Deeper Relationships © Mike Breen

Up OutIn © Mike Breen

Up, In and Out UP: towards God where we develop in intimacy with Him IN: with other believers where we look to be a community OUT: to non-believers where we seek to make an impact for the Kingdom of God © Mike Breen

Jesus: Up, In and Out Luke 6 : 12 – 20 One of those days Jesus went up to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them designating them apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. © Mike Breen

Luke 6 : 12 – 20 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. © Mike Breen Jesus: Up, In and Out

Luke 6 : 12 – 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God” © Mike Breen Jesus: Up, In and Out

Jesus: Looking Up to God Jesus was in constant contact with his Father, whom he spoke of in very personal, intimate and familiar terms. Prayer, praise and waiting on his Father was a fundamental element in the lifestyle of Jesus. Luke’s gospel tells us that Jesus could often be found in lonely places praying (Luke 10 : ) © Mike Breen

Jesus: Living In Community Jesus came as a human being and showed us the way human beings are to live out their lives in society with others. We need each other After prayer, Jesus called the twelve to become his small group © Mike Breen

Jesus: Living In Community Mark 3 : 13 – 14 “He called to him those he wanted...He appointed twelve – that they might be with him…” Jesus spent three years building strong relationships with the disciples.. © Mike Breen

Jesus – Reaching Out to the World Jesus prayed to His Father (Up), then gathered a team of people to be with him and work alongside him (In) Jesus then moved out into the crowd doing the works of the Kingdom, sharing the Good News (Out) © Mike Breen

Jesus – Reaching Out to the World The pattern revealed in the life of Jesus shows us that in order to fulfill the great commission we first need to be in intimate relationship with the Father, then with one another before effectively moving out to the world with the Good News. © Mike Breen

Up God’s presence is in your life, but is often hidden beneath the surface We learn to dig for the presence of God as we take on the daily commitment of spiritual disciplines The disciplines alone become tiresome, legalism and death Without the disciplines we have an uncertain experience of God’s presence Intimacy with Jesus grows of out time spent with Him. © Mike Breen

Practices that develop Up Include: Bible Study Prayer Retreat Fasting Meditation, silence, listening to God Worship – alone, in the car, in a congregation Work (Colossians 3:23) The Ministry of the Holy Spirit Others that you can think of © Mike Breen

How do you best relate to God? How do you spend time in God’s presence? © Mike Breen

Biblical Principles of Up A relationship with God is not just about quiet times: A spring not a bucket! John 4:13 – 14 Intimately in touch with God so that he directs our life John 5:19 – 30 Abiding in Christ John 15:5 © Mike Breen

The 3 Dimensions of Up Up - In – Out in The Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6: 9 – 13) Within this prayer Jesus refers to bringing glory to God, the importance of transparent and forging relationships and an outward focus towards the world. © Mike Breen

In We live in an individualistic society The nuclear family may well be a thing of the past, yet our greatest heart’s desire is to belong The key element of growth in the church is small groups – the place of belonging © Mike Breen

Practices that develop In Fellowship Encouragement and exhortation Teaching and Bible application together Strong, open relationships Mutual support, nurture Accountability Giving and receiving Others you can think of © Mike Breen

Where is your place of belonging in the church? What do you give most in relationships with other believers? © Mike Breen

Biblical Principles of In Being the church is not just about Sunday Services: Confrontation and forgiveness Matthew 18: 15 – 35 Covenant John 13 : 34, 15: 12 – 15 © Mike Breen

Biblical Principles of In Community Community marks the bond of our belonging together as a family We belong in expanding circles – accountability groups, small groups, clusters, and celebrations © Mike Breen

The 3 Dimensions of In Up – In – Out in Church Ephesians 1 – 6 Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was a circular letter to the church about the church; the foundational model for how we are to ‘do’ church. How does the church function and what it is supposed to look like? Up, In and Out. © Mike Breen

Out We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the hungry, lonely, afflicted, homeless, abused The Great Commission says to GO out into all the world and make disciples, not wait for non believers to show up at our church services We need to take the initiative in developing relationships with non believers © Mike Breen

Practices that develop Out Praying for and expecting opportunities at work Prayer walking Researching your target community Being aware of not-yet Christians who are open to you Connecting with the poor and marginalized © Mike Breen

Practices that develop Out Standing up for social justice or environmental issues in your community and the world Going in pairs to bless strangers and form new relationships Looking for and taking openings in your relationships in the “real world” Alpha Course © Mike Breen

Do you actively look to build relationships with non believers? Do you see yourself more as a light (an example) or salt (closely engaged) in the world? © Mike Breen

Biblical Principles of Out Mission is not just about foreign lands, evangelists and altar calls: Team – Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1 Time – Matt. 9:37 – 8; Luke 10:2 Target – Matt. 10:5 - 6, 11 – 14; Luke 10:6 Task – Matt. 10:7 – 8; Luke 10:9 © Mike Breen

Recognizing a “Person of Peace” A person of peace Welcomes you Listens to you Serves you (we will look at this more closely when we come to the 8 th shape – Relational Mission ) © Mike Breen

The 3 Dimensions of Out Up – In – Out in Mission Luke 10 : The same basic principles of out reach that Jesus taught the twelve and the seventy two were the same basic principles used by the early church in their evangelism recorded in Acts, and serve as the model for us today. © Mike Breen

Which is your weakest area? Up? In? Out? © Mike Breen

Consequences of an Unbalanced Life Burnout Isolation and Loneliness Ineffectiveness for the Kingdom © Mike Breen

Two Axis Churches? Strong on Up and In Strong on Up and Out Strong on In and Out © Mike Breen

Further Reflection Reflect on the Lord’s Prayer as a way to focus on UP, IN and OUT. Use it in your time with God as a structure to pray through the UP, IN and OUT dimensions of your life Look back on your life as a Christian so far. Identify the seasons where your life was strongly on one axis or another of the triangle (neglecting one area). Draw a timeline depicting this. © Mike Breen

Further Bible Study Spend some time this week reading through the book of Ephesians. Can you see a flow of Up, In and Out through the six chapters? Where? © Mike Breen

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