Journeying Together: Authentic Fellowship

Sermon Outline for September 25, 2022
JOURNEYING TOGETHER: Authentic Fellowship

1 John 1:1-10

Introduction:
Mission Statement of Harvest Ridge:
“We are a church united in fellowship that exists to be a blessing in the world by advancing the knowledge of God’s love and grace for all people.”

Sermons #1-2: Foundations (Aug. 21, 28)
Throughout all of Scripture, God has been forming a people who know, love, and worship him, and who bless the world by making God known (Gen. 12:1-3; Eph. 3:4-11)

Sermons #3-6: How do we make God known? We accomplish this mission through:
• Proclaiming God’s word (Sept. 4)
• Modeling Christ’s sacrificial love (Sept. 11)
• Persisting in prayer (Sept. 18)
• Engaging in gracious and authentic fellowship (Sept. 25)

Sermons #7-10: How do we live and act within our fellowship?
• Unity (Oct. 9)
• Holiness (Oct. 16)
• Accountability (Oct. 23)
• Service (Oct. Nov 6)

Based on 1 John 1:1-10, our fellowship as Christians should be:
(1) Centered around the message (“Gospel”) of Jesus (vv. 1-4)
(2) Open and authentic, in which confession is normal (vv. 5-10)

How does genuine and authentic fellowship fulfill our mission?
(1) It demonstrates the reconciling power of the Gospel

Ephesians 2:14-20: "14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit."

(2) It strengthens and encourages us in our mission

Ephesians 4:11-13: “11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Application:
#1 – Find a group of accountability partners.
#2 – Get involved in the church community and ministries.
#3 – Be intentional in going deeper.