Trustworthy

Trustworthy: Worthy of confidence –Dependable –Faithful
1. Trustworthiness in relationship creates a safe place to reveal who you really are.
2. Trustworthiness determines the depth of every relationship.
3. Abiding in Jesus determines your trustworthiness – Jesus roots you to trustworthiness. Jesus is a perfect picture of trustworthiness
• As I spend time with Him I see trustworthiness modeled and described.
• This keeps me embedded in the right form of trustworthiness.
• The more I walk with Him and spend time with Him—the more trustworthy I become.

John 15:4–6 (NIV) — 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
4. Why does it matter if you are trustworthy? Getting relationship right changes your life.

Question 1: Am I trustworthy?
It starts with us –we often focus on the trustworthiness of others. We need to switch the question: Can people trust me? –Matthew 7:3–4 (NIV)

Question 2: What makes a person trustworthy and safe?
A safe person –trustworthiness
• Where sin and selfishness reign safety is lost (Adam and Eve covering themselves)

What does trustworthiness that creates a safe place look like? Jesus!
(Video)

1. A safe trustworthy person Loves well – which includes empathy
   A. Love cares more about the other than themselves –it gives ….at its own expense
   B. Empathy (a picture of Jesus)—listens and relates –puts themselves in your place
   C. Doesn’t start with fixing – listens well and seeks to understand
2. A trustworthy person keeps a confidence. Proverbs 11:13 (NIV)
3. A safe trustworthy person speaks life to us and speaks well of us. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV
4. A safe person tells the truth –He is trustworthy in the sense that He will tell us what is best for us – Proverbs 27:6 (NIV)
5. A safe person does not lie – they keep their word. Proverbs 12:22
6. A safe person reconciles when (not if) they fail

Question 3: What do I do that leads back to trustworthiness when I have broken trust?
A. Take responsibility for making things right
B. Own what you did –No excuses
C. Allow the other person to share their feelings –receive it –this helps them forgive
D. Ask “How do I make it up to you?”
E. Have right expectations of yourself and others –depending on the issue, it is not easy to change
Matthew 5:23–24 (NIV) Romans 12:18 (NIV)

Next steps – last week we talked about priorities – God is first – His priorities for us is that we become relational specialists
1. Prioritize trustworthiness –Our relationship with God is a priority to Him –our relationship with each other is also a priority to Him
2. Become a relational specialist
3. Investigate how others think you are in these areas.
4. You may be good in one area – good advice on what to do –not safe in sharing their struggles
5. If you haven’t been safe then they may not tell you, because you aren’t safe.
6. Bring this before the Lord –confess it and allow God to change you

QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:
Passages to consider: Matthew 7:24-27;1 Corinthians 13:6,7; Zechariah 8:16-17; Luke 16:10-12; Matthew 5:23-24
Ice Breaker: When have you pranked someone or someone pranked you? Tell the story.
Sermon Reflection – Something challenged or stood out to you from the sermon. Please share it.

Questions to discuss:
1. Read Matthew 7:24-27 & 1 Corinthians 13:6-7. What do these passages help us understand about abiding and trust in relationships?
2. What is your definition of trustworthy? A) What has being in relationship with Jesus shown you about trustworthiness?
3. What role does trust and being trustworthy have in the relationships with your family and close friends?
4. Read Zechariah 8:16-17; Luke 16:10-12 & Matthew 5:23-24. What is important or key to building trust or giving trust? A) What can be some trust-busters?
(Some additional passages – Proverbs 11:13; 12:22; 13:17; Daniel 6:4)
5. What helps you build trust in your key relationships? A) what can be challenging for you in the area of trust and trustworthy? B) How do you want to respond to what God is showing you?
6. Challenge: Use a resource like Biblegateway.com and look up the words trust and trustworthy in the Bible. What do you learn about God’s perspective and man’s part in trust and being trustworthy in relationships?
Passages to prepare for next week: Hebrews 12:14-15; Matthew 18:15-17; Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:12
Resources used in the PF campus sermon:
• Empathy video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw
• TedTalk video referenced – The good life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-7zAkwAOYg&feature=youtu.be