Created For God's Purpose Series

we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of

Jesus.” Rom. 6:3 (Msg)

LEVEL 2: FRIENDSHIP: LEARNING TO SHARE

“All the believers met together constantly and shared

everything with each other.” Acts 2:44 (LB)

• OUR EXPERIENCES

“People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.”

Prov. 27:17 (TEV)

• OUR HOMES

“Open your homes to each other.” 1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)

Fellowship only takes place in the small group. And that’s why the Bible says open up your homes to each other. That’s where you really get to know people. Did you know in the first 300 years of Christianity, there were no church buildings? All church meetings were held in homes. All of them. There were no buildings. And that, by the way, was the fastest period of growth for the church.

One of the reasons we keep saying, “Go get in a small group” is because that’s a Biblical principle. Christians are supposed to meet in homes. I read an article the other day. It says they discovered one of the reasons why the sense of community is not very strong in suburban areas. They say, you know, people live next to their neighbors for years and never even know them. They said one of the major culprits is automatic garage doors.

Because when you come home, you open up the garage door; you pull in; you close it and walk in your house without ever seeing your neighbor. Before there were garages (and that was before World War II) people actually had to park outside and walk across a big lawn. Nobody has a big front lawn anymore. And so you can see people and you spend a lot of time seeing them, but you don’t see them any more. You can drive in and leave, go to and from your house and never see your neighbors. So that’s why the Bible says, “Open up your homes.” Do it intentionally.

• OUR PROBLEMS

“Share each other’s troubles and problems.” Gal. 6:2 (NLT)

“Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead,

let us encourage one another...” Heb. 10:25 (TEV)

LEVEL 3: PARTNERSHIP: DOING MY PART

“We are partners working together for God.” 1 Cor. 3:9a (TEV)

“The whole Body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does

its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the

whole Body is healthy and growing and full of love.”

Eph. 4:16 (NLT)

“Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are

members of my family, you did it to Me.” Matt. 25:40 (NRSV)

LEVEL 4: KINSHIP: LOVING BELIEVERS LIKE FAMILY

“...they were like family to each other.” Acts 2:42a (CEV)

“Be devoted to each other like a loving family.” Rom. 12:10 (GW)

“We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for

us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian

brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16 (NLT)

“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that

you are My disciples.” John 13:35 (LB)

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Gal. 3:26 (NLT)