Building Meaningful Relationships Through Faith and Forgiveness

In this sermon, I focused on the importance of relationships in our lives, both with God and with each other. I began by acknowledging the current conflicts in the world and praying for peace, emphasizing the importance of gratitude for the freedom and protection we have. I then introduced the new sermon series on relationships, aiming to explore their significance and the different types they encompass. I also highlighted the church's upcoming outreach event and the partnership with the Bible app, encouraging the congregation to engage more with the church community.

In the main body of the sermon, I delved into what the Bible says about relationships, citing verses from Corinthians, Proverbs, Colossians, and Peter. I emphasized the importance of choosing our associations wisely, as they can influence our behavior and trap us in harmful situations. I also stressed the need for compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience in our interactions with others, as well as the importance of forgiveness. I concluded the sermon by reiterating the significance of our relationship with God, inviting those who haven't accepted Jesus as their Lord to do so, and offering prayers for those who need them.

Key Takeaways:
- Relationships are crucial in our lives, and we should choose our associations wisely as they can influence our behavior and potentially lead us into harmful situations. ([50:59])
- Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience are essential qualities in our interactions with others. ([52:20])
- Forgiveness is a key aspect of our relationships, and we should strive to forgive others as God has forgiven us. ([01:10:16])
- Our relationship with God is the most important one, and accepting Jesus as our Lord can change the course of our lives. ([01:28:46])
- Prayer is a powerful tool that can help us navigate our relationships and other aspects of our lives. ([01:30:48])

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 2:41 #!!01:07:02!!#
2. 1 Corinthians 5 (specific verses not mentioned) #!!01:06:38!!#

Observation Questions:
1. In Acts 2:41, what does the term "fellowship" mean in the context of the early church?
2. How does the concept of "coenania" or partnership relate to the idea of community in Acts 2:41?
3. In 1 Corinthians 5, what guidelines does Paul give for relationships within the church community?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "coenania" or partnership apply to our modern church community?
2. How should we view and evaluate our relationships within the church community based on the teachings in 1 Corinthians 5?
3. What does the Bible teach about the importance of community and relationships in our faith journey?

Application Questions:
1. How can you foster a sense of "coenania" or partnership within your own church community?
2. Can you identify a relationship within your church community that needs to be evaluated through the lens of scripture? How can you address this?
3. What is one risk you can take this week to deepen a relationship within your church community?
4. How can you demonstrate the love of God to someone in your church community this week?
5. Can you think of a way to invest more time in building relationships within your church community?

Day 1: The Power of Confession

The act of confessing Jesus as the Lord of our lives is not a one-time event, but a daily commitment. It's not just about acknowledging Him during times of trouble or on special occasions, but making Him the Lord over every area of our lives. This confession is the foundation of our relationship with God and the key to aligning all other relationships in our lives. [01:28:46]

Bible passage: Romans 10:9-10 - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."

Reflection: Reflect on your daily life. Are there areas where you have not yet confessed Jesus as Lord? How can you make Him the Lord over those areas?

Day 2: The Importance of Community

We are not meant to walk our faith journey alone. We are part of a community, a family in Christ. This community is there to support us, pray with us, and walk with us through our decision to follow Christ. [01:33:05]

Bible passage: Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Reflection: How have you experienced the support of your faith community? How can you contribute to this community?

Day 3: The Power of Prayer

Prayer is not just a way to ask for things, but a way to connect with God and express our gratitude, fears, and hopes. It's a way to invite God into our lives and allow Him to guide us. [50:59]

Bible passage: Philippians 4:6-7 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily life?

Day 4: The Call to Serve

We are called to serve others, not just within our church community, but also in the wider world. Serving others is a way to show God's love and to live out our faith in a practical way. [36:38]

Bible passage: Galatians 5:13 - "You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."

Reflection: How can you use your gifts and talents to serve others in your community?

Day 5: The Journey of Faith

Our faith journey is not a straight path, but a journey with ups and downs. It's a journey that requires obedience, trust, and a willingness to follow where God leads, even when the path is unclear. [49:32]

Bible passage: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Reflection: Reflect on your faith journey. Where has God led you that you didn't expect? How has this journey strengthened your faith?

Hi, guys. My name is Pastor Keenan, and these are your weekly announcements.

Hey, guys. The bash is coming! Our biggest outreach of the year is happening on October 28th. We are so excited about it. We are going to have a corn maze, a trunk or treat, face painting, jump houses, and all of the things that we need your help with.

That's right. We need you to take this opportunity to volunteer and be a part of our outreach. This is going to be the biggest one of the year. Last year, we saw almost 3,000 people come through our building, come down our block, and we want to show them the love of God.

So, would you consider signing up using the QR code in front of you or at the team limit list table to serve? I can't wait to see you there. Let's take the limits off of the way people see Jesus, faith, and the church one more time.

Hey, do you have a cell phone? I know you do. Do you have the Bible app? I hope you do. Well, guess what? Limitless Church has partnered with the Bible app! That is right. You can now look up Limitless Church on our Bible app.

Every day, we post sermon updates, blog recaps of our sermons, and we even have Bible lessons and plans that are part of the Limitless Church page. So, do me a favor, grab your phone, turn on your Bible app, and search Limitless Church Woodland. When you see a post, like it, interact with it, so you now have another way to connect with Limitless Church while you're not here.

I can't wait to see you on the Bible app. And that's it for your weekly announcements. If you need any more information, please feel free to take out your phone and scan the QR code on the seat pocket in front of you, or meet us outside at the team Limitless table.

Have a wonderful day. God bless.

Amen. Hell of good in that picture though. I'm glad I didn't wear that outfit today. That would have been awkward. Looks good though. I look thin, hallelujah. Amen.

Thank you so much, hot weapon. Photo crit. Oh yeah, Ms. Jamie. Ms. Jamie on the photos and the photo shop, obviously. Thank you, church. I can't even begin to explain any of this. When we had the vision for this church, you have an idea, and obviously, the Lord doesn't give you the whole picture.

This is what you're going to do. This is what I want you to do. Pastor Ryan knows I was fine wrapping. I enjoyed myself. I loved doing what I was doing. I loved traveling, and my family was with me, and it was amazing.

I never forget when we were in the car. I was in the car with my mother-in-law, and I was sitting in the back of the car. And she says, "Son, I think you're going to put down that wrapping for a minute, and I think the Lord wants you to preach the Word."

And let me tell you something about the prophet: they never live, but in that moment, I was hoping she had an off day—not a lie, but an off day. And from that, the Lord began to open doors and begin to show, and as He always does, He has remained faithful these past years.

People ask oftentimes—my wife will tell you, Pastor Ryan will tell you—how are you guys doing what it is that you're doing? And I gladly tell them that I have no idea. It's really God's favor. It's really God shining His light when we open the doors. We're just trying to be obedient.

To each and every one of you, thank you, because we just pray and we just try to hear from God. And there are times, like Pastor Ryan says, and my wife can tell you, I'm like, "Where is such and such? Why haven't I seen them in the past two weeks?" And I'll call somebody. I'll call on, "Hey, where they been at?" Go find out what they've been at and call them and figure out what's going on because the Lord has placed you on our hearts.

We're not those pastors. Many of you know we're not just going to let you come to church and just be. No, we are doing life with you, and we're grateful for the opportunity to be in a community like this—to be in a place where we can come together, and it's family, and it's love. It's no weird stuff. It's just Jesus and people who love one another. Amen. Come on.

Hallelujah. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word today. God, I thank you for this opportunity that we have. God, I want to take a second and just lift up the conflict that's going on right now. God, I pray for peace.

God, I pray for peace. There are people who don't have homes. There are people who have been captured. There are people who are in fear of their life. God, I pray for peace. And even in that, God, I don't take for granted this very moment, the freedom that we have to be here in this building.

Thank you for what you are allowing us to do. God, thank you for your protection over our people, over this city, over this country, even in the midst of. God, as we're here today, I pray that you speak to my vocal cords and think through my mind. I pray that you would open our ears so that we can hear what it is that you're saying.

I pray that you would open our hearts so that we would be able to receive the words that you are speaking and that it would be hidden on good ground. We pray in this place today, God, we praise you, we love you. In Jesus' name, Amen. Amen.

All right, we ready to dive into this word? It's second service; I know you already. All right, so we're beginning a series, and the series is called Relationships.

Over the series, we're going to be diving into the importance of relationships, the different types of relationships, why they matter, and what they mean to us, and not only to us, but what do they mean to God? I feel like one of the most important things we do as people is develop relationships.

We start in daycare. I never forget when I dropped Cadence off for daycare—excuse me, when I dropped him off in preschool. One of the things that I worried about the most—probably the only thing that I worried about when he got home—I asked him, "Hey, did you make any friends?"

Like, I didn't care about his teacher. I didn't care if he colored. I didn't care about any of that. I wanted to know, did you make friends, right? That's how it happens in elementary school. We go to school, and when we get home, the first thing our parents ask us is the same thing: "Hey, did you make any new friends?"

Then you get older—maybe grade school or high school or college—and your parents, you want to go do something, then what do you tell your parents? "Dad, I just want to go hang out with my friends."

This is just an affinity. There's something that's drawing us to community. You lost friends as you got older; you gained friends. The circle got bigger; the circle got smaller. We have this need for community.

The two most popular and longest-lasting television shows ever produced were about community. They were about friendship; they were about relationships. The first one: "I'll be there for you when the rain starts to fall. I'll be there for you."

I remember Friends. Friends was the one that was a long-lasting effort. For those of you who have no idea what that show is about, more seasons than Saints. Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. Cheers, right? It was about coming to a place— I don't know why, but coming to a place where everybody knew who you were, and you felt seen. You felt like you were in community.

We have this need. Even the world has a desire for friendship, for relationships, for community. But as with anything, if we don't understand the purpose of a thing, it is inevitable that we will abuse it.

It is inevitable that we will abuse it, whether it's a platonic relationship, a professional relationship, or an intimate relationship. It is imperative—it is of the utmost importance—that we look at the relationship through the lens of our faith, through the lens of what we believe.

Our relationships matter to God. Relationships are more than just happenings in our life. They are not these things we just bump into when they happen. No, godly relationships are designed to move us and to assist us in getting to the destination and the destiny that God has prepared for us—relationships.

So, as I talk today and over these next couple of weeks, you'll hear me use these two terms interchangeably. The first term is community, and the second term is relationship. I will use these interchangeably because they basically, in our language, mean the same thing.

Let's look at the definition of community first. Community is a perceived connection between a group of people based on an overlap of intent, identity, and experience.

Now let's look at relationships. A relationship is a connection or association between two or more people, characterized by emotional or social interaction, mutual understanding, and shared experience—community and relationship.

This idea, this concept, this language that we have around relationships and community isn't new. We are hardwired from creation by God to seek and find it. We cannot get away from the communal nature of humankind.

We are communal people who serve a communal God. We are a communal people who serve a communal God. Genesis chapter 1, verse 26—we read this two weeks ago, but it was so nice we wanted to bring it back.

Then God said, "Let us." Us! Right there, we see it—community. "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Right there, we see community. We talked about the Holy Spirit. We talked about the triuneness of God—God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit—and in the Scripture, we see that community taking place. God is a community calling us to be a people of community.

This idea that we have that we can be a loner, that we can be a lone wolf, that we don't need anybody—that is a trick of the enemy. That is a trick of the enemy. That is not God's design for our life.

Isolation is where the enemy wants us to be because in isolation, guess what? Nobody can fight with us, and nobody can fight for us. Isolation. Isolation. That is not God's design; that is not God's purpose.

We have this idea, this thing that we say, "I don't need nobody. I can do this by myself. I don't need friends. I don't need community. I don't need relationship." The fact of the matter is when you say that, what you are really showing is that there's an immaturity there.

There's an immaturity there, and/or you're just bad at relationships. And that's okay. That's okay. That's why you're here. Praise God. This is what this shows to us. We have to grow in these areas.

We can't continue to try to do life alone. Our relationships matter to our destiny and our purpose. Our relationships matter to our destiny and to our purpose.

When I was in Atlanta, I went to a church and I served there, and I loved being there. I began to develop a relationship with Alissa and Renardo Warrell. That relationship changed the trajectory of my life.

So I met Alissa and Renardo Warrell. They were the youth leaders at my church. As a result of that relationship, I began to want to do Christian hip-hop music. As a result of that relationship, I then got introduced to a gentleman by the name of Canton Jones.

Canton Jones was a label owner who had a buzzing record label at the time, and because of my relationship with the Warrells, I began to develop a relationship with Canton Jones. Then I got signed. I began to travel around the world. I began to go to all of these places, and because of my relationship with Canton Jones, I got booked to minister on a cruise ship.

On that cruise ship, I began to develop another relationship with a very beautiful young lady at the time, and I began to develop a relationship and build a relationship with her. That lady is my wife, in case you didn't get that. She wasn't my wife at the time, but praise God.

So we began to develop that relationship, and as we began to develop that relationship, I began to come to California. My ministry began to take off as it pertained to being a Christian artist, and I began to rap and do more things.

Then, because of that relationship, I had to go to church, and it would have been weird if I didn't go to the church that she went to. That would have been awkward. So her father was the assistant pastor at a church. We began to go to that church and develop a relationship with Pastor Wiley, who was the pastor of that church.

At that time, I began to develop that relationship. He asked me to be a youth pastor at the church. So I'm a youth pastor at the church, and now because I am a rapper and a youth pastor, I get a phone call to go to a church, and now I begin to develop a relationship with a gentleman who had a Mohawk, who was about 6'1" or 6'2" and had muscles that made no sense that he wasn't even using.

So we make him use them now—Pastor Ryan. So me and Pastor Ryan begin to develop. Pastor Ryan introduced me to a gentleman by the name of Pastor Hector Gutierrez at Thrive Church. I began to serve there. I began to be now a young adult pastor and assistant associate pastor.

As a result of my relationship with Pastor Hector, I now begin to have this idea to plant a church. Now I begin to have this idea to plant a church. And now, as a result of all of those relationships, I now move into the destiny and the purpose that God had for my life.

Our relationships matter to our destiny and our purpose. We need one another. This idea that you don't need nobody is a lie from the devil. It is a trick of the enemy.

As a matter of fact, what has happened is now you have taken on the world's way of thinking and doing as it pertains to relationships. Because you were born for community. You were born for relational community.

Okay? First Corinthians, chapter 12, Paul is talking to the Corinthian church, and they're having some issues. He begins to talk about this exact same thing because they felt like they didn't need nobody. They were running things.

So, First Corinthians chapter 12, beginning at verse 14, he says, "For the human body does not consist of one part, but of many limbs and organs. If the foot says, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,' is it not contrary still part of the body? If the ear says, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,' is it not contrary still a part of the body?

If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But now, as things really are, God has placed and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them just as He has willed and saw fit with the best balance of function.

If they were a single organ, where would the rest of the body be? But now, as things really are, there are many parts, different limbs and organs, but a single body. The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'"

Paul is talking to the church in Corinth about our need for one another. You know, you can't wake up one day and say, "How many times are you going to stub your foot on the corner of the bed?" You hit it one time, and you say, "You know what? That's it. I'm not using my legs no more. I'm done. I'm done with you legs. You can't seem to get it together. I don't like the pain. The bed has been here. You have been here. I'm done."

Because I'm upset with you, I'm irritated with you, I got a problem with you. So now I'm going to cut you off. I'm done with it. We don't get the opportunity to do that. Why? Because that's not how a body operates.

And so, as the body of Christ, that's how we are supposed to operate. We don't get to make the decision that we just throw people away because we don't like what they said, we don't like what they did, we don't like how they reacted. They forgot my birthday. They didn't call me. They didn't show up. They didn't do this.

That's not what the body of Christ is about. He's saying it is impossible for one part of the body to say to the other, "I have no need of you."

It's impossible. And when we look at the formation of the church, the very beginning of Christianity, community and relationship has always been the plan. It has always been the plan. That is where it started, and it was built off of relational community.

Acts chapter 2, verse 41. Acts chapter 2, verse 41 says, "So then those who accepted his message were baptized. And on that day, about 3,000 souls were added to the body of believers. They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to what? To the instruction of the apostles and to fellowship and to eating meals together and to prayers."

Now, when you look at this word fellowship, it's translated in the Greek to this word called koinonia. Okay, koinonia. This word means partnership. It means joint participation. It means community.

This is how we are to do life. We're supposed to do life in partnership. We're supposed to do life in joint participation with one another. We're supposed to do life in the community.

Relationships matter to our destiny, and they matter to our purpose. And because of every relationship, we have to look at it through the lens of our faith.

Okay, when we're looking at the people that we are associating with, the people that we are in community with, the people that we call friends, that relationship should be viewed through the Scripture.

How are we treating people that we're in relationship with? How are we treating people that we are in community with? When we evaluate any and every relationship and those relationships that we are in, does it line up with what the word of God says?

Does it line up with what we have been instructed to do by God? Does it line up? Just think about it. And the Lord will tell you. I ain't got to do no conviction; that's the Holy Spirit's job.

Look at the relationships that you are a part of and ask yourself, does this line up with the word of God? First Corinthians chapter 5—let's see what the word says when it comes to our relationships.

First Corinthians chapter 5, verse 11 says, "But actually, I have written to you to not associate with any so-called Christian brother or sister if he is sexually immoral or greedy, or is an idolater—Pastor, that's a big word. What does that mean?—or is devoted to anything that takes the place of God? Or is a reveler? What does that mean, Pastor?—or is someone who insults or slanders or otherwise verbally abuses others? Or is a drunkard? Or is a swindler? He says, 'You must not so much as eat with such a person.'"

Don't get mad at me; I'm not saying this. This is the word. But it's having you address and look at your relationships. Look at the conversations that you're having. Look at the people that you are associating with.

Proverbs chapter 22, verse 24 says, "Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts or go along with a man or woman that is hot-tempered, or you will learn his undisciplined ways and get yourself trapped in a situation from which it is hard to escape."

Again, it's not me; it's the word. But you got to look at those things that are happening around you because notice he doesn't say, "Yeah, don't associate with someone who is given to angry outbursts or somebody who's hot-tempered because you're going to change their life."

No, no, no, it didn't say that. It said, "You will learn his undisciplined ways because some of y'all—I know my wife says I got this problem—some of y'all got superhero syndrome. Y'all want to save everybody."

And it's just like, "No, no, no, they're going to be fine. I'm going to save them, and they're going to be better. It's okay. I'm going to stay in a relationship with them even though I know it's unhealthy, even though I know it's bad, even though I know it's not good because I'm going to change them."

Oh, because you're the Holy Spirit? So you're doing God's job now. That's what you're doing. No, he says, "You will learn his undisciplined ways, and you will get yourself trapped in a situation which is hard to escape."

This is what he's saying about our relationships. Proverbs 13 says, "He who walks as a companion with wise men will be wise, but the companions of conceited fools are fools themselves and will experience harm."

But no, I just want to, you know, they're funny, they make me feel good, they make me smile, they make me laugh. Okay, keep quiet.

Colossians chapter 3, verse 12 says, "Put on then, as God's chosen holy ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts." Are you compassionate? Kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

Here we go, bearing with one another. Man, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other. Wait, I'm not supposed to just hold that grudge? I'm not supposed to bring it back up every time they come around? I'm not supposed to tell my family and the rest of the people about how bad they treated me so whenever they come around, we got something to talk about?

No, that's actually not what he said. What he said is what we're supposed to do is forgive one another. Man, forgiving one another. Well, how many times am I—because I don't know how many times I'm going to let them keep distressing me.

Oh, okay, how many times should we do that? Oh, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. All right. That's all right. You get it now later. It made me not.

He says that's how we're supposed to treat one another, but we want to throw people away so easily. We want to just forget you. Just no, you didn't. I got nothing else to do with you.

No, he says we're supposed to bear with one another. Bear with one another. Be gracious towards one another because how many times have we gone to the Lord with the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over?

And over. "Hey Lord, here I am again, God. I know I said the last time was going to be the last time, but I think this time is the last time if you could just help me out." Jesus, right?

And then God—and then we don't want to go to God because we think God is like humans, but he's not like humans. He's not up there when you come up. You come up, he's like, "Oh, here you go again, here you go again. How many times do we have to have this said?"

No, no, no, God is like, "Yes, yes, come. Come. I forgive. I've already forgiven you. I'm taking you here. Now, let me show you."

And he says, "That's how we are to give." First Peter 4 says, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."

This is what God has to say about our relationships. This is what God has to say about our community. These are just a few markers that God has put in place for us as we encounter, develop, and build community and relationships.

Some of you may say, "Man, that's a lot of work. I don't know if I'm trying to do that." Yeah. Anything worth having takes work. Anything worth having takes work.

I know that we live in this microwave generation. We have immediate access to anything, and so we're so used to quick and easy, but any relationship that is built just overnight, is it worth much in the morning?

This thing is something that has to be built. I like it to a crockpot meal. That thing's got to stew for a minute. It's got to warm up. The juices got to—I'm hungry right now. The juices got to come, but this is what he's saying when it comes to our relationship: it takes time.

And we want to rush, and then we wonder why the relationships don't go the way that I thought it would go. Because you wanted it quick, you wanted it easy, you wanted it fast. Relationships and community take time.

It takes time. It's not just a friend request or just a shared interest. Real community and real relationships will require of you.

We can't have this idea that, "You know what? This person, I got a relationship with this person, so this one is worth it, and I'm going to invest in this one. But this one I don't really like, so I'm just going to leave that one, and I'm just going to let that do what it do."

No, no, no, no. Jesus was investing in each one of them. Jesus was there, and he's the Son of God. If anybody could come to the earth and do it on their own, it was probably Jesus.

If anybody could come and be like, "I don't need nobody. I don't need you. I don't need you. I don't need you. I really don't need you." He was the one that had the opportunity to say that, but yet and still, he came to this earth, and when his ministry started, he developed community.

And even one of his betrayed him, but you mad though, but you mad because you find out they forgot your birthday or they didn't call you. And up until the end, this is why Jesus is the exact—because up until the feast, he was still washing their feet. Do you understand that?

And this is what Jesus has called us to do. This is what he has called us to. He's called us to community. Anything, anything, when we are in relationships, it will require of you.

Three things that it will require. The first thing is relationships will require intimacy. Especially guys, we don't really like intimacy. You know, we got our wife, and we're like, "That's cool. Anything else? I'm good."

But guess what, guys? Men, husbands, we have to develop relationships. It will require intimacy. That means opening your mouth. That means sharing. This is what it requires of us.

Relationships are not created overnight. And because it's intimate, it's not something that you throw away over trivial matters and issues. That's the world's way of doing things. That's not what God has called us to do.

The second thing: relationships require risks. It requires risks. We have this thing that we do: if you don't get close to me, you can't hurt me. So what do we do? We keep everybody at arm's length.

We keep everybody at arm's length. We don't let nobody get close to us because if you don't get close to me, you can't hurt me. This idea of self-preservation. If I don't let you matter to me, then you can't betray me.

And we will lead our whole life avoiding people, avoiding relationships, avoiding these people because we're scared of being betrayed. Am I saying that that fear is not real and that thing is not real? No, I'm not saying that it's not real.

But what I am saying is that you have an opportunity in that moment to lean and trust in God, to lean in. And guess what? The best thing that God has given us as it pertains to relationships is time because time will tell.

And if we spend more time investing in our relationships before jumping into it, then we might see some things that will avoid us getting hurt and getting betrayed. Because guess what, baby? If they talked about everybody else, what makes you think they're not going to talk about you?

You enjoy the conversation, and you're like, "Yeah, we're going to be friends." No, you're next. But it requires risks. Real community requires that you take risks.

But here's the thing where your peace comes in: you know what? If something should go wrong, my trust is in God. If someone should say something out of character who claims to be a part of my community about me, I'm not worried about it.

Why? Because God has my back. He says, "Vengeance is mine." I don't have to worry about it. You say nothing. You did because why? My character, number one, will speak for itself. And second, I know that God has my back.

Lastly, any relationship that you have is never going to be sufficient. What do you mean? Any relationship that you have is never going to be sufficient. You were never meant to have all of your needs met by a community, a person, or the church.

I'm going to say that again because y'all might forget it in a couple of weeks. You were never meant to have all of your needs met by a community, another person, or the church.

And if you are looking to have your needs met by a community, by a person, or by a church, then guess what? You are guilty of idolatry. He says, "I will have no other gods before me."

The only person, the only relationship, the only community that is meant to fulfill all of your needs is the relationship that you have with Jesus Christ. That is it.

And anytime you try to put something in the place of the void that only God can fill, you will always come up short, each and every time. You're like, "I wonder why this relationship, I wonder why this thing, I wonder why this person isn't fulfilling all of my needs."

It is unfair for you to make them because that's not what they were created to do. That is only a void that God can fill. And here's the thing—it's just a free one for me.

Here's the thing that I find: whenever you put something in God's place, God will remove it. Every single time. I can't figure out why these relationships ain't working. I can't figure out why this boyfriend, this girlfriend, this thing—I can't figure out why it's not working because you put it in the wrong place.

"I will have no other gods before me." None whatsoever.

Listen, true community and true relationships are a gift from God. And when we honor the divine purpose and the assignment of those relationships, and we fully understand the impact that those relationships can have on our life, it will change the way that we see each and every relationship and community that we are a part of.

It is divine. People are in your life for a reason. It is up to you to determine what that is. God, why have you placed this person in my life? Before I quit and jump and make an assumption of why they're in my life, Lord, what are you saying?

How would you have me treat this person? How would you have me communicate? How would you have me to love this person? How would you have me to show grace to this person? How would you have me to be hospitable to this person?

Why have you brought this person into my life? What is it that you're saying?

And I understand that when it talks about relationships, some of us, you know, we have broken relationships. And I understand that. But I want you to know that you have been given the ability through the Word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to walk through these situations.

Whatever the outcome may be, what you want to know is that at the end of the day, God is pleased with the way that I walked through this relationship. It says bear with one another. Sometimes you got to bear with your family. I know they get on your nerves, but sometimes you got to bear with them.

Whether it may be, maybe there's a broken relationship with the son or daughter—bear with them. God is giving you the ability to walk through this. Because at the end of the day, that's all I want to hear: "Well done. Well done."

Each relationship, each person, each community is a gift. We should treat it as such. People matter. They matter to God, and they should matter to you. You should matter to you.

What is God calling you to do? How has God called you to move in the area of your relationships?

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your Word. I thank you for the challenge that you've placed on us today, God, to evaluate each and every one of our relationships. God, just chase us this week, God.

Show us those relationships that you don't desire for us and show us the relationships that you do desire for us, that our heart and our emotions wouldn't be the determining factor, but the Word of God would.

Give us the energy to restore relationships, to mend relationships, to walk as you would in our relationships this week, God. Search our lives. Make it clear to us what it is that you would have us to do because relationships matter to our purpose, relationships matter to our destiny, and they matter to you.

Thank you, Jesus. This week, God, challenge us to love intently, challenge us to strengthen our relationships, and to uplift those around us that we are in community with.

God, we thank you for our relationships. We thank you for our community, and it is our desire that you would be pleased. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Amen. If you're here today, I'm going to ask all the team to come forward at this time. The first and foremost relationship that matters, the foundation of every relationship, is the relationship that we have with Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

God loved you so much that he wanted a restored relationship to the point where he sent his son to die because he wanted to be in relationship with you. My God!

He wanted to be in relationship with you since separated us, created a chasm between us and God, and a penalty had to be paid. He said, "I am going to send my son to die so that our relationship could be restored." That's how much God cares about relationships.

And he said that if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, Jesus, you shall be saved. Confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord of your life—not the thing that you do on Sunday, not the thing that you do whenever something is going wrong, not the Easter Christmas.

No, confess him as Lord over every area of your life. You shall be saved. So if you're here today, you've never made Jesus Lord, then this message was for you.

This is the first relationship that you got to get in order so he can help you get every other relationship corrected. But this is the foundation.

So if you've never made Jesus Christ Lord of your life, we want to pray with you today. I want to pray with you today. This is the best decision that you could ever make, and it will change the course and the trajectory of your life.

So I'm going to ask everyone to stand at this time. Hallelujah. Did you take this pastor off?

And if that's you today, you've never made Jesus Christ Lord of your life. If you heard that message today, you said, "Pastor Keenan, I am tired. My life is where it is. I've messed it up. I have come to the end of myself, and I'm ready to make Jesus Christ the Lord of my life."

If that's you today, I want to pray with you. And we are a family here at Limitless. And so I'm going to pray, and if that's you, I just want you to repeat after me.

We did the belief part. The next part is the confession. And so I'm going to pray, and I'm going to ask our church to repeat after me. And if that's you, then you say that prayer and believe that with all of your heart.

Let's do this. Say, "Heavenly Father." Come on, let's do it, church. "Heavenly Father, I admit that I need you. I ask Jesus to come into my heart, to lead me, to guide me, and be the Lord of my life.

I believe you sent your son to die for me. I believe that he rose on the third day with all power in his hand. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me. Today, I confess Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Hallelujah. Listen. If you said that prayer for the first time today, can you do me a favor? I'm not going to have you come up. But here's what I want you to do.

There's a card in the seat pocket in front of you. It says, "I have decided." We want the opportunity to walk with you through this decision. Do me a favor. Do two things. If that was you today, come find an altar worker and tell them about the decision that you made.

Like they say on Delta, I want to be the first to welcome you to the kingdom of God. You now have a family. We are your community. You no longer have to do this alone.

This is for you. Come and find an altar worker. Grab that card. Let us know about the decision that you made for your life.

And lastly, if you have a prayer request, maybe you heard this message today and you said, "Hey Pastor, I recognize that I have not been walking in the area of my relationships in a way that honors God."

And you want somebody to pray with you. Then we want to offer you that opportunity as well. So whether you want to recommit your life to God, if you need prayer, would you make your way down to the altar at this time?

We have people who are willing and ready to pray with you. We want to make sure you get exactly what you came for. And we're going to take the next two minutes and pray. But the altar is open for you right now. Come get what God has for you.

1. "Anything worth having takes work. I know that we live in this microwave generation. We have immediate access to anything and so we're so used to quick and easy, but any relationship that is built just overnight, is it worth much in the morning? This thing is this is something that has to be built." - 01:15:42

2. "God is a community calling us to be a people of community. This idea that we have that we can be a loner, that we can be a lone wolf that we don't need anybody, that is a trick of the enemy. That is not God's design for our life. Isolation is where the enemy wants us to be because in isolation guess what, nobody can fight with us and nobody can fight for us." - 58:46

3. "Our relationships matter to our destiny and our purpose. When you say that you don't need anybody, what you're really showing is that there's an immaturity there, and or you're just bad at relationships. And that's okay, that's why you're here. We have to grow in these areas, we can't continue to try to do life alone." - 59:18

4. "He who walks as a companion with wise men will be wise. But the companions of conceited, dull with it fools, are fools themselves and will experience harm. But no, I just want to, you know, they're funny. They make me feel good. They make me smile. They make me laugh. Okay, keep playing." - 01:12:07

5. "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins show hospitality to one another without grumbling. This is what God has to say about our relationships. This is what God has to say about our community." - 01:13:52