AUGUST 2
Relational Creativity
We’ve heard loud and clear that in the context of our Theme of “Great Congregation and Holy Convocation” that gathering is the point. That gathering is at the HEART of God’s plans. That gathering is a key to us outworking God’s role for our lives as individuals and as the church. That gathering is part of our HOPE.
Considering we are encouraged to “gather all the more as the day approaches”, I’d suggest that we need to get serious about ensuring that our gatherings are excellent, empathetic, edifying, epic, eternal. This requires creativity, which as anyone who has taken on board our Create to Relate Bible foundations course knows, we advocate that Biblically the ultimate purpose for creativity is relationship and the ultimate expression of relational creativity was and is THE CROSS
EXCELLENT CREATIVITY
GOD IS ALTOGETHER EXCELLENT
Ex 15:7 And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble.
Psalm 8:1, 8:9, 148:13 - Excellent name
Psalm 36:7 - Excellent loving kindness
Psalm 76:4 - More glorious and excellent than mountains
Psalm 150:2 - excellent greatness
Proverbs 8:6 - speaks excellence
Hebrews 1:4 - Jesus has a more excellent name than the angels
Hebrews 8:6 - Jesus has a more excellent ministry and is the mediator of a better covenant
2 Peter 1:17 - Excellent glory
GOD GIVES AND TEACHES US EXCELLENCE, AND DELIGHTS IN IT
Exodus 35:30- 35 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.
Psalm 16:3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
Proverbs 12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
Proverbs 17:7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
LOVE IS THE MOST EXCELLENT
1 Corinthians 12:31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
The cross again is the ULTIMATE, the most loving and the most excellent
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Romans 5:10 - WHILE WE WERE ENEMIES
Philippians 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
EMPATHETIC CREATIVITY
Empathy: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Compassion: originates in Latin meaning “suffer with”
GOD IS COMPASSIONATE
The Psalmists referred to God several times as “FULL of compassion”
Psalm 78:38 But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath;
Psalm 86:15 But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.
Psalm 111:4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
Psalm 112:4 Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
Jesus Show’s compassion
Matt 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Matt 14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Matt 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
Matt 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
Mark 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
Luke 7:11-17 11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. 16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” 17 And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.
WE ARE CALLED TOH HAVE COMPASSION:
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Jude 1:21-23 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Love languages
Quality Time
Acts of Service
Words of Affirmation
Gifts
Physical Touch
We add additional love languages
Prayer and Intercession
Forgiveness
Matt 18:21-35 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Discipline and Rebuke
Psalm 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
EDIFYING CREATIVITY
Jesus did miracles differently each time by His spirit, we need to understand that it is the same spirit that gives the gifts so that we can reach into different situations AND that these gifts are for the edification of the church so we can BE a great gathering place!
We tend to think in terms of “I have this gift”, but it is the SAME Spirit that gives it all, HE responds according to the need of the situations we face.
1 Corinthians 14:13 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
EPIC CREATIVITY
- THE ENTIRE BOOK OF EXODUS including building the tabernacle
- Building the temple: Key part of the epic creativity was the generosity of the people (2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 29)
- Throne room scenes (Ezekiel 10 & Revelation 4)
- We have an epic challenge in front of us, billions of people still to be reached, thousands of languages w nothing of the word of God, over 30,000 denominations because of differences, Jesus prayer was to achieve the epic achievement of the world knowing, we need to be one. What an epic statement to the world that would be!!!
ETERNAL CREATIVITY
Daniel 12:3