Authentic Relationships: The Glue of Kingdom Community
Pastor Fawn Cobler
KINGDOM COMMUNITY: Jesus→ Salvation→
1. Spiritually Born into the family of God (Father, community of brothers/sisters)
2. Citizenship in the Kingdom of God (King - enter into God’s rule and reign)
● KINGDOM: Forgiveness, freedom, love, belonging, purpose, inheritance, heaven
In Matthew 6 Jesus gave a model for prayer, and He started with: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9–10, ESV)
● Jesus was inviting those who follow Him into a way of life that brings heaven’s reality not just into our hearts – but into every area of our lives!
At Living Water the practical structure for Kingdom life = Rhythms of Discipleship
Life Rhythms of a Disciple:
Inside Out Change
Naturally Supernatural
Authentic Relationships
Relentless Welcome
Missional Impact
● This is how Jesus lived – This is how disciples of Jesus live!
AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS – We grow best in real, honest relationships. Discipleship happens through friendship, accountability, and encouragement.
“I don’t need people…all I need is Jesus.”
Designed to Be Known and Loved
…the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there He put the man He had formed. (Genesis 2:7-8 NIV)
Adam had a perfect relationship with God (no sin) and a purpose (work the garden)
The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18 NIV)
● In God’s untainted creation, He designed humans to need each other.
● Our need for other people is not a result of the fall it is part of being created in the image of God.
A picture of Kingdom Community after Jesus’ ascension: Acts 2:42-47 NIV
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Sum it up:
Wholehearted, joyful devotion to Jesus Christ while living in loving community with other believers.
KINGDOM COMMUNITY
You’re not going to find all of Jesus, or all of yourself, all by yourself.
EXAMPLE: C.S. Lewis in his book, The Four Loves
● Lewis had 2 very close friends (writers): J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams –Charles died.
In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets. Now that Charles is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s reaction to a specifically Caroline joke. Far from having more of Ronald, having him ‘to myself’ now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald. […] … we possess each friend not less but more as the number of those with whom we share him increases. – C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
● Lewis lost the part of Ronald that only Charles brought out.
Then he makes the comparison to our relationship with God… For every soul, seeing Him [Jesus] in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest. – C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
If we want to be mature disciples We need authentic relationships
Authentic Truth with Grace
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, 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 4:15–16 ESV)
● To grow up as a Christian, we need both truth AND grace.
Problem: Most of us have never learned how to do conflict in a way that honors Jesus
● How do we learn? —> In community!!! (Not just a classroom)
Spiritual maturity always displays itself in changed relationships. Who we are with other people reveals who we are with Christ. – Dallas Willard
● Our relationships reveal our maturity level
● Our relationships are a tool through which God matures us
Authentic Love
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34–35 ESV)
● A love that’s visible and practical
● A love like His!
Authentic Honesty
This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:5–9 ESV)
Kingdom community is not the place where we pretend to be perfect —
● It is where we can bring our broken, yet to be sanctified selves into the light to receive the grace and healing we need AND be part of other’s healing journey.
EXAMPLE: Rise Together
What is keeping you from pursuing authentic relationships?
● Past wounds Relational wounds find healing in healthy relationships
● Misaligned priorities (we’re too busy)
● Sin (selfishness, unforgiveness, pride (truth/love)
● Broken thinking (wrong beliefs, self protection, family of origin)