Beyond Us - Group Participation Required
Moving away from a life of self-reliance to reliance on God requires that certain mentalities and practices must change.
One of the instincts that come with self-reliance (trying to save yourself) is self-preservation.
The mentality of self-preservation says, “I have to protect myself from others.” I must maintain my image and reputation Therefore, I have no energy or resources to invest in others.
Jesus said, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” but that came with the prerequisite that we would learn to carry the load the way Jesus intends.
Jesus alone carries the weight of sin and shame for us.
Jesus builds the church to allow the family of God to mature and help one another carry the load of every day life.
We must learn to live within the context of community and family within the church.
1 Corinthians 12:12-15;18 - One Body With Many Members
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body…As it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
God imparted very distinct gifts and strengths so that we would need to rely on each other to be complete.
We will fail to grow without a constant connection to the rest of the body.
Hebrews 10:24 -
Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.
Personal identity is given by God, but it is formed as we interact and build relationship within the family, especially the church family.
Three Areas We Mature Exponentially As We Pursue Life in Community With Other Believers:
1. Empathy
We can present truth, but if people don’t sense the love of Jesus in the presentation, it won’t work.
There’s an increased level of connection with others when we hear their story and what Jesus has done in their lives.
2. Growth
*Proverbs 27:17 -
Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another. *
To get sharper, smarter, stronger; you need an unbiased, objective voice giving you feedback.
Newsflash: You cannot give yourself completely unbiased and objective feedback.
You’ve got the Word of God, you’ve got the Holy Spirit, but “trainers” will expedite your growth, if you allow them to give you input.
Ephesians 4:11 - 13 MSG -
He (Jesus) handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
Don’t be intimidated by more mature people, learn from them!
3. Support and Protection
*Ecclesiastes 4:12
And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. *
The more people you have involved in your life, the more support and protection you will experience when the things of life happen.
The relational Trifecta:
Jesus - The first voice we want to hear from daily, the lover of our souls, the one who knows us more than we know ourselves.
Family - Spiritual mothers and fathers with perspective ahead of the season you’re in.
Friends - Those pursuing Jesus with you who are helping to carry the load and bring perspective as you walk through seasons of life together.
Discussion Questions:
Do you still struggle with self-reliance and self-preservation? Why or why not?
In what ways have you learned to rely more on Jesus for your reputation and identity?
Do you feel you have a strong relational connection with the body of Christ? Why or why not?
In what ways have you experienced growth and maturity in yourself as a result of being in relationship with other believers?
In what areas are you hoping to see more growth?
Look over the “Relational Trifecta.” In what spheres of relationship do you have strong connections? In what spheres do you want to see a deeper connection?