Star Wars - The Jedi Council

If you are familiar w/ the Star Wars saga you recognize the overall theme of good v. evil. Throughout all 6 episodes you see the forces of good, The Republic, battling the formation and then completion of the Evil Empire. One of the many subplots we see is that this battle is not a one man show, like Rambo or one of Arnolds films. The Republic is a group of fighters, hero's, friends that band together for what is right and just. Along their side is the Jedi Order:

A noble order of protectors unified by their belief and observance of the Force, the Jedi came to serve as guardians of peace and justice.
The Jedi High Council is the main interface between the Jedi and the government of the Republic.

There is so much more to the Jedi council and the Jedi Order than an interface to the people – they are a close knit circle of friends. With a tight bond between brothers who all sacrifice and serve by protecting and putting their lives on the line. All becoming very close along their journey as they move from the apprentice stage to Master.
And in this battle we see a group of companions that together fight for what is right...
Companions are an important part of this battle, this journey we all call life.
In the Bible we also see time and time again a group of friends that together fight for what is right.
We see that even Jesus had a tight knit group of friends. Those that helped and supported Him on His journey to the cross. Think about the people that supported Him along His journey:
Ofcourse you have the 12 disciples - His traveling companions if you will.
Of those 12 He spent more time with 3, Pete, Jim, and John.
He would take these 3 away to special events such as the Transfiguration on the Mountain and the raising of Jairus' daughter to name a couple.
Of those 3, He was probably closest to John. Which the Bible to refers to as, “The disciple whom Jesus loved” as well as while He was on the cross Jesus asked John to take care of His mother, Mary.
The Bible also points out others in Jesus' circle – Mary Magdalene,
Martha, and Lazarus were friends of Christ. As well as others who along w/ those already mentioned were companions of Christ. Those who helped Him accomplish His goal which was getting to the cross.
Because He was born to die, He came to give His life as a ransom for many so that we could live.

Just as the Republic and the Jedi all had companions in their journey
and Jesus had His friends to help Him along His journey, we too all need companions, friends to help us along our journey in life.

It's interesting if you look through history to see the # of famous people who had these small bands of friends to help and encourage each other.
Did you know that Ben Franklin had a small group – He did - the name of his group was, 'my most ingenious friends group'.
They would get together, write papers, discuss them, discuss their ideas, ask questions – the group meet every friday night for 40 yrs.
Do you know why Ben was still accomplishing great things in his late 80's & 90's – his greatest inventions came after he was 70 b/c he had a group of friends who were encouraging and supporting him.
Did you know that Thomas Edison had a small group? He called it,
'my mastermind alliance' – He put together those with a similar like mission & that group meet over a 6 yr. Period In that time they came up w/ 300 patented inventions – they were avg. one minor invention every 6wks. And one major every 6mos.

We cannot make it in life alone, God did not create us that way. We need our own companions, our own small group of friends - look at:
“Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone... there is no one to help him... Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Being a part of a small group of friends is critical

I know some of you are now, I know some have been a part of them in the past and completely know the benefits. But if you are not now at this time all I can say is you are missing out on so much more that God has for your life. We are created for community. For real relationships, for true authentic community.

SIX ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY

The 1st 2 kinda go together, they are Service & Sacrifice.
Service and sacrifice are essential to authentic community. True friends serve each other – they make sacrifices. A true friend is committed to you, and one of the measurable ways to know is they will sacrifice their needs for yours. Look at what Jesus said:
“...here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.” John 15:13
Friends are committed to each other, they have each other backs, they care about what is important to the other.
“Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.” Philippians 2:4
One of the best examples of this kind of friendship can be found in
1 Samuel 18 – David and Jonathan. This is right after the famous battle of David defeating Goliath when David meets Jonathan for the 1st time and they become instant friends.

“After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king's son. There was an immediate bond of love between them, and they became the best of friends... And Jonathan made a special vow to be David's friend, and he sealed the pact by giving him his robe, tunic, sword, bow, and belt.”
1 Samuel 18:1-4
This is a true picture of sacrifice – Jonathan in giving these 4 items to David was in essence surrendering his rightful place to the throne. He was giving David his royalty when he gave him these things. In sacrifice and in serving his friend he was saying this was David's place as the next King of Israel. As this story continues we see that King Saul begins to recognize that David is God's chosen King to lead Israel and crazy jealous, and tries to kill David. But Jonathan's loyalty to David never fades.
A couple of chapters later,1 Samuel 23, we see Jonathan's love for David

“One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. "Don't be afraid," Jonathan reassured him. "My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be second to you, as my father is well aware." So the two of them renewed their covenant of friendship before the LORD. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh.” 1 Samuel 23:15-18
Jonathan was willing to sacrifice and serve, that's what true friendship looks like. What is one word for Sacrifice & Service – LOVE

Elements 3 & 4 – Support & Encouragement

There are going to be times in life, and many of you know this already, where the bottom just falls out. Some kind of hardship or difficulty that can literally rock your world. In those times you find out who your true friends are. Friends walk in as everyone else is filling out. The Bible talks about this and calls it, carrying each others burdens. “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
The word 'carry' in the Greek is an imperative, it's a command. The Apostle Paul is commanding us as followers of Christ to carry one anothers burdens. "Yeah, OK I'll carry it if it's convenient, or I'll carry it if it's not to heavy, or whatever", NO, that's not what the Word of God is telling us here. As a part of the family of God we are to support those who need our support. So whenever someone is dealing with a loss, or a severe setback or letdown we are to be there for them, to support, to come alongside them.
Not only is support needed in those times but so is encouragement.
Look at what Paul told the church in Thessalonia:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
The Greek word for encourage is “parakeleo” which means: to exhort, encourage, comfort, console, to come alongside. It is the word taken from the Greek word for the Holy Spirit, 'paraclete' which means the Holy Spirit is our counselor and comforter.
I like this quote from Larry Crabb: Connecting -
“The deepest urge in every human heart is to be in relationship w/ someone who absolutely delights in us.”

You see that's what friends do, they delight in us, they just love us for who we are – They are to stand with us in our darkest despair, and rejoice w/ us in times of joy. Only in authentic community with real friends can we find that support & encouragement.

Element 5 – Confrontation
Authentic community is not only found in the fun, fuzzy, warm feelings of support and encouragement, sometimes we need to be confronted. And who better to confront us than those who love and care for us. Those are the appropriate ones to come and confront us.
A friend cares enough to warn you when your about to run into a brick wall. Proverbs 27:6 “Wounds from a friend can be trusted.” Why?
B/c they are doing it for our best interest.
The Bible is very clear that as a part of the family of God we are to warn those, to confront those who are headed towards a train wreck.
“...if another Christian is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. Remembering the next time it might be one of you who is in the wrong.” Galatians 6:1
We are literally to help others the way we want to be helped.
“Let us speak the truth in love.” Ephesians 4:13

Notice the attitude, the motivation that needs to be used. It is done out of concern, it is done out of love. Forgiveness is invloved. Christians often confuse confrontation with judgment. We hear people say, “well who are you to judge me?” But judgment and confrontation are 2 totally different things.
Look at the differernce

The Motivation behind Confrontation: LOVE

We are looking out for their best interest, it is out of real concern, real love for that person that it is done gently and humbly.

The Motivation behind Judgment: Contempt

It's looking down on someone with utter disgust, it creates a sense of superiority, that you're better than they are.
We have a responsibility to one another in real, authentic community to warn, to show a friend they are headed down a path that does not honor God.
But it is important to confront in a way that is loving, not harsh, but humbly wanting to show them what you see happening.
So we confront, as a friend that is one of your responsibilities.
I have friends in my life who have full reign to look me in the eyes and let me know that I'm blowing it – one of those individuals is my wife, and believe me she lets me know!
I know these people care about me and they have my best interest in mind - so let it be.

Element 6 – Acceptance

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you.” Romans 15:7

The Bible tells us that while we were still sinners, enemies of God, lost in this world, Christ accepted us. It tells us that God accepts each of us just as we are with no strings attached. God accepts us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us that way. He begins to work inside of us as we saw last week – it is something the Holy Spirit Does in us to transform us into the image of Christ.
A true friend loves you for who you are but that does not mean they condone sinful behavior. Acceptance is about taking them just as they are and loving them enough to see what God wants them to become.

Acceptance is a powerful gift in a friendship and it leads to one of the most important aspects of community – that is connection.

Connection is where the trust is built up in a persons life where real life change can occur through the Holy Spirit. The ability to trust comes from an atmosphere we must have of acceptance, and of love, and forgiveness.

We must be a church, a people who love, accept, and forgive.

LoveAcceptForgive

These 6 elements of authentic community can even be narrowed down to
LAF.