True Spirituality - How to Experience Authentic Community, Part 1

Someone has said the greatest social disease in America today is loneliness. We all want to be deeply connected and I want to know that God has a plan for developing genuine beautiful intimate relationships and want you to experience that kind of connection with others today will talk about how you can experience authentic community. Right now, right where you stay with welcome to this Thursday edition of Living on the Edge Chip Ingram, Living on the Edge features the Bible teaching of Chip Ingram's daily discipleship program is a daytrip continues his series true spirituality becoming a Romans 12 Christian as will learn we were made for relationship, even of our past experiences have let us down so this is an important message, especially for those who don't want to go there again. Now let's join Chip for his message how to experience all the community from Romans chapter 12. Did you ever wonder why so many Christians get spiritually stuck in the Bible is very clear. It's as if any man if any woman is in Christ, the old things passed away behold all things become new.

And yet you know you meet people and I mean sincere good.

I don't mean slackers I mean people that really love God.

They seem transformation in some very significant areas in either even in the Bible on a regular basis and they really want to grow and yet they hit a ceiling or they stall there's just some area that just seems to have the temper just never seems to get under the spirits control or how they say certain things the way they judge people, or is little private eating disorder over here in addiction, maybe even on the Internet and and then they felt terrible and they promise godly recommit their life. About 25 times in and then the distal stock soar and he was when he came and talked to me except I would've never dreamed and he was stuck, and he came when I was pastoring another church.

Many, many years ago and I met him in the first 1020 minutes.

I thought while we we were really growing at the time and were longing for leaders and he moved in from out of town and I met him that his wife just got to know him… Like wow I just so got a heart for God, got up in the mornings with spending time with God.

I saw his family.

He been through been a Christian for quite a while so he been in leadership positions in churches and aims is a great guy and warm and caring and I would never have dreamed that there was a little pocket for the little pocket in Andy's life that he was stuck and he asked if we could grab a cup of coffee and he had sent me really need to share with massive sure Randy glad to and we sat down and he began to tell me about that compartment that is been sealed off that he tried so hard and he was stuck sitting on it started when I was about 08 or nine years old and a Sears catalog came in the mail and I was flipping through it and found myself in the lingerie session, then later found some magazines underneath my dad's bed. About time as a teenager I was fully addicted to at least soft porn when the Internet happened it was just like over overwhelming the access and the privacy that you could have any said ship.

I have prayed.

I fasted a memorize verse I beg God I'll go for a few weeks or a few months and just my whole life I mean my wife I love her, I'm absolutely committed to her my kids off try to do all this. I'm stuck.

Then he shared with me said I heard something on the radio about this group of people and they are meeting a sin for about the last six months I've been driving 45 minutes on Thursday night and a meeting with this group of people and I got unstuck the answer to why he was stuck despite God's word and all the rest came when he met with that group and all title but more about it. But as you see on your notes part of the answer is that the greatest seed in the greatest soil cannot grow in the wrong environment.

You might write Luke chapter 8 or Mark chapter 4 parallel passages in Jesus is talking about calling himself. He's the sower and what he sows is the seed in the seed is God's word and the soil is the human hearts that various reception that the word of God receives in.

If you know the story. Some is on the path and some on the rocky soil and is just the condition of different people's hearts, and some words thorny in others is good soil, good and honest heart.

People who were really honest and really want to grow but here's what I want to get the greatest seed God's word in the greatest soil a good and honest heart cannot grow in the wrong environment there certain things in your life and in my life in every believer's life transformation won't occur, no matter how much you're in the Bible matter how honest and desiring your heart is apart from you.

Being in this environment where it can occur. What I want you to see.

Is there race a specific ecosystem or environment that God has that brings about transformation when the seed of God's word in your heart and mine is there and if it's not there certain things you just get stuck noticing your notes little biblical background here the command of Jesus requires very specific ecosystem or environment. The very last night on the earth. He'd wash their feet and then he turned to them and he looked at him wide-eyed. He said I want you.

This is the new commandment to love each other in the same way I love you sacrificially authentically lay down your life one another, but requires an environment.

The second is the example of Jesus requires a very specific environment when he wanted to change the world.

He started by teaching and he went there was multitudes in thousands and thousands of people. He did miracles. But then what he wanted to get the team together. That would change the world. He stayed up all night, he prayed all night and he chose 12 to be the Texas with him. The multitudes heard the truth. The 12 learn to live the life there was an environment they needed to be in for all that truth to get down on their soul in their life and the relationships the practice of the early church and its impact argue for the same environment. You know the story they were committed in acts to the apostles teaching into the fellowship of gathering together and to the breaking of bread to the Lord's supper and suddenly gathered how in the temple courts and Peter, John, or someone would preach and teach all these brand-new Christians and then where from house to house.

Finally, the church history, past and present.

Confirm this specific environment for spiritual growth and transformation and whether I could take you back to the Moravians or the westerlies or the Welsh revival and they would get these little societies together, or I could take you to Korea. That was I mean completely non-Christian. Five. Six decades ago, and the cell movement with a small group movement now spanning the earth.

Here's what I want you to get the specific environment or ecosystem in which the seed of God's word in your heart that's honest and good and wants to grow his authentic community's authentic community noticed the form that it takes is a small group I'm in the group to be three people for people 10 people. But that's just the form that's the container, never ever confuse just being in a small group with authentic community.

I've been in small groups that there's no within a community M2 ever gone to small group and someone opens the Bible reads little bitten, you know, maybe watch a little part of the DVD and someone says what did you get for question four what you get for question seven. That's nice that's nice and and some deep question is asking the answers all maybe I should I should probably not work so much.

Okay. Thank you for sharing so deeply either a prayer request. Yet my hip really hurts. It really hurt you know. And then you can't get on with that and yet you get up in the ladies are over here. Did you hear about that Nordstrom's our for Macy's you know what's going on there. You guys ever hear about Meadows giants are doing it now. The 49ers will tie what that linebacker and then eat a few mortal treats and get new cards him when that crate, but what was but just don't call it authentic community. It's a good start.

It's a connection unit you know some people, but authentic community is deeper, authentic community is this environment where people lay down their lives for one another. Authentic community is where you take a group of people and they say you know what working to change the world and they were around Jesus. Authentic community is living under persecution and hearing God's word and going from house to house to support one another to live it out. In fact, raises two very important questions.

Question number one is what is authentic community and then question number two is how to get it in answer to both those questions is in Romans chapter 12 verses 9 to 13. If you just knew with us were going through the chapter in Romans 12 and in verse one we learn that what God really wants from all of us is what he wants us surrendered him all we are all that we have in verse two we said there's an enemy of our soul. There's a world system is trying to woo and seduce our heart away from our Savior and were not to be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our line to be separate from the world's values looked at verses three through eight and we learned that were not to think too high or too low, but have a sober self-assessment to know where we fit in the body, and now is in a talk about is serving in love is to talk about what kind of relationships are we to have his fellow believers. And if you look at you if you notes. There in verse nine.

You get to see that authentic community is the real you showing up verse 10 is going to say that the real you needs to meet real needs in verse 11 is to say the real you needs to meet real needs, but for the right reason. In verses 12 and 13. The real you is to meet real needs for the right reason and do it in the right way for some of you your where my friend Andy was you love God, give a good heart you're taking in God's word, but you're stuck. There's a ceiling you have these outbursts of anger and you feel terrible about it. You have issues in your life it, you know you don't want, and you've told God, I'm sorry, and you want to change. You try hard to change, but you still don't see any radical transformation. I'm telling you this moment on this day may be God's answer to the environment in which some of those things you struggle with, so long he can change but it doesn't happen along. So let's look together. What is authentic community and maybe more importantly, how do you get it first from verse nine.

Authentic community is the real you, not a projection of yourself.

See you can't have authentic community less the real you shows up authentic community.

He says let love be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. The two characteristics of the real you showing up as one authenticity and to its purity where the word says let love be sincere. Circle the word sincere and write about hypocrisy. Paul's borrowing from the Greek of his day and in the Greek theater of that day there were all male actors and so if you are up a good thespian you could be able to throw your voice you could play a male part of female part.

An old person, a young person and that dress up in different costumes and then there would be a mask that you would wear so you throw your voice and Paul takes that word for the mask and that's this word says let love be without a mask, without hypocrisy. Let the real you show up. Yes, you gotta be discerning and you gotta be careful of who you share the real you with but he saying that authentic community isn't just getting in a small group.

It's when the real you showing up and let people see who you are progressively wisely discerning like back John you notes if you were asked chapter 5.

This is important mean this is beyond important. Some people never experience this their entire Christian life and they can never figure out whether an experience the transformation power.

The goddess promised us in Scripture that I didn't grow up as a Christian I never open a bottle till I was 18 and so my first trip through the New Testament, was likable while I mean really, I was like Matthew Mark Luke John Menotti know the names of stuff and I got to ask not to get out okay this is the early church history and you know Jesus ascended he went to heaven in chapter 2. The church is born in chapter 3, you know, he and John are doing miracles and pretty exciting stuff and then you get to chapter 5.

The church is exploding and so there's all these needs any tens of thousands of people are now in the church in a very short amount of time that about 80% of them are slaves and a very small percentage are pretty affluent people. Some inherits household and in others, and they did this in this time of emergency. They did the sort of unusual thing where they all came together and they said we need to help each other week. We need to be devoted to one another and so in chapter 4 it gives an example of this very wealthy man. What a piece of property in in Cyprus on this island which is the equivalent of like downtown San Francisco or Manhattan in that day and so he sells it and he takes the money faces look at me and I don't know this for sure, but I got a second home. If there is a piece of property you take this to meet the needs of the people in the church there really hurting and I think a buzz happened in the church.

Where will it was so sacrificial was so generous and people were like boy. I guess this is what it means to love one another in his name was Barnabas and I think Barnabas got this reputation because I started calling the son of encouragement and the story goes on in acts chapter 5 and jot that down because before your head hits the pillow.

Gotta read it's not very long. It's very interesting, but I'm a brand-new Christian I'm reading this and so there's this young couple.

I'm guessing their young. They do not young but Ananias and Sapphire and and so they kind of look around and they think while everyone is talking about Barnabas. We wish people would talk about us like that. We sure wish people would think were that generous and loving and kind and so they hatched this plan and the plan is. Here's what we can do working to sell this piece of property, and will get the money and will tell people that we we sold it for this much money and like we keep it all away but will really keep back the money for us so we can have our cake and eat it too will appear generous and loving and sacrificial but will still have the major part of the money and so you he comes and talks to Peter and God reveals to Peter what's going on. And Peter says Ananias why have you lied to the Holy Spirit before it was sold. It was years after it was sold. It was yours. You are compelled to give a little or a lot. The issues integrity and then right there I am, he dies me literally drops dead, and the young men come and pick him up for what is hypocrisy. The very first sin in the church is hypocrisy and the judgment is death, his wife comes a few hours later and I'm I'm thinking Peter is going. I sure hope she's not in on this and so he says that's a pirate it's good to see how things go on a pretty good house and kids. I'm adding just a little sister. So did you sell this piece of land for such and such a price of yes you know Ananias when you're married such a generous, loving, kind, amazing husband like I haven't read sacrificially have given it all away again. Reading between the lines and Peter looks at her and I think just with sadness in his heart, said the young men's feet, who took away your husband shall take you away as well. Damn she dies on the spot and this is a great fear came among the church yet. Are you kidding now you understand.

Can you imagine if you've never read the Bible before and this is your first time to the New Testament in your brand-new Christian you're thinking so this is what happens to hypocrites. I'm in trouble. I mean literally like 10. In fact, if God was acting in this way. I think he was to make a point see if hypocrisy gets in the mix is like leavening bread spreads and when people aren't authentic. The message of Jesus would've been wiped out within a few years, and so God wanted to demonstrate how important this was. I often thought later when I was a pastor if if God did that for like 24 hours and in the church all across America. All of us would have to turn in our pastors badges and become morticians. Probably a lot of us pastors. We need other pastors who are doing better than us to bury us, but you get to teach you really get that church quote was never ever intended to be a group of people that come to an event and feel like in some way. There doing something morally positive because they come to event and listen to someone talk about God and even sing a few worship songs to him and then file out and live life their own way and not be absolutely connected to one another and have a safe environment with the real you shows up and you know why the real you doesn't show up the same reason room you'd doesn't show up in me. He says let love be without hypocrisy and it says cling to what is good, good.

Hate what is evil, literally the word is up or what is evil fit.

If that pictures were a member doing a word study on this and it's a picture of being on vacation for like three or four weeks. Whoever gets up much time but that's really hypothetical, but you been out of town for a while and there's a carton of milk or some fruit and you open the carton of milk to smell at the seat and it's all done it and the smell so bad you want to throw up this word hits is a poor evil. Most of us are spending this. I wonder if this is wrong, how close can I get to sin without falling in so people and counsel asked me questions like what is this writing.

This rating this writing in this movie. Could you things okay if I can do this for you know were dating right now were doing this this this and this is that really sexual sin or can we or you know we have so much money.

I want to know is that the groceries at the net hours if it can I take a percentage and you collect how instead of witnessing. Cling to what is good, that's completely the wrong question. The issue is and how close can I get to see." Without sinning. It's how close can I get to God help here.

Can I live because when you're pure not perfect, pure, the real you can show up as you can be honest and you know one of the most powerful and significant experiences you will ever have in your life is being in a small group of people that's really safe. That really love you and you really love them in the real you shows up the real you.

That's making great progress.

The real you with the frustrations and hurts and struggles. The real you with the real problems and as you bring your struggles are not judged your loved in the real you that needs help get support in the real you that needs accountability and as we all do an occasional kind of rebuke, and you know what you think he kind of violated our trust by that. See that's fundamental part of authentic community and a lot of people never have that and so enormous amounts of energy what we what we end up doing. Instead of allowing God to transform us. The energy is what we have to do sin management as were spending all this energy trying to either hide or do other guilder do with our shaper drowned it out with food or work money shopping speed right back with some specific application for today's teaching but if you're just joining us, you're listening to Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram chip stock today is from his series true spirituality becoming a Romans 12 Christian the six part series is about how to move your relationship with God from an antagonistic performance oriented existence to a loving grace filled delightful life.

True spirituality is the core discipleship teaching of Living on the Edge in a chip clearly lays out the profile of what an authentic follower of Jesus looks like. This series is available in several formats, including streaming video with study guide for video previews more format options and ordering details. Just check it out online at http://livingontheedge.org and because we know you're gearing up for fall groups. Group study resources for true spirituality are significantly discounted. Let me say that again for a limited time, the group study resources for true spirituality are significantly discounted. So now would be a great time to jump online and get your group resources ordered.

You'll find everything you're looking for@livingontheedge.org or just give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 will trip you talk today about the importance of doing life together experiencing authentic community and we talk a lot around here about getting involved in a small group. What is it about our group studies that might be attracted to someone who's never done one great question, Dave.

Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a world where Christians really live like Christians money when you meet a Christian, they would actually be a person of integrity and and live the holy life. Not perfect but holy and loved and cared about people make a whole world like that. Well let me back off. Well how about just jerking. No, not even your community, just everybody in your church and an unknown.

How about how about just you and your family and a handful of friends in your really followed Christ with all your heart and even with your struggles and ups and downs. Your authentic life. Can you imagine the impact in your home, your neighborhood, your work, I mean the entire network of just you, your family and handful of friends. Well 20 years ago God put something on my heart to call and to equip Christians to actually live like Christians and you know it started to something really small and then it's grown like crazy and you know what it can start really small with you and then grow like crazy as well. So if Living on the Edges had impact in your life.

If it's blessed you that's helped you or its help someone else. I'm asking you which you partner with us financially. Would you get on the team and help Christians live like Christians here and all around the world like strip was you prayerfully consider your role in giving to this ministry.

I would remind you that when you partner with Living on the Edge you become part of a much larger team so a gift of any amount is significant and monthly giving helps us plan for new resources to send a gift. Just call us at 1-888-333-6003, or if you prefer to give online just go to LivingontheEdge.org on behalf of everyone here. Thank you for your support will now here's chip with his application for today. You know, as we wrap up today's program. I guess the question I have for you is that if the non-Christian overheard you talking or was sort of at the next table at a coffee shop and heard you, talking with a friend when they hear you talk about other people were aware they hear you talk about information. Would it be just sports or what's on sale or would they come to eavesdrop and think.

While I wish I had a relationship with someone the was that deep that real that vulnerable and that authentic and I don't know where you're at on this, but you don't you don't slide into it. If you don't have close friends than you need to launch a small group work. If your family doesn't have these kind of relationships and don't get me wrong, I know it's hard. You gotta go there because at the end of the day. Relationships are what matter and deep relationships that matter can't happen without authenticity, and that means I gotta get real.

You gotta get real and you just need to ask yourself God. Where do I wear a mask and why do I wear when that's the question for you today God.

Where do I wear a mask and why do I wear it. Ask God to show you what, I'll tell you this personally is it's a little scary and you need to be wise about who you do it with little be the greatest thing that ever happens because when the real you shows up in the real you gets loved. It's awesome and that's God's plan at Living on the Edge were happy to let you know about a new way to listen to our extended teaching podcast here chip any time on Amazon's Alexa echo and echo.simply say Alexa enabled the chip Ingram podcast once Alexa is enabled with that skill.

All you need to say is Alexa played the chip Ingram podcast you'll hear that these extended teaching any time you want will be with us again tomorrow as chip continues our current series true spirituality. Until then, this is Dave Drewry saying thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge