes. 4:11-12 “Do all you can to live a peaceful life. Take care of your own business, and do your own work as we have already told you. If you do, then people who are not believers will respect you….” [NCV]

ACTION STEP: PRAY THIS PRAYER, “GOD USE ME!”