‘COURTESY in COMMUNITY’ Courtesy should be common in family life and marriage Courtesy should be common in the workplace [things run better] And courtesy should be common in church and community

Sorry, I stood on your foot Marie [2]

Why are you in Lamb of God? [3] Loneliness? Looking for friendship? Did a friend invite you and you ‘stuck’? Did you attend a Seminar, enjoyed it, stayed? Or you just know it’s good for your family? Or you know it’s good for you, and you can and are growing here?

We ARE Christians, we believe [4] It is probable ‘God called me’, or something similar, would be in your honest answer The Lord can call through loneliness, and through our friends, through seminars, and through joy or testing The Lord is the Lord and He can and does work through and call us by a variety of ways

For me it was a set of circumstances [5] Smoking My ‘unsavoury’ job Attending a Business College Seminar An aircraft and right side wing A persistent Catholic priest And a holy and loving wife

In the Lamb of God [6] We are called as a people, marked by Christ- 1 Peter 2 [9-10] ‘you are a chosen people... you are the people of God’ John 15 [16] ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you... to bear fruit that will last’

Our life in Community [7] Has four distinctive marks- It is of the Lord [called by God, for His people] It is in distinct contrast to the world It is intended to be corporate To ‘do it’ means we need to embrace it with effort and application [not a passive calling]

Covenant 4 August 1980 [8] For Veronica and me we made the decision over thirty years ago that ‘living community’ is a valid way of ‘living our lives’ We have not looked back or taken our hands off the plough [although it has been a bit shaky at times]

In all of this God is faithful [9] Deuteronomy 7 [7-9] ‘Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God’ Psalm 146 [6] ‘He remains faithful forever’ Matthew 25 [21] ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things - I will put you now in charge of many - come share your master’s happiness’

And being faithful [10] *Linked to common courtesy is our topic today* Our life together is built on commitment to the Lord and commitment to each other ‘Cement’ of our life together is ‘to attend and participate’... meaning active participation Think about what lies behind events such as House Groups and General Gatherings

Gatherings and Districts [11] People arrive early to set up gatherings [open up, music and sound, children’s ministry, kitchen set up, etc, etc] Look around! For main leaders you can generally add two hours for every gathering [given freely] We should strive to be there - don’t give it away without genuine and sincere reason Apprenticeship of the true leader is service

Your House Group [12] It is ‘your’ house group- not ‘their group’ Think about the host family/group leaders They will have prepared the home, be ready to receive early comers, be ready to welcome the grumpy and those who smile If they have young children, they might have need change their routine and have them in bed earlier all for you!

Sometimes we cannot attend [13] At times we simply cannot attend But how should we handle such occasions? – Should we simply just not turn up? No we should do it better because we are called to be a people, marked by Christ Remember this ‘way of life’ in which we strive is of the Lord and it is in contrast to the world

What should we do? [14] We should take personal responsibility to be there if at all possible [how a planning diary helps] But if we cannot be there we should seek to be released in an appropriate manner And do this as far in advance as possible Flash Points: if you are a house group leader and have prepared to open your home, and hardly anyone turns up [not good]

Courtesy can raise ‘issues’ [15] Be aware seeking release can ‘raise inner issues’ for you or your husband or wife [being treated like a child, I can think for myself, I’m not asking anyone ] If that happens then think about how your family functions- surely you just ‘don’t turn up’ for things? Deal with pride before the Cross

Courtesy makes us stronger [16] Seek a release from the appropriate person Explain why you are seeking a release Most times it will be given immediately But what about if not? Lateness can also be an issue and we should be ready to ask forgiveness and give reason

Imagine what would happen... [17] What would a gathering be like if the musicians didn’t show? The assigned leader stayed home to watch TV? No one arrived to put the seats out? Or didn’t make you a cuppa? Or you arrived at your house group to find doors locked and lights out because the family made a decision to go to a movie? ***We would very quickly have no community.

DISCUSSION [1] Do you seek release from formal community events such as gatherings, house groups, task groups, etc? Or have you just been unaware of asking? [2] If you regularly miss gatherings or house group- why? Can identify if is your poor planning, or perhaps poor communication from your group leader? Try to get it fixed [3] Pray for each other for the Lord to make us all stronger be exercising this ‘common courtesy’