Sermon Cloud

"How to Connect”

TEXT: Ephesians 4:11-16

INDIVIDUALISM VERSUS CONNECTIVITY

1. The Curse of Individualism

A. Individualism Made America

B. Individualism Undoes Christianity

C. Individualism Breeds Isolationism

"Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone?" Ecclesiastes 4:11

2. The Case for Connectivity

A. The Design of Spiritual Leadership

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ Ephesians 4:11-12

B. The Direction of Spiritual Living

"Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" Ephesians 4:13

C. The Directive of Spiritual Community

"From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love." Ephesians 4:16

HOW TO CONNECT

1. Introduction - to cause to be acquainted

2. Acquaintance - a person whom one knows but who is not a particularly close friend

3. Friendship - a favored companion

4. Relationship - persons connected by common interests

5. Best Friend - person closest to you, who knows you best

6. Trust - one in which confidence is placed

CONNECTION WITH A PLAN

1. Mutual Support

"But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun." Exodus 17:12

2. Mutual Strength

"Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:12

3. Magnified Witness

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 4:6-11

4. Magnifying Christ

2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power 1 Corinthians 2:2-4

LIFE APPLICATION:

• Are you connecting your life with other people?

• Are you connecting people with Jesus through you?

• Make sure you are connected with Christ so your connections will make a life-changing difference.