A Community of Greatness

Genesis 1:27 NLT
God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God
he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:28 NLT
God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth
and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and
all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
Genesis 2:18
“It is not good for man (Hebrew = “Adam”) to be alone…”
“There is nothing more unchristian than a solitary Christian.”
– John Wesley
Becoming a Community of Greatness

1. We Are Called to Rule Together
   Genesis 1:28 NLT
   God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth
   and govern it. REIGN over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky,
   and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
   REIGN: Hebrew “Radah” — means “to rule, have dominion, or
   dominate”
   Genesis 1:28 NLT
   “… REIGN over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the
   animals that scurry along the ground.”
   We were called to rule together, but we were never called to rule
   each other.
   Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT
   Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other
   succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But
   someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying
   close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm
   alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but
   two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for
   a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
   We have to grow to the place where we delight in declaring our
   dependence on our brothers and sisters in Christ!
   “Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. But take away one link
   and the chain is broken. Nobody is a whole team. Each one is a
   player. But take away one player and the game is forfeited. Nobody is
   a whole orchestra. Each one is a musician. But take away one
   musician and the symphony is incomplete. You guessed it. We need
   each other. You need someone and someone needs you. To make
   this thing called life work, we gotta lean and support. And relate and
   respond. And give and take. And confess and forgive. And reach out
   and embrace. Since none of us is a whole, independent, selfsufficient, super capable, all-powerful hotshot, let’s quit acting like we
   are. Life’s lonely enough without our playing that silly role. The
   game’s over. Let’s link up.” – Chuck Swindoll
   Becoming a Community of Greatness
2. We Are Called to Affirm One Another
   Affirmation is taking the purposeful initiative to call out and agree
   with the greatness God has put in someone.
   Proverbs 25:11 MSG
   The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of
   jewelry.
   GREATNESS is living confident in who God made me to be, using
   the unique gifts He put in me for His glory around me!
   1 Timothy 1:18 TPT
   So Timothy, my son, I am entrusting you with this responsibility, in
   keeping with the very first prophecies that were spoken over your
   life, and are now in the process of fulfillment in this great work
   of ministry… With this encouragement use your prophecies as
   weapons as you wage spiritual warfare by faith and with a clean
   conscience.
   1 Corinthians 12:4-6 TPT
   It is the same Holy Spirit who continues to distribute many different
   varieties of gifts. The Lord Yahweh is one, and he is the one who
   apportions to believers different varieties of ministries. The same
   God distributes different kinds of miracles that accomplish
   different results through each believer’s gift and ministry as he
   energizes and activates them.
   “I can do what you cannot, and you can do what I cannot; together we
   can do great things.” – Mother Teresa
   Becoming a Community of Greatness
3. We Are Called to Get Out of the Boat
   Matthew 14:25-31 TPT
   At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on
   the waves! When the disciples saw him walking on top of the water,
   they were terrified and screamed, “A ghost!” Then Jesus said, “Be
   brave and don’t be afraid. I am here!” Peter shouted out, “Lord, if
   it’s really you, then have me join you on the water!” “Come and join
   me,” Jesus replied. So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to
   walk toward Jesus. But when he realized how high the waves
   were, he became frightened and started to sink. “Save me, Lord!”
   he cried out. Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and lifted him
   up and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt
   win?”
   How many times has Jesus said, “COME and join me,” but you
   watched someone else step out when you should have?
   “It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are.
   But, it is absolutely vital to grasp that He didn’t call you there so you
   could settle in and live your life in comfort and superficial peace.”
   – Francis Chan