With photos of birds during the past week

Sunday, February 10

Sunday School – Teacher Kevin Longenecker

What do people feel in your presence? Do they feel Jesus? Do they feel rejection?

What authority do we have to pray with people or talk to them about the power of God? Matthew 28:18-20 – we have the authority because of Jesus.

Church – Sermon by Merv Groff

Winter Series: God’s Direction for This Age of Confusion

Where Can I Find Authentic Community?

Community is God’s desire for us. We grow with God when we are in community. We grow with each other when we are in community.

Adam and Eve were the first little community. Today there are people everywhere.

It is important to spend time alone with God each day, but God does not intend for us to go through life alone.

Community is Encouraging

Everyone needs a Paul, a Timothy, and a Barnabas. Someone to teach us. Someone to mentor. Someone to be our friend.

Community is Fun

How good it is to dwell together in unity (Psalm 133:1). Boring should not be a description of Christians.

Community Attracts the Holy Spirit

When Christians are a community – it attracts people. Ministry happens when we eat together, pray together and care together.

Community Fosters Love

God gives rich, life-giving blessings when we love, care, and forgive. We are better together than alone.

Authentic community begins when the real you shows up. We can’t tell someone we love them then say bad things about them.

Authentic community happens when we live together as Christ lived. Real love happens when we help with real needs. Real love is more than having coffee in the living room or being nice to each other at church.

Real love is a two-fold call: 1. Honor, encourage, and acknowledge each other. 2. Admit we have needs.

We cannot be careless with love in real community. Focus on God. Love and bless each other with zeal. Each of us have gifts to give to community. We need each other’s gifts.

For Authentic Community, We Need to Do it the Right Way

Pursue hospitality. Pursue peace. Pray for each other. Care for each other.

The real you must show up to meet the real needs of each other.

Each Christian and each church should be a model of community.

In the power of God let us live in community.