Overcoming the Barriers to Embracing Community

Text: 1 John 4:7-21

The Principles of Community in review:

To KNOW and BE KNOWN: To SERVE and BE SERVED: To ADMONISH and BE ADMONISHED: To ENCOURGAE and BE ENCOURAGED:

To LOVE and BE LOVED:

The Barrier of FEAR

Fear influences us to resist community

Fear of Being Known

Fear of Being Used

Fear of Conflict

Fear of Being Ridiculed

Fear of Rejection

Our greatest fears

Being Hurt

Being Used

Betrayal

Failure

Ignored

Insignificance

Rejection

Ridiculed and Laughed at

But…

Perfect love drives out fear (vs.18)

How can we be perfected in love?

Believe in the life and work of Jesus Christ

Believe in the love that God has for us

Remain in fellowship with God through Jesus Christ

BY THIS WE ARE PERFECTED IN LOVE

A Perfecting Community

We are to be ONE as HE is ONE

More than friendship or acquaintance

Relational Oneness

Intimacy – Knowing and being Known

Sharing and Living our Lives Together

Unity of Mind, Purpose, and Direction

Footnotes:

When was the last time you shared your heart with a fellow believer outside your family.

When was the last time you shared your fears with a brother or sister in Christ

When was the last time you intentionally sought to deepen a relationship with someone.

Share a meal with someone and share a sincere prayer request with them.

The Evidence of Perfecting Love

We have confidence in the day of judgment

We become like Christ in this world

We become fearless

We love one another