BUILT ON VALUES
WEEK FIVE — AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS
“ARE WE REALLY WALKING TOGETHER?”
Primary Text: John 13:34–35
Supporting Scriptures: Acts 2:42–47; Romans 12:9–18; Galatians 6:1–2; Ephesians 4:15–16; Hebrews 10:24–25; James 5:16
SERMON NOTES
1. MORE THAN SITTING IN THE SAME ROOM
There is a difference between going to church together and __________________________ together.
We can know someone’s name without knowing their __________________________.
Jesus didn’t call us to simply attend church.
Jesus called us to become a __________________________.
Christianity was never designed to be lived __________________________.
We need God—and we need __________________________.
2. JESUS CALLED US INTO RELATIONSHIP
John 13:34–35
Jesus said:
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Jesus said the world would know we are His disciples if we __________________________ one another.
Authentic relationships are not simply an optional part of discipleship.
They are __________________________ of discipleship.
Jesus gathered people around Himself and was building a __________________________.
3. AUTHENTIC LOVE GOES DEEPER THAN FRIENDLINESS
Romans 12:9 — “Love must be __________________________.”
Authentic love is genuine and without __________________________.
Friendly:
“It’s good to see you.”
Authentic:
“How are you __________________________ doing?”
Friendly:
“I’ll pray for you.”
Authentic:
“Can I __________________________ with you right now?”
Authentic Christian love isn’t based on personality compatibility.
It is based on __________________________.
4. AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS CROSS BARRIERS
Authentic love knows no:
- Cultural
- Structural
At the foot of the __________________________, we all need grace.
Our greatest identity is:
“I belong to __________________________.”
And if we belong to Jesus, then we belong to __________________________.
5. AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS REQUIRE VULNERABILITY
Sometimes behind the smile is:
- “I’m hurting.”
- “I’m discouraged.”
- “I’m afraid.”
- “I’m lonely.”
- “I don’t know what to do.”
Sometimes the greatest thing someone can hear is:
“You don’t have to __________________________ with me.”
James 5:16
We are called to confess our sins to one another and __________________________ for one another.
Authenticity means having trustworthy relationships where we can be honest without fear of __________________________.
We need people who will hear our struggles and point us toward __________________________.
6. AUTHENTIC LOVE INCLUDES LOVING CORRECTION
Galatians 6:1
When someone is caught in sin, we are called to:
__________________________ that person gently.
The goal is:
__________________________
Not embarrass.
Not condemn.
Not destroy.
Ephesians 4:15
We are called to:
Speak the __________________________ in __________________________.
Truth without love can __________________________ people.
Love without truth can leave people __________________________.
Truth spoken in love can help people become more like __________________________.
7. AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS HELP US BECOME HOLY
In the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, we believe:
God doesn’t merely forgive us.
God __________________________ us.
God calls us to __________________________.
God calls us to __________________________ sanctification.
You cannot separate __________________________ from relationships.
The fruit of the Spirit is tested in __________________________.
Relationships reveal what is happening in our __________________________.
8. THE EARLY CHURCH SHOWED US AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY
Acts 2:42–47
The early believers:
- Learned together
- Fellowshipped together
- Broke bread together
- Prayed together
- Shared what they had
- Cared for one another
- Worshiped together
They weren’t simply attending a weekly service.
They were doing __________________________ together.
There is a connection between:
Healthy __________________________ and healthy __________________________.
When people are loved, accepted, challenged, and encouraged, they are more likely to __________________________.
9. WE NEED ONE ANOTHER
Hebrews 10:24–25
We are called to encourage one another toward:
Love and __________________________ deeds.
God never intended discipleship to be a __________________________ project.
You need __________________________.
And somebody needs __________________________.
10. THE HOLY SPIRIT CREATES A DIFFERENT KIND OF COMMUNITY
We need the __________________________ __________________________.
The Spirit:
- Changes our hearts
- Gives us patience
- Gives us humility
- Gives us grace
- Enables forgiveness
Authentic Christian relationships are __________________________-enabled relationships.
Entire sanctification is about God cleansing and filling the heart with __________________________.
Instead of asking:
“What can this person do for me?”
we begin asking:
“How can I help this person become more like __________________________?”
FIVE WAYS TO BUILD AUTHENTIC RELATIONSHIPS
1. KNOW SOMEONE
Connect with someone beyond your normal __________________________.
2. LISTEN TO SOMEONE
Ask questions and actually __________________________.
3. PRAY WITH SOMEONE
Sometimes stop and __________________________ right there.
4. SERVE WITH SOMEONE
Relationships deepen when we __________________________ together.
5. WALK WITH SOMEONE
Find someone who needs encouragement, discipleship, accountability, or friendship—and __________________________ with them.
THE CHALLENGE
MOVE FROM __________________________ TO __________________________
Jesus didn’t call us to live in rows.
He called us to live in __________________________.
The church is not a theater where we sit and watch.
The church is a __________________________ where we participate.
The church is not a crowd.
The church is the __________________________ of Christ.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:25–27
There should be no __________________________ in the body, but equal __________________________ for one another.
“If one part __________________________, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part __________________________.”
Therefore:
Your pain __________________________ to me.
My pain __________________________ to you.
Your victory is worth __________________________.
My struggle doesn’t have to be __________________________.
We belong to Jesus—and we belong to __________________________.
FINAL CHALLENGE
Don’t simply ask:
“Did I go to church?”
Ask:
“Who did I __________________________?”
“Who did I __________________________?”
“Who did I __________________________ with?”
“Who did I __________________________ to?”
“Who did I help become more like __________________________?”
REMEMBER:
Authentic relationships aren’t built by accident.
They are built __________________________.
ANSWER KEY
| # | Answer | # | Answer |
| 1 | doing life | 26 | truth / love |
| 2 | story | 27 | crush / lost |
| 3 | family | 28 | Jesus |
| 4 | alone | 29 | transforms |
| 5 | one another | 30 | holiness |
| 6 | love | 31 | entire |
| 7 | evidence | 32 | holiness |
| 8 | community | 33 | relationships |
| 9 | sincere | 34 | hearts |
| 10 | hypocrisy | 35 | life |
| 11 | really | 36 | relationships / discipleship |
| 12 | pray | 37 | grow |
| 13 | Christ | 38 | good |
| 14 | generational | 39 | solo |
| 15 | cross | 40 | somebody / you |
| 16 | Jesus | 41 | Holy Spirit |
| 17 | one another | 42 | Spirit |
| 18 | pretend | 43 | holy love |
| 19 | pray | 44 | Jesus |
| 20 | condemnation | 45 | circle |
| 21 | Jesus | 46 | listen |
| 22 | restore | 47 | pray |
| 23 | restore | 48 | serve |
| 24 | truth | 49 | walk |
| 25 | love | 50 | rows / relationships |
| 51 | relationship | 52 | family |
| 53 | Body | 54 | division / concern |
| 55 | suffers | 56 | rejoices |
| 57 | matters | 58 | matters |
| 59 | celebrating | 60 | hidden |
| 61 | one another | 62 | love |
| 63 | encourage | 64 | pray |
| 65 | listen | 66 | Jesus |
| 67 | intentionally |
MEMORY VERSE
John 13:34–35
“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
THE BIG IDEA
We belong to Jesus—and because we belong to Jesus, we belong to one another.