1 Samuel 18:1
1 John 4:7-8
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Sermon
One day two children were playing on the beach.
They built a magnificent sand castle.
It wasn’t just a sand castle it was a fortified city.
With gates, towers, moats and underground tunnels.
But just as they were about to finish a huge wave came along and knocked down the castle.
It was now nothing more than a pile of wet sand.
Together the children stood up, ran further up the beach, laughing and holding hands.
Then they sat down and built another castle.
These two children had lived out a valuable lesson.
All things in our lives
All the complicated structures we spend so much time and energy creating are built on sand.
They should be nothing but tools that are used to encourage and develop relationships with others.
It is our relationships with others that have the chance to survive through disasters and celebrations.
And it is relationships with others that will help us endure through disasters.
The truth is Christianity is about relationships.
Relationships with other Christians so that both of you benefit by being spiritually supporting each other.
And having relationships with others so that you are able to introduce them to Christ.
Many people have a picture of heaven that talks about it being a quite idyllic place.
A garden.
But scripture reveals to us that heaven is a city.
A splendid city, a perfect city
And for a place to be called a city it must have a significant number of people.
People living together.
That is what God is preparing us for.
Life with each other and others.
So our lives together,
as part of a congregation is about being prepared for life in heaven God’s city
In Luther’s Small Catechism we hear
In the same way the Holy Spirit calls, gathers, enlightens and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth….
Which is simply a reflection on 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
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How do you view your relationships here in the congregation?
Do you see them as Holy Relationships?
Something God has initiated.
Our church relationships are something that God wants us to have.
This week.....
I encourage you to look through our members and friends directory.
If you don't have one contact our office for one.
As you read each name….
remember you are in a relationship with them initiated by God
and it is a relationship that God wants you to have
He wants each of us to have a Godly relationship with each other.
It is also a relationship that God wants you to develop.
To develop in ways that are centred on Him
and Him influencing our relationships with each other.
Our relationships at church are not just about being friends.
Although friendship is important.
Do you realise that if a person has at least 7 good close friendships at church they are likely to be actively involved in church life throughout their life?
Friendships at church actually benefit us by strengthening our relationship with God.
Our relationships as Christians are for encouraging each other in a relationship with God
and keeping each other accountable in our spiritual journies.
1 Corinthians 12:24-25 says
God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.
Recently I read a story about Bill
Bill has always been part of the church
He remembers attending a congregation at a young age where people of all ages talked to him and encouraged him
When he couldn't reach the counter at morning tea, adults would hand him the tin of biscuits to choose from
He remembers feeling encouraged.
As he became a teenager he was encouraged to participate in the various activities of the church
And not just in the things he like, but remembers being asked what he would like to be doing at church
At a young age he was invited into leadership roles.
He remembers people praying for him.
His parents encouraged him to care and pray for others, especially those he did not regularly mix with.
When he had some troubles he remembers people who were older than him offering help.
Now he has an active role in the church and feels part of the life of the congregation
He comments that the church is a great place to be and one of the few places in his life that is for all ages
Bill’s experience reflects what the local church is called to be,
a gathering of people that welcomes people of all ages,
regardless of their background, experience, age or standing in the community.
This reflects what Jesus was on about
Jesus encourages us to welcome everyone….
Not just those we regularly associate with and can relate to …
In Matthew, Mark and Luke….we hear the following encounter
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Are you encouraging younger people in our church?
Greet them with a smile.
Say hello to them
Showing interest in who they are and what they are doing.
Offering them a biscuit.
Carefully guiding and redirecting them.
Helping them feel welcome and that this is their place too.
That is the relationship God encourages us to have with others.
And younger people
Remember we are also called to encourage older people,
in 1 Timothy 5:1-2 we hear
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
Our relationship with each other is to be similar to equals not older or younger.
As Christians we have a unique opportunity.
To mix with people of other generations.
To grow together.
To learn from each other.
To care for each other.
To develop relationships that go across generations, races and boundaries.
Relationships that are centred on and influenced by Christ
This leads to the other part in having relationships with others.
Good Christian relationships not only bring comfort to our lives
But they also keep us on track.
They help us be accountable to filling our lives with activities that help us be in constant contact with God’s grace.
God’s perspective on life.
Two ways that this accountability occurs in our congregation which everyone can access.
One is through Small Groups
Small Groups play an important role in our lives.
It helps us see
that my way is not the only way
that my life is not all about me
that I don’t have to bear all my worries…
That when people come in our life needing help we are not alone in helping them
We get to see life and the bible from various perspectives
The other type of Christian Relationship that is important to us is one on one relationships, some people call these mentors.
It is important for each of us to develop close relationships with individuals where we discuss spiritual things,
Where we discuss life and the bible
And where we are accountable
In my life I have a number of people who I have a close relationship with
They understand me better than most others
They don’t expect me to become a replica of them
But they can challenge me
They ask me questions like…
how is my prayer life going…
what about bible reading
Am I avoiding things in my life?
Do I need to be so critical of myself?
Am I really worshipping when I am leading worship?
They challenge me when I am avoiding forgiveness from God’s perspective.
Such relationships are helpful as the Holy Spirit uses them to help me and help the other person gain encouragement and to give guidance.
So how are your relationships with others?
Are you experiencing the blessing from the Holy relationships God has placed you in?
Are you blessing others with the love of God?
Each one of us are called to continue developing our relationships with each other….
And as we do the love of God continues growing in each of us….
And extends into the lives of others…
We are not just offering our friendship
We are offering the friendship of the one who
Created us….
Died on the cross for us
And cares and guides us
Amen
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