THE HABIT OF HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
Participating in God’s Family
Let us not give up the habit of meeting together,
as some are doing. Instead let us encourage one another…
Hebrews 10:25 (GN)
WHY ARE HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS SO IMPORTANT?
I ________________ IN GOD’S FAMILY WITH OTHER BELIEVERS.
Let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:10
You are a member of God’s very own family…and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian. Ephesians 2:19 (LB)
So in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:5
“The Christian who is not committed to a group of other believers for praying, sharing, and serving, so that he is known, as he knows others, is not an obedient Christian. He is not in the will of God. However vocal he may be in his theology, he is not obeying the Lord.” - Dr. Ray Ortland
I NEED___________________________________TO GROW SPIRITUALLY.
Let us think of one another and how we can encourage each other to love and do good deeds.
Hebrews 10:24 (Ph)
Two are better off than one…If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him…Two men can resist an attack that would defeat one man alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break. Ecclesiastics 4:9, 10, 12 (GN)
I NEED_________________________________TO GROW SPIRITUALLY.
People learn from one another just as iron sharpens iron. Proverbs. 27:17 (GN)
Every day…keep encouraging one another so that none of you is hardened by the glamour of sin. Hebrews 3:13 (JB)
Brothers, if someone is trapped in some sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently…Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:1-2
CHRIST IS WHEN WE FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER.
For wherever two or three people have come together in my name, I am there, right among them! Matthew 18:20 (Ph)
THERE IS IN WHEN PEOPLE PRAY TOGETHER.
Whenever two of you on earth agree about anything you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:19 (GN)
FELLOWSHIP IS A TO THE WORLD.
(Jesus) My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind…so the world will believe you sent me. John 17:21 (LB)
Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
John 13:35 (LB)
I AM TO EVERY OTHER CHRISTIAN!
God has given you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other…
1 Peter 4:10 (LB)
There are different kinds of service to God…together you form the body of Christ and each one of you is a necessary part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:5, 27 (LB)
The “One Anothers” of Fellowship
(partial list)
Serve one another Galatians 5:13
Accept one another Romans 15:7
Forgive one another Colossians 3:13
Greet one another Romans 16:16
Bear one another’s burdens Galatians 6:2
Be devoted to one another Romans 12:10
Honor one another Romans 12:10
Teach one another Romans 15:14
Submit to one another Ephesians 5:21
Encourage one another I Thessalonians:11
HOW CAN COMMUNITY OF HOPE HELP BUILD
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS?
EVERY MEMBER NEEDS TO BE A PART OF A ______________________.
(They met) day after day, in the Temple courts and from house to house. Acts 5:42
2 Types of Church Meetings
Large group:
Small group:
Greet the church that meets in their home. Romans 16:5
Also Acts 2:26, 8:3, 16:40, 20:20, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Colossians 4:15
At Community of Hope, we believe our church must…
grow ____________________ and ____________________ at the same time.
Real Life Groups…the key to healthy relationships
Acts 2:42-47
1.
They DEVOTED THEMSELVES to the apostles’ teaching…
2.
…and to the fellowship…
3.
…and to the breaking of bread…
4.
…and to prayer…
OUR Father…give US…OUR daily bread…forgive US…OUR…debts …as WE have forgiven OUR debtors…lead US not into temptation …deliver US… Matthew 6:9-13
5.
…they gave to anyone as he had a need…
…you shared with me the fellowship of giving and receiving
Philippians 4:15 (Ph)
6.
…they ate together with glad and sincere hearts…”
Get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night. Romans 12:13 (LB)
7.
praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people…
8.
And the Lord added to their number Daily those who were being saved.
HOW TO START AND
MAINTAIN GOOD HABITS
HOW TO START AND MAINTAIN GOOD HABITS
STEP ONE: .
You must start with a strong desire. You must be internally motivated. External motivations don’t last. If you start only half-heartedly, you will never make it to the success point.
STEP TWO: .
Begin right now! Don’t wait. Don’t procrastinate. You don’t slide into a new habit. “One of these days” never arrives. You must have a starting point. It’s easier to break a bad habit today than it will be tomorrow!
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done.
Ecclesiastics 11:4 (LB)
STEP THREE: .
Announce your intentions publicly. Make a covenant or resolution. The power of a vow is awesome. It is particularly powerful if you put your commitment in writing.
Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them. Psalm 76:11
STEP FOUR: .
Never allow an exception until the new habit is securely rooted in your life. Each lapse will be fatal. A single slip unwinds many turns at first. Continuity and success at the start is essential. Never be swayed by “just this once.” The act of yielding weakens the will and reinforces you lack of self-control. It takes 3 weeks to become comfortable with a new habit and it takes another 3 to 4 weeks (doing it daily) for it to become a part of your life.
IT TAKES _________ TO _________ REPETITIONS TO LEARN SOMETHING!
STEP FIVE: .
Whenever you feel the slightest urge or prompting to practice this new habit - DO IT THEN! Don’t wait. Seize every opportunity to reinforce your habit. Those feelings will not last, so whenever you feel inclined to perform your habit, do so!
STEP SIX:_____________________________________________________________.
Get a partner who will support you and encourage you. Find someone who is willing to hold you accountable and check up on you especially in the early days before the habit is firmly rooted in your life.
Let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over each other, studying how we may stir up and stimulate each other to…helpful deeds and noble activities.
Hebrews.10:25 (Amp)
Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. Ecclesiastics. 4:9-10 (GN)
STEP SEVEN: .
Rely on God’s power to help you establish the habit. Remember, Satan does not want you to develop habits that help you grow spiritually and make you like Christ so he will do all he can to tempt you, cause you to slip, or discourage you. Pray!
For the Spirit that God has given us…fills us with power, love, and self-control.
2 Timothy 1:7 (GN)
For it is God who is at work within you, giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose. Philippians 2:13 (Ph)