Today we will have a meal together.  We will hear about opportunities to engage in relationships and community. Why would we do that? Why would we take the risk to know and be known?  Is it worth it?  Or as our culture might say, “What’s in it for me?”  Today we consider the joy and the pain, the gain and the challenge of living in genuine community.

 (Luke 6:37-42 NIV)  "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." 39 He also told them this parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

(Mark 11:25 NIV)  And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."

(Colossians 3:12-13 NIV)  Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

(Ephesians 4:1-2 NIV)  As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

(1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 NIV)  We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, 7 but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8 We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

(2 Corinthians 6:11-13 NIV)  We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange--I speak as to my children--open wide your hearts also.

(Acts 20:35-38 NIV)  In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" 36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.

(Proverbs 17:17 NIV)  A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

(John 15:13 NIV)  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

(1 John 3:16-18 NIV)  This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV)  Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

(Romans 12:6-8 NIV)  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

(Hebrews 10:25 NIV)  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
 
Digging Deeper

1.  Read Galatians 5:22-23.  How many of these would require another person in your life for you to demonstrate that fruit?  For example: love. Do you need someone else in your life in order to demonstrate love?  For each of the fruits, see if you can list 2 or 3 ways that fruit would be practically demonstrated in a relationship or community.

2.  Pastor Jerry listed 3 benefits to being in community.  Can you list them?  (Hint:  see Proverbs 17:17;  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 and Hebrews 10:25.  They are not the only benefits to being in community.  How many more can you name?  Which one is most important for you?  Why?  Which one is the hardest for you to live out in your life?

3.  What do the following relationships in the following passages teach you about genuine community?  1 Samuel 18:1-4 and 20:1-4;  Acts 20:17-38; Ruth 1:6-18; John 13:36-38 with John 18:10-11 and 21:15-19.

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