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May 05, 2019 | Tony Hunt

Designed to be relational

We are designed to be in relationship.

  • Loneliness or isolation is one of the greatest causes of depression.
  • Thriving in relationship is one of the greatest causes to fulfillment or happiness.

Why does this transcend culture, people groups, and regions of the world? 
Answer: We are designed by God to be relational.

 

We are replicas of a relational God.Genesis 1:26-28

  • Created to be like God—the triune God! (26)
    • Not three separate Gods.
    • But three persons who operate in perfect unison.
    • Each of them having purpose.
  • We are not meant to be alone. Genesis 2:7, 18-25
    • God is not alone.
    • He serves in unison.
    • As a replica of him we too need relationship.
  • We are not designed to serve alone. (20b)
  • Relationships are designed to operate in unity as one. (24)

Relational unity testifies to God’s existence and character.  John 17:20-26

  • Jesus’ vision is for his people to be relationally one. (21a) 
  • Our relational oneness would reflect the oneness of the Father and Son. (21b)
    • He wants us to operate and experience with each other the same type of relationship he has with the Father.
    • This was most upon his heart for the future church.
  • Jesus is the active counselor in bringing about this unity. (22)
    • He does so by instilling his relationship with the Father into us by our relationship with him.
    • We receive his glory that he has received from the Father.
  • Our unity testifies and validates the message of Jesus before the world. (23)
    • The unlikely unity of such a diverse group of people who set aside personal gain is other worldly—supernatural.
    • Our unity provokes questions.
    • Our unity empowers our message because you cannot argue the fruit.
    • Relational brokenness convolutes our perspective of God.

Take Aways

  1. Living life in community is vital to emotional and spiritual health.
  • Living life in isolation is not healthy for emotional stability.
  • Thriving in life is better with others.
  • Being broken relationally on earth will directly correspond to brokenness in relationship with God.
  1. We know and understand God better through relationships.
  • God reveals himself and his relationship with Jesus through our engaging of relationship with others.
  • Isolation will breed misconceptions of God.
  • Cultism and heresies thrive in isolation.
  1. Relational unity or oneness is our greatest testimony to an unbelieving world.
  • Our unity testifies to the unity of God and his work in us
  • This is why we as a church value so highly healthy relationships.
  • Each of us cannot give up on pursuing oneness and unity in broken relationships.

Series Information

So many people are relationally or emotionally broken. Depression, anxiety, isolation, or tension become the the norm and it wreaks havoc with relationships, health, and even with faith.  This series will be addressing these issues and will help lay stronger foundations in understanding God more fully in these issues, so that we can be on a path towards healing or help others towards a path of healing of emotional and relational brokenness.