WHY IT MATTERS //
As members of Revive we are Committed to Jesus and Committed to one another. This commitment (also known as koinonia) is one of the pillars of our ReviveHOMES; It sets a foundation for us to grow and mature in community. Each unique ReviveHOME is a local expression of the same DNA that God has given us as a family of churches. Over the next weeks we will explore together our shared convictions, our identity and the Kingdom mission God has called us to accomplish in unity. Our shared convictions all stem from our 3 values:
We have a Real God who is alive today and involved in our lives.
We are Real People who are working out our salvation together from a place of commitment.
We have Real Purpose together that will impact our neighborhoods and the nations as we expand the Kingdom of God.
WHAT IT’S TALKING ABOUT //
Throughout this week we are meditating on convictions 3 and 4, which align with the reality that we are Real People:
3. GROWING & CHANGING- Philippians 3:12-15, Galatians 5:22-25
We are all on a journey to develop spiritual and personal maturity. We believe the Holy Spirit is transformative and works within us to make us like Jesus. We pursue healing and wholeness because we know that freedom is available.
Our identity is fully defined by our union with Jesus. We know that God is a good Father who loves us and we can live knowing that we are loved by him and fully accepted as we are. Once we are secure in his love we can trust him to guide our life, knowing that his intentions are always for our good.
4. CONNECTED & COMMITTED- 1 Corinthians 12:15-21, Hebrews 10:23-25
We choose to stay committed to one another through the good times and the challenging ones because we believe that we become our best selves in community. In all of our diversity we maintain unity as we practice forgiveness and grace. In keeping with God’s design, we remain connected to an authentic, yet imperfect, body of believers.
Philippians 3:12-17 NLT
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. 15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things...
Galatians 5:22-25 NLT
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
1 Corinthians 12:15-21 NLT
15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part! 20 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”
Hebrews 10:23-25 NLT
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.