When Communications Go Small C Series

LITURGICAL OPENING — PSALM 34:1-8

• I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

• My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

• O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

• I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

• They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

• This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

• The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

• O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

(Psalm 34:1-8)

GREETING

Good Morning ... and too, God be the Glory!

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.

And there is a Word from the LORD ...

So let us turn our hearts and our Bibles to the Gospel of Luke ... chapter 9, beginning at verse 57 ... and then to the Gospel of John ... chapter 15, beginning at verse 12.

SCRIPTURE READING — LUKE 9:57-62; JOHN 15:12-17 (KJV)

(Luke 9:57) And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.

(9:58) And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

(9:59) And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

(9:60) Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

(9:61) And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

(9:62) And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

(John 15:12) This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

(15:13) Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

(15:14) Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

(15:15) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

(15:16) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.

(15:17) These things I command you, that ye love one another.

NEIGHBOR TURN

Turn to your neighbor and say ... Neighbor — SMALL c COMMUNICATION IS KILLING THE CHURCH.

You may be seated ...

PRAYER

Father ... the task of teaching Your Word is once again in my keeping. I commit myself to do the very best that I can. Clear my mind of distractions. Warm my heart with compassion. Fill my soul with faith in Your goodness and power. Speak to me ... that I may speak for You. Speak through me ... that I may speak to those who wait to hear Your unadulterated gospel. Right now, Lord ... remove self. Remove pride. Increase in me and I decrease in You. Hide me behind Your cross. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight. My Lord ... You are my strength and my Redeemer. This is my prayer. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

Last week we talked about the culture in the middle. This week we go deeper into the first pillar of C3PT ... COMMUNICATION.

There are two kinds of communication. Capital C Communication is what God modeled in John 1:1 — "In the beginning was the Word." God communicated clearly, intentionally, and with life-giving power.

But small c communication is what shows up in the hallways after the meeting is over. It is the whisper before the prayer is finished. It is the text message that says "don't say I told you but ..." It is the rumor dressed up in prayer language. It is the silence that speaks louder than any word ever could.

SMALL c COMMUNICATION IS KILLING THE CULTURE OF YOUR CHURCH. (Repeat)

Point 1 — The Cost of Incomplete Communication

Point 2 — The Contrast Between Gossip and Love

Point 3 — The Call to Capital C Communication

POINT 1 — THE COST OF INCOMPLETE COMMUNICATION

Luke 9:57-62 — "Lord, I will follow thee... but let me first..."