| COMMUNITY LIVING 6: DEFINING BOUNDARIES WITHIN COMMUNITY Scriptures: Galatians 3:17-18; John 17:20-23 and John 8:1-11 As we sum up the series on Community Living, are you ready for three big, bold statements? 1. GOD IS THE GREAT INCLUDER: ‘You are welcome and included!' John 8:6-8 (The Message) "They were trying to trap Him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against Him. Jesus bent down and wrote with His finger in the dirt. They kept at Him, badgering Him. He straightened up and said, ‘The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone. ' Bending down again, He wrote some more in the dirt." 2. GOD IS THE GREAT HEALER: ‘I do not condemn you.' John 8:9-10 (The Message): "Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her.‘Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?'" Healing comes through: - Acknowledging that we all need grace.
- Offering free forgiveness.
- Openness to welcome people as brothers and sisters in Christ.
3. GOD IS THE GREAT TRANSFORMER:
‘From now on, don't sin!'John 8:11 (The Message): "'No one, Master.' ‘Neither do I, 'said Jesus. ‘Go on your way. From now on, don't sin.'" - Seeing yourself as God's instrument of hope. ‘The church crossing barriers, the name of Christ, in the form of a servant.'
- Holding each other accountable to a high value system, God's Kingdom values, wanting the best for ourselves and each other, where sin does not control or determine our future!
- Wanting for people what we want for ourselves. John Wesley said that there is ‘no holiness but social holiness.'
- Joining some form of small group in BMC.
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