It Starts with a Relationship | Ps Graeme Politanski

Hey, welcome to the City Point Church podcast.

Thanks for joining us. Every day is an opportunity to

take hold of. So we hope this message inspires

you and build your faith, but it helps you have more of a God

perspective for your day. Enjoy can.

You declare out loud today. My heart is open, my ears are

alert to grow and change and to never be the same.

Amen, Amen. Please be seated.

Amazing. Well, I've come to realize that

God has a system when it comes to relationships.

And over, over times, I think we've sometimes forgot this

system of how do we formulate great relationships with people,

especially those relationships that can go a little bit deeper.

You know what I'm talking about, like the honesty that you can

have with some people. And as we've been unpacking this

year, discipleship as a church, I've been reading through the

scriptures and I've come to realize that discipleship has

greater depth and width than just me being discipled by

someone else. I'm starting to realize that

this is actually God's design for relationship.

And because Pastor Mel and I, we've been talking a little bit

about the discipleship concept and, and something we've come to

realize is, is it's not, it's not the biblical way that it's

always someone greater or more superior that disciples someone

less superior. So obviously you want to be

discipled by someone who's walked a few more years or you

know, that that really helps in the discipleship journey.

But the reality is discipleship is a journey of relationship.

And so I've, I'm discipled by some people in my life.

And I remember when Pastor Rick was the pastor of this church,

Pastor Rick used to disciple, disciple me.

And although he's 10 years older than me, it wasn't always the

most superior person to the younger.

It was a relationship that formed where I honored and

respected the one that would disciple my life, but it was

mutual. And our relationship grew deeper

and deeper. Where true honesty and where the

Bible talks about iron, sharpening iron could actually

happen in our relationship. And so I want to encourage

everyone in the church today that if you're seeking out good

friendships or relationships with with people, can I

encourage that the discipleship journey is part of how we form

these deeper relationships with people because you walk a

journey of life together. Is that good?

And so that's just a little key. So I've I've titled today's

message. It starts with a relationship.

It starts with a relationship. Now many people assume

discipleship begins in a classroom like internship,

something like that Bible College in a Bible studying like

you might get in our next steps course with Pastor Henry or

after someone gives their life to Jesus, then discipleship can

start in someone's life. But the the Bible paints a very

different picture. And so we're going to look at

what the Apostle Paul wrote in the Scriptures in Romans chapter

Romans 10:14–17

10 verses 14 to 17. And it says this.

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?

And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, unless they are sent as it is

written? How beautiful are the feet of

those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of

good things. But they have not all obeyed the

gospel for Rosiah said, Lord, who has believed our report?

So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Isn't that a fantastic scripture?

Anyone read that one before? It's a good scripture.

So Paul's laying out a clear progression for us.

People must hear before they believe.

People must hear before they believe.

Listen. We need to pray that God moves

in our community. We must pray because prayer is

the toolkit. It's the greatest tool a

believer has to breakthrough of anything in our worlds.

We must pray, but we must also share the good news.

We must pray for people, but we must go out and let it come from

our lips. I believe this, that if we don't

get it in US, the Holy Spirit has nothing to bring out of us.

Does that make sense? And so it's the same principle

here when we are praying for our loved ones or we're praying for

our schools for revival or university or our community like

we do all the all the time. Don't just be a bedroom prayer.

Only be a bedroom prayer. Who then comes out with fire and

anointing and goes and preaches the good news to people and tell

them, tells them about the love of God.

Don't just agree that Easter weekend is going to be an

amazing weekend on the calendar. Take that agreeance in the

spirit realm and make sure people know the invitation to

come with you and if they need it, pick him up, Bring him to

church each week, whatever it requires.

Because we are the hands and the feet, not just the voice.

Amen. So Paul's creating this clear

picture before people hear the message clearly, they must in

first encounter the messenger. Here's the reality.

We pray in our bedrooms. We come out with fire and

anointing oil all over us and then we share the gospel, the

good news, with our next door neighbor.

Guess what? They have just met the

representative of heaven. They have just met someone who

knows the one that they need and how we present ourselves, how we

present the goodness of God. They have just met the

representative of heaven. They meet you and they meet me.

Before someone has a relationship with Jesus, two

things usually happen. First, they hear about Him, and

second, they see what it looks like when someone follows

closely with Him because they see you and I Amen.

So it starts with a relationship more than words, more than

declaring. It always starts with a

relationship. So this means something profound

for every believer in this room today.

You ready? Your life is always preaching.

Your behaviour is always communicating something about

Jesus. Now listen, for sure, your

behaviour is always communicating, but did you know

it's communicating something about the one you follow?

Because people see you as a Christian, a Christ follower.

Your kindness preaches. Your integrity preaches.

Your patience preaches, your love It preaches even when

you're not standing behind a pulpit.

Your life is preaching Jesus to people and the world around you.

Now, discipleship often begins long before a person walks

through the doors of the church. In fact, I would argue they're

walking through the doors of the church because there has been

discipleship in their lives. That's a powerful thing to grab

hold of. It begins in ordinary

relationships, at work, at school, at the gym, across the

fence with a neighbor. So instead of throwing balloons

over to the neighbor, why don't we get to know them and hop over

the fence and say hi. And it starts over a coffee with

a friend. Every single time we are meeting

with people, we are in a in a realm of discipleship.

Amen. You see that on your life this

morning. Can you say out loud I am a

disciple? Say it again, I am a disciple

because everywhere you go this is exactly what you're doing,

whether we realise it or not. And as we've been studying this,

I'm starting to realise if I can put immense attention, attention

to that and purpose behind the way I conduct my life, I can be

discipling people always towards Jesus Christ.

And I have a a little saying the interns would have heard, and if

you've never heard this before, it's your call this morning into

internship mid year intake. And but I just have this thing

that if you're in my sphere of life, you're just going to hear

about Jesus. If you're in my sphere of life

or in a conversation with me, I'm always going to guide you

towards heavenly things or biblical principles.

Now I might skin it a little bit different.

I might not say James, you know, chapter 3, verse 14 says this,

but the the language that will come out of yours or my lip out

of our heart, our lips will speak guidance towards biblical

things. In other words, we are we are

influencing as a disciple, a person towards Jesus Christ.

Let me tell you, discipleship is all about Jesus.

It's to Jesus in Jesus, and from Jesus it's to Jesus.

We're always disciple in people into a relationship with Jesus.

It's in Jesus where we then start to mature and we start to

grow. But it's from Jesus because

Jesus sends us out into the world to share the gospel.

Discipleship and Christian living is all about Jesus.

So can I encourage you, when you go home today, you say, God, I

just want my life to always be speaking, to always be

witnessing, and to always be leading people towards you.

Amen. See that this morning, Church?

All right, so it starts with a relationship.

When Jesus called the 12 disciples, they didn't yet fully

understand who he was. And I think we forget that

sometimes. Hey, Jesus was this new person

on the block. Some people knew him because

they were friends in school and things like that.

And he's preaching about this God no one on planet Earth had

ever heard about before, which is crazy to even kind of think.

And then he was claiming that this God was his father.

But, you know, everyone knew his father and it was just all

different. But he called these people and

he said, would you come follow me now?

They didn't have perfect theology, they and if they were

like me, they probably couldn't even say theology properly.

They simply heard him say come and follow me.

They heard him, then they followed him, then they

experienced life with him, then they believed and obeyed.

Let me tell you, church people have heard you.

They're following you and they're experiencing what

Christian life can look like, and if our example is pure,

wholesome, filled with love and joy and peace, they will begin

to believe and obey the one we are following.

Also, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in his book The Cost of

Discipleship. Christianity, man without

discipleship is always Christianity without Christ, man

Christianity without discipleship.

And he doesn't even water it down.

He says it's always Christianity without Christ.

That says to me this words alone don't cut it.

My life, my discipling people, my showing people is what people

need to see Christ through me, not just Christ said from me.

Amazing. What Bonhoeffer was highlighting

is that discipleship is not just information, it's formation

through relationship. People learn the way of Jesus by

walking with people who follow Jesus.

And you know the Great Commission is relational.

In fact, Jesus said in Matthew 2819 to 20, he said go therefore

and make disciples relationship of all the nations.

And Jesus exampled this relationship, teaching them to

observe all things that I have commanded, not telling them to

observe, but teaching them, walking with them, showing them,

releasing them and giving them a go to follow all things that

Jesus commanded, but not what we command.

So Jesus has written the words for you and I to read.

But we exemplify, you know, it's we, we don't preach at people,

we preach for people. We don't preach to condemn pre

people, but we we preach to show people we give them the words.

But then we but we behave in the same ways and we exemplify and

then they walk with us and then we give them the opportunity to

do that with someone else. This is called multiplication.

Notice something important. Jesus didn't say go build large

events and everyone says Amen. He didn't say go create

impressive programs like our Easter, Easter after the service

program outside for the kids. He said go make disciples.

Making disciples always and only ever involves people.

And it doesn't just involve other people.

It involves you and me also, which is great.

It involves walking with people. I feel like I'm giving you

really good stuff this morning. It's a little bit quiet in this

room. It's a little bit quiet in this

room. Like I laboured over this.

Yeah, there's 20 hours here. Can I get it just a little bit

more this morning? Where's City Point NI Know

you're listening and all that, but a preacher really needs a

bit of a response. That's how you get the real good

stuff. I'm giving you good stuff, but

there's deeper and you got to draw it out this morning.

Is this all right? Well, I know Nicole's not here

this morning, but it's all good. She's ministering somewhere

else. OK.

Making disciples always involves people helping someone to learn

about God, helping someone grow in their faith, which is just

like the most wonderful thing we could possibly do is help people

grow in their faith with Jesus and helping someone obey the

teachings of Jesus. You know, I love how Pastor John

this morning, you know, he brings out the word, but he then

he gives you the, the Hebrew of it.

And we're sort of we're learning the we're learning deeper

levels. You know, this is what you get

when you hang around faith believing people.

The value of your life is that God has called you to grow and

to sow the value of your life is not just in the growth.

I know that sometimes we all try and become bigger and, and

better, not bigger like that, but just bigger in, in our

faith. And we try and get, become

better people and, and we try to become more pure people.

But sometimes I think we just get a little bit too focused on

us. Like we need to do internship,

not 100% for you and I, but we need to do internship because

it's teaching us something to sow into someone else.

We grow in our faith so that we can share to others.

We read our word everyday, not just for us, but if God can get

it through US, he'll get the revelation to us.

And it's the same with money. If he can get money through you,

he'll get money to you. And we'll just keep saying, well

God, where's my blessings? Forget about your blessing, just

say God, where is something that I can give to someone else?

Give me what I can, what I need to be a blesser.

And I think sometimes we focus a little bit too much just on us.

We need to refine ourselves and we need to get our our skills

all up and upgraded and we need to become better singers and,

and better worshippers and, and have more money in the bank.

We need all of this stuff for sure.

But if you get it all and you do nothing with it, it does

nothing. It achieves nothing.

I want to go to heaven with a whole army of people of

influence behind me. And we are learning today.

My words aren't enough for that. Your words aren't enough for

that. Your generosity does that.

Your finance does that. Your open house does that.

You're giving someone a room when they need it that does

that. Being gracious with your

children does that, you know, not always being the one that

knows it all, but being the one that accepts people and guides

them through the word of God and through life.

You know, no one wants to go to a know it all, but everyone

wants to go to a gracious person.

The key is is to not remain gracious only and not to be a

know it all gracious only. You might be a gracious person,

but when people come to you, if they stay with you, you're not

achieving the what God's called of us.

People come to you because you've got an open house, open

arms. And then we have to direct

people. Where do we direct them to what

you learn to internship, what you learn in the word of God,

what you learn at Bible college, what you experience in your

workplace and, and what's your example, you know, at university

and things like that. So we're leading people always.

The Old Testament come on in turns.

We went through this on the on last week.

The Old Testament always led to Jesus because he is the answer.

And what that tells you and I our lives also must always lead

to Jesus. The value of your life is that

God has called you to grow and to sow.

As we grow, God calls us to sow into someone else and help them

grow. This is multiplication of

discipleship. It starts though, with a

relationship. Now listen.

Relationships grow on the journey One Life group session,

isn't it? And listen, you don't have to be

fantastic on the first Life group gathering.

Well, you're growing too, right? And that's why you call Pastor

Mel during the week and say, Pastor Mel, I'll put it in the

deep end, Pastor John and Rachel.

All right, you can call me and you say, hey, I LED my life

group this week and this is what happened.

And you know, I, I, I know of, of a couple of people that had a

life group and no one rocked up. How crazy is that?

Could that happen to you that do they not like you, you know, and

so because they don't like you, no one rocked up.

And so I got a call or I had a conversation, and it was like,

what do we do in this situation? And so I walked those people

through and it was nothing to do with you.

In fact, you're the most loved person in the whole church.

Yeah, they love you more than Pastor Grey.

They just listen to you because they got to.

But. But here's the reality is we're

growing together. You don't have to have the

theology and remember 64 verses of the Bible before you can run

a life group. What you do is you say, I want

to lead someone to Jesus. Everything I have, I'm going to

give. But I haven't achieved the goal

of learning yet, and I'm going to continue to grow myself.

Amen. Discipleship is not a moment,

it's a journey. Systems help, but relationships

transform. In the church, we create systems

to help people grow. We've got life groups, we've got

courses, we've got demographic ministries, we've got Sunday

gatherings, we've got SWB conference coming up.

These are powerful and these are important, but church don't rely

on them. Be part of them.

Empower them, go to them, learn and grow in them, and be serving

them. Be part of them for other

people, but don't let our lives rely on these things alone.

They help believers grow in knowledge, faith, and community.

But here is the reality. Systems organized discipleship.

With relationship, discipleship matures.

So the systems of the church organize avenues for

discipleship to happen. But discipleship must happen in

relationship because it's a journey.

And so in that relationship journey, it then matures.

People may attend a program, but they are transformed through

connection. This is why discipleship often

begins outside the walls of the church.

It begins when someone hears for me.

Back to our first verse, when someone trusts you.

Why? Because you remain faithful to

this. Let me tell you, I know fuel is

ridiculous. I bought a diesel because I

thought it was the better option, and now I'm learning I

chose the worst option. Right.

I understand they're saying that this is going to be worse than

COVID, but does this shake your faith?

Does this shake the when Pastor Dan gets up and talks about

finances and money, does this shake that or is your faith in

God? See, the, the reality is the

world is always going to disintegrate.

It's constantly going to, you know, the, the earth groans out.

The Bible says as his coming draws nearer, it's going to,

it's going to decay. We already know.

We've read the book. I don't know, but if you go to

let me find where it starts, New King James Version page, there

we go, page 15118. There's the ending story for us.

We already know it, don't we? The world has even heard about

it. So faith remains faithful

through that book. And it's always been a thing

through every ear from the book of Genesis, Man, there's been.

Imagine growing up in the medieval time just like crazy,

crazy stuff, pirates and all that time, you know?

Yeah. The other, the other part of

history. Yeah.

Imagine that. Imagine the disciples, what they

went through, crazy crazy stuff. But we don't let it shake our

church. In fact I reckon God loves this

stuff. The church through history has

always come out stronger at the end of mass trial and

persecutions against the church. The church has always come out

stronger, brighter and general. Generally revivals come out of

it, which we all seek the revival but we don't like the

beforehand. We all want to see our lives

revive. Let me tell you that the the

more the fuel goes up, the easier the conversation with

your next neighbor will be. Yeah, the more chance you have

to bring hope into a conversation.

It's really hard to bring hope into, you know that.

Reckon why the western world struggles with church growth is

because the western world hasn't needed God as much as the rest

of the world. And because life is easy.

We got money and we're buying new cars all the time.

I mean, look at all the cars on the road.

Like everyone has one or two, you know, third world countries

aren't like this. And so we don't need a a, a, a

Messiah or as someone who brings us the answer because we all

think our everyday life is OK. But the reality is the world

starts to groan more and more and things start to happen at

the you and I have it just so easy just to bring hope and to

bring a life and to to pour out blessing.

Let's not be the one in the conversation groaning about the

groanings of the world, but let's be the one in the

conversation that turns it around and goes.

I understand diesels like this. Look, you can go any day and get

an unleaded car. But let me tell you, in the

church, we've been walking in blessing like never before.

I've been tithing for 25 years in my life and I have noticed

when I look back, no matter what has happened, even during COVID,

that my life just kept moving forward stronger and stronger.

Sure, sometimes I have to lose this or I have to lose that, but

man, I've never lost the joy of life.

I've never ever thought I don't want to bring children into this

world because I understand that children are the answer of the

world I have under I. You know what I mean?

We can just bring so much goodness and disciple people

through this season of our lives.

But it begins when someone hears from you, when they trust you

and begin to follow your example.

Be in a room of negative conversation, be bold enough to

bring in positive conversation. And I reckon someone in that

group will start to be more positive.

When people not just know that you're a Christian and hear

about it, but they see you in the moments and in the situation

and how you deal with them, it will bring influence.

And out of that group of 10 people, what if one of them

followed you into the House of God, into church?

One of the most important truths about discipleship is this.

You don't need to be a theologian to start.

You simply need to share what Jesus has done in your life.

Has God done anything in anyone's life in this room?

Lift your hand. Whatever it is that he has done

for you. I encourage you this week.

Would you say, God, would you remind me of some of the things

you've done in my life and give me opportunity to share it?

And if you fail in that, just get straight back up.

Just say, OK, God, I missed that one.

Would you give me another opportunity?

Because I just want to share about your goodness and I want

to become amazing at doing this. Pastor Craig Rochelle says

people would rather follow someone who is always real

listen than someone who is always right, someone who is

always authentic to their faith, then someone who has the right

words to say. See in this world, in fact, the

devil himself, he's a man of smooth words, knows what to say

to peace the situation. Don't look to peace the

situation. Look to guide someone through

the situation. Jesus didn't come to be liked by

everyone. He came to bring truth to

everyone. He didn't come to be liked in

the temples, but He'd come to bring revelation to His word in

the temples. And you and I are the carriers

of truth. Don't have a smooth tongue?

Have a truthful tongue. Amen.

And people will be attracted to that when the whole world is

doing the opposite. Authenticity builds trust and

trust creates the environment where discipleship can begin.

When people see a genuine faith lived out in everyday life, it

becomes compelling. They start to ask questions,

they start to lean into your life a little bit more, and

often the journey towards Jesus will begin.

So as the band comes up this morning and joins me, this is my

final thought. This week, I want to challenge

every one of us to intentionally live like Jesus in the

relationships already around us. Let's not be gossipers this

week. Let's not be carriers of all

negativity. Everyone saw the news.

Everyone already knows. We don't need to bring it back

up. What we need to bring, bring

back up is an answer to what everyone already knows.

Is that the Christian version of what everyone always knows, the

Christian faith principle to what everyone already knows?

That's what we are required to do.

Look for one or two people in your world and a neighbor, A

colleague, a family member or a friend and choose to invest in

them with genuine care. Can I encourage all of us?

We all have people in our world. Just choose one of them that you

wouldn't normally do this with and just go.

You know what, I'm going to actually call that person beyond

their birthday or you know, Easter greeting.

I'm going to call them randomly this week and I'm just going to

invest a little bit of care into their world.

You'll be amazed of the fruits of that one conversation.

Or buy someone a coffee. If you've got the finances, or

even if you don't have the finances, why don't you exercise

this faith? But when you're in the shopping

oil and there's someone there, pay for them.

Or when you're buying a coffee, pay for the person behind you

and bless them. Or when you're filling up your

car, if you can, why don't you pay for their fuel and bless

them? In the in the crisis of the

world, shine the light of blessing on someone else's life.

So how can I even say to do that?

Because I understand the principle of the Bible.

If he can get it through you, he'll get it to you.

And I honestly have seen the fruits of that statement in my

life. Take time this week to listen to

someone to encourage and to show kindness in a practical way, not

just show kindness with a smile and words because we remember

words alone don't cut it, let's do it in a practical way.

Let your words be gracious and your actions be patient and your

character reflect Christ. Share what God has done in your

life when the opportunity comes soon as the opportunity is

there. Can I encourage you?

This is something I've learned is I've I had to prepare myself

to be ready. I say to our worshippers in the

church, you notice that when the first song starts, the team's

not warming up, but when the first song starts, they hit us

with a wall of sound and worship and like, come on church, you

know, because they, they're already prepared.

And I've had to learn the same principle in my life, especially

with generosity. And I'm not just talking money,

generosity in all forms. I have to be mentally prepared.

So when the moment comes, I don't need a warm up period.

Church listen, you don't walk into prayer meetings and sort

out your personal life in the prayer meeting before you can

start to pray when Rachel's teaching prayer and she says she

hasn't said anything to me, but when she when she says OK, let's

start praying for this. We don't first repent of our

sins. We're doing that on the drive

here and when we get to the prayer meeting we walk in right

Why you talk so much. I'm ready to pray and we're

ready to go We're pre prepared with our life the way we live.

You know, sometimes I even think, you know, I had this

thought this morning, you know, God, what do you want to do in

the service today? And what, what's what's

happening in the atmosphere? I always say to God, what's

what's in the atmosphere over the community.

Now I, I'm not waiting for God to put a, a thought or a prompt

into my spirit. And then I go, wow, that's a big

one. Wow.

OK, my prayer life wasn't that big this morning.

This week, you know, I come ready.

And when I say that and he puts something in my spirit, I'm

like, OK, God, let's partner on that and we'll pray that one

through. You know what I'm saying?

So Church, this is a call today to be prepared to be the light

to people. Yeah.

When someone says I need this or I need a prayer or just yeah,

yeah, yeah, I can do that. I can do that.

I live ready. I live with money in my pocket

to bless someone for a coffee. You might not have much money,

but I'm pretty sure you can have $5.

I'm pretty sure if you planned it, you might not be able to do

$5 this week, but if you plan it next week, you'll have a $5

note. And then, and then let me let me

say this. When you buy someone a coffee,

you now have nothing. You go, God, I'm not just

grungingly giving this away. I'm sewing this today that you

will bring blessing into their world.

I reckon you'll end up with another $5 in your pocket.

Remember this, People often see Jesus before thou will believe

in Jesus. So let your life be a living

example of love, of humility. That's a big one, isn't it?

I struggle with that one of humility and truth to the world

around you. Discipleship doesn't start with

the program. Don't look for a program.

You use your life. It starts with a relationship.

It begins when someone hears from you and they trust you

because you speak truth, not smooth words, and begins to walk

with you because they follow a person of truth.

And through your relationship, they will discover Jesus.

Listen, and I'll finish with this statement.

The greatest discipleship moments often begin with

something very simple, a conversation, a friendship, and

a relationship. You and someone else walking

towards Jesus together. It starts with a relationship.

Amen. That's how we build the House of

God. That's how we build people in

the world around us. And here's the reality of of

this whole subject of discipleship of relationships is

that Jesus wants to be in a relationship with all of us.

You know, when Jesus was on planet earth, we, we often talk

about how we chose 12 people. But did you know crowds of

thousands used to follow him and depending on their heart, out of

the attitude they were allowing Jesus to disciple them.

You know, you might be in a crowd sometimes of thousands,

like, you know, 5000 sometimes and 7000 people Jesus would

minister to. And you might be that one person

sometimes in that crowd. But you can look at that man and

say that truth coming out of his mouth.

I have seen him. He goes from town to town and he

heals and he he loves people and he sits with people.

And you might be like that to that you might go, you know, the

church is vast people on planet earth.

There's, there's millions of them.

They're everywhere. Yet you're saying to me that God

sees me in the crowd. Yes, he does.

Because He wants a relationship with you.

He wants to take you from who you are and where you are in

your life today and continue to walk.

Listen, not dictate to you. That's falsehood.

That's not what the Bible teaches.

He wants to walk with you on a journey of discipleship so that

you and I can become the best version that we could probably

possibly be of who we are. God wants to love you through

struggles. He wants to sit with you through

trials. He wants to encourage us all to

grow and to move forward in our faith and in our lives.

Listen, Jesus is your greatest cheerleader.

He's all for you and your life. And it doesn't matter who we are

today. We could have grown up in the

church like myself, or we could just be what we would consider

the worst of humanity. God doesn't view us like that.

He doesn't rate US like this. What God sees is his children

and we are all his children. We all know that God's formed us

in our mother's womb. And so when he looks at your

life, he doesn't really look and and start to counsel the sins,

but he, he knows his sins. But he looks at your soul.

He looks at who you are and who he made you to become, and he

loves that.