Pastor Jon Cobler February 26/27 2011

Church of Living Water Saturday/Sunday

Olympia Foursquare Church

BUILDING SOLID LIVES

Part 5

TEXT: Ephesians 4:15, 16

I. REVIEW

A. Building = Identity (Solid lives are built on the foundation of Biblical identity:
Who God is and Who God says I am.)

B. Solid = Maturity (Solid lives are always growing. Solid lives have a Biblical
plan for spiritual formation.)

C. Lives = Community (Solid lives are growing together in transparent

relationships…learning to do life together.)

II. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE WAS MEANT TO BE LIVED TOGETHER

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and
many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who
believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling
their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any
had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in
their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number
day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42–47 ESV)
←
← A. This radical community was part of the overflow effect of the new capacity
they had to live in the Spirit after the Holy Spirit was poured out.

← B. What community adds:

← 1. Support in burdensome times.

←
← Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
← (Galatians 6: 2 ESV)
←

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 ← 2. Encouragement to do good works.
←
← And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good
works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing
near.
(Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV)
←
← And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking
bread in their homes… (Acts 2:46 ESV)

← 3. Strength to grow into God’s destiny for your life.

←
← …from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every
joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes
the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16 ESV)
←
← III. THREE INGREDIENTS FOR SOLID COMMUNITY

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and
teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of
Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son
of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and
carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in
deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in
every way into him who is the head, into Christ… (Ephesians 4:11–14 ESV)
←
← A. God’s blueprint for us to live in community:
←
← 1. Speaking: Verbal Communication

← 2. Truth: Honest words

← 3. Love: Compassion

← 4. In almost any circle of relationships, people will be better in two of

the three characteristics of Solid Community.

B. Three different people…those who:

1. Speak + Truth - Love = Criticism

a. Excuses: “I’m just honest” or “I care more about being right than
making a difference in your life”.

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 b. Instead, try making sure your heart is in the right place before you
open your mouth.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am
a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV)

2. Speak + Love - Truth = License

a. Excuses: “I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings” or “I’m not good at

confrontation”.

b. Instead, remember that love is many things…but it is not silent.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an

enemy. (Proverbs 27:6 ESV)

3. Truth + Love - Speaking = Silence

a. Excuses: “I don’t have time” or “I’m not good with words”.

b. Instead, don’t leave people to guess what you are thinking.

← Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing

at the right time! (Proverbs 15:23 NLT)

← III. CONCLUSION
←
← A. First: Examine your existing relationships for
strengths and weaknesses.

← 1. Ask you spouse or children how you are doing in each of the areas.

B. Second: Do you have intentional community beyond the people with whom
you live?

1. Things to look for: authenticity, the Word, spiritual conversation.

C. Third: Cultivate intentional community.

D. Speaking + Truth + Love = Life-giving relationships that build life-giving

community.
←