A Healthy, Balanced Life Part 1 – Week 2 of HHBC 3D Weekend of August 23-­‐24 I. Review: We are in the second week of our “3D” series. We began the series by re-­‐familiarizing ourselves with our church’s Mission, Vision, and Values and introducing three-­‐dimensional church membership. A “3D” church member… Consistently participates in weekend services Consistently does life together with other Christians through Community Groups Consistently serves in and/or through one of the ministries of the church Today we will examine the relationship between the Mission Statement of the church and the concept of “3D”. II. Discussion: What is the Relationship between the Mission of HHBC and “3D”? To answer the question about how the Mission Statement of our church and “3D” relate to one another, it is vital to answer three basic questions that revolve around how God works within the hearts of those who believe in Him. Question #1: What are the desires God gives to those who believe in Him? READ •Romans 12:9-­‐11 As he begins Romans 12, Paul appeals to believers to present themselves as living sacrifices. He then builds on this appeal in his call for believers to “use” our spiritual gifts within the context of serving the church body. Thus, in the three simple verses starting in verse 9, Paul begins describing what a sacrificed life – a life that is pleasing to God – looks like in action based upon the desires God puts within all Christians. 1. The Overwhelming Desire to Love God and know Him More Intimately (v. 9) First, Paul begins verse 9 with the command to “Let love be genuine.” How would you characterize a love for God that is genuine? How does a genuine love for God look in someone’s life? The implications of these four words are life altering. These four words tell us that God wants us to love Him in a way that is not partial or apt to waver. For Paul, if our love for God was not genuine, it was not love at all. Notice, too, what Paul says in the rest of verse 9: “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” The Greek for abhor means to detest or to be horrified by, and hold fast means – literally – to stick to or join together with. Thus, we are called stick to or join together with what is good. But what is good? Jesus says in •Matthew 17:19, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.” In light of this truth, Paul is very simply telling us that the desires God plants within us will lead us to detest evil and to join together with what is good. And the only thing that is truly good is God. But why do we know that we can never desire God on our own? What role does God play in our desire to love Him? Because of our sin, the only way we can love God – and desire to love Him – is because He puts that desire within us. The Apostle John said this: “We love because He first loved us” (•1 John 4:19). Thus, only God can give us the desire to love Him, and God yearns for us to pursue that desire for all of eternity. 2. The Overwhelming Desire to Love One Another (vs. 10) However, God plants within us a desire not only to love him, but also to love one another. Paul says this in verse 10: “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” First, what are some of the ways this type of love displayed in our lives? How is your love for God extended to others? Second, how can we “outdo one another in showing honor”, and what does this type of love communicate to the world? As we go about loving God with our lives, He also calls us to love other people. Thus, as He gives us the desire to love Him more, He also gives us the desire to love the people in our lives more as well. 3. The Overwhelming Desire to Serve – God and One Another (vs. 11) Lastly, as God places within us a desire to love Him and one another, God also give us the desire to serve. In verse 11, Paul says, “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” First, why does a life dedicated to serving others and God have to begin by God doing a work within us? How does our willingness and desire to wholeheartedly serve reflect God’s work of salvation in His children? Before his call to serve the Lord, however, Paul gives us the negative command to “not be slothful in zeal”. This is the idea we are to not be sluggish in our passion for God. Likewise, Paul says to be “fervent in spirit”. In context, what can we figure out what Paul is communicating when he says to “be fervent in spirit”? The word “fervent” means to boil or heat something. Using modern language, we might say Paul is calling us to get “fired up” about serving our Father. Paul sums up God’s desire for believers when he says simply, “serve the Lord”. Question #2: How are these desires integrated into the Mission Statement of our Church? The answer to this question is quite obvious: The desires God gives us to love Him, love others, and serve both He and one another are rather explicit in our Mission Statement of “Love God, Love People, Make Disciples”. However, do you think that an aspect of making disciples is serving one another? If so, how so? Question #3: How are these desires fulfilled through the concept of “3D”? Lastly, at its heart “3D” is an attempt to integrate the Mission, Vision, and Values of the church with the desires God gives believers in Christ to love God, love people, and serve God and one another as we make disciples. Think about it this way: “3D” is nothing more than an avenue for the members of HHBC to fulfill the desires God gives them as believers in Jesus Christ, as those who are led by the Holy Spirit, and as those who live for the Father’s glory. Thus, if God has given us a desire to love Him, does He not give us the desire to worship Him corporately? And if God has given us a desire to love others, does He not give us the desire to live in community with others? And if God has given us a desire to serve, does He not give us the desire to serve His Church? Our prayer is that through emphasizing church membership as a 3 dimensional concept, we as a church body will fulfill our mission of loving God, loving people, and making disciples and ultimately bring all glory unto to our God. Next week we will look at the relationship between the Vision and Values and “3D”.