#Values - Growing Through Biblical Community @imagechurch Dumfries, VA

Russ Perkins, Community Pastor at Image Church

What we value is what drives us, motivates our day to day actions.

When we value the community, we will see the needs of those in the community. If we understand the needs of the community we will do what we can to fill that need.

Jesus led us by giving of His time, His talent, and His treasure to those he ministered to.

If we say that we believe Jesus and His Gospel, it will change the way we live. If our lives haven't changed, then we really don't believe Jesus.

The big, thriving gardens people have do not happen by accident. It takes time, planning, & care. It is same for the community of believers. When we care and love our community, it will produce more than what we can consume, and reaches out to others.

Biblical Community - fertile soil that cultivate discipleship, resulting in our spiritual growth which produces abundant spiritual fruit... cf John 15:16

What is the fruit of Jesus life? Many answers, but the biggest were the disciples that came from His life.

The example that was set centuries ago by believers is what we should follow. They did not have smart phones or facebook, they had relationships.

What does it take to be spiritually fruitful? Biblical community, relationship, discipleship, spiritual growth.

What did Jesus say?
1. Listen, learn, & Obey... DO WE?
2. Being changed & transformed... ARE WE?
3. Join the mission of Jesus... HAVE WE?

Three terms that reflect health community.
1. Missional - being sent and going
2. Incarnational - we are to be like Jesus
3. Reproductive - will be generations of faith in those we invest into

The conversion of Paul on the road to Damascus is concrete evidence that our God sends people. Even the demons recognized the identity of Jesus, when we stood before them in the flesh. We are to live in such a way that our faith is not only contagious, but our investment in others is intentional.

Jesus did everything we could to make sure that the Will of God was accomplished, that the cross was inevitable. In those last three years, he also invested into men who became disciples and those men would make other disciples who make other disciples.

The fear that the 3rd servant, in the parable of the talents, had was not a healthy fear. The fear we see here is a fear without respect.

Matthew 25:14-30 This parable should terrify and encourage us. What we do with the time, talent, and treasure God has given us, MATTERS!

Those things we plug into, at church, are not a guarantee of spiritual growth... what's the key? Know & Love Jesus = OBEDIENCE! Processes are not the key, but an opportunity for you to come to fruition.

Less than 300 years after Jesus invested into 12 guys, the Roman emperor Constantine declared that Rome was a Christian nation, but how? Discipleship! People investing into other people, honestly openly and truly.

Imagine this... Biblical community that leads to relationships that cultivate disciple ships that results in spiritual growth. Imagine a church full of disciples who make disciples who make disciples.

Created 11 months ago