Features of a Transformed Community (Part 2)

Jim Leffel
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

In every relationship, Christians are to treat others with the same grace that God has demonstrated toward us. This means forgiving people instead of seeking payback and showing patience to everyone. It also means having difficult conversations with people, encouraging the discouraged, and moving compassionately towards those who are vulnerable.

Abiding: Our Part in Cooperating with the Spirit

Conrad Hilario
John 15:1-17

Jesus uses a horticultural example to explain God's role and the believer's role in abiding in Christ and the benefits that follow. God lifts us up, raises our level of need for Him, and disciplines us while the believer is called to read the bible, pray, commit to fellowship, and not resist God's discipline. The benefits of abiding in Christ are bearing fruit (i.e. the work God accomplishes through us in others), experiencing the privilege of being a part of God's great plan, cherishing God's friendship, and the joy that comes from Him.

Balancing Family and Ministry

Patrice McCormac
Ephesians 2:10

Balancing family and community is challenging but possible. The Bible instructs God's followers to be givers and receivers of love. There are so many benefits to our children when we commit to living in community. Looking at schedules and carefully considering what is most important to prioritize will help us succeed. Being creative and allowing for interruptions is also important. Including kids and others to help get odds and ends done incorporates ministry and family life in one. This way of living requires faith in God and an awareness of Satan who wants to sabotage this way of living.\r\n

Intro to the Xenos Home Group Model

Phil Franck
Hebrews 10:24-25

The Xenos home group model involves many components. Xenos' model isn't the only model of the best model, but is one that follows the New Testament. Like Jesus' ministry, Xenos started small and grew one small group at a time. Four main areas of focus for home group leaders are: 1) personal growth with God; 2) evangelism; 3) biblical community; 4) discipleship. The way home groups multiply is through developing leaders. Each home group functions independently and also dependently; part of a bigger whole. Overall each home group disciples, teaches, disciplines, and evangelizes independently. They are however under the elders' authority and dependent on their leadership training. With all parts playing their role God grows His Church.\r\n

More Evidence-Unity Among Jesus' Followers

Jeff Gordon
John 17:18-26

On the last night Jesus had with his disciples, he told them that what he wanted was unity among them. In order to have unity and for people to come together, it has to be done on the basis of what God has done for us: sending Jesus to die on the cross and giving the Holy Spirit to live inside of us. By having a relationship with God and abiding in Him, this is what allows authentic unity that is different than what our culture offers. The purpose of unity within God's family is ultimately to fulfill the mission of Jesus; to save those who are lost. \r\n

Receiving the Help of the Holy Spirit

Gary DeLashmutt
John 15:1-12

How often do we turn to God to pray for direction from the Holy Spirit? Many of us try to go it alone. God has given us the Spirit as a helper and He can supply the opportunity but we must be praying to see these opportunities and pray for the words to say through the Spirit. Teaching includes sharing from the audience on "How does involvement with other Christians help us to cultivate this lifestyle?"

Two Essential Lessons

Gary DeLashmutt
Galatians 6:2

Jesus washed the disciples' feet, and he tells us how we can wash one another's feet as well. We go through life and bring home with us the dust and grime of living in a spiritually hostile deadening world. This is when we need to go to God to have our feet cleaned and to be refreshed by Him. We are also tasked with doing something like this with each other. Washing each others feet by confessing our sins to one another and praying for one another, and bearing each other's burdens. This is vastly different to our culture's idea of going to church and refreshing each other.

Conflicts in the Church

Jim Leffel
John 17:22-23

Conflict begins to arise within the early church over some significant needs and barriers. Conflict is a barrier to true unity, resulting either in broken relationships or relationships that have grown cold. True community leads to a greater understanding of ourselves and others, as we learn how to stick it out with people even when times get hard. When we learn to have humility and to serve others we see that a true community is made. \r\n

God's Building Project

Scott Risley
1 Peter 2:4-10

Peter uses the analogy of a building to explain that a believer is to live in community with other believers. Christ is the cornerstone and believers are living stones that are part of the spiritual house God is building. God says the cornerstone (Christ) is choice and precious: some choose to believe in Him, leading to salvation; for others Christ is a stumbling block and rejecting Him leads to destruction. God wants us to willingly play our part in the spiritual community he is building rather than live autonomous individualistic lives.