Embracing Change and Community in the Church

Devotional

Day 1: The Supernatural Value of a Church Home

The church is not just a routine activity; it is a supernatural body of believers that Jesus Christ died for. It is a place where we come together to worship, be sharpened, and be reignited in our faith so that we can shine brightly in a dark and hurting world. Our world needs Jesus more than ever, and the church plays a crucial role in this. When we gather as a church, we experience the presence of God in a unique way that cannot be replicated elsewhere. This communal worship and fellowship strengthen us and prepare us to be lights in the world.

The church is also a place where we can find support and encouragement. In a world that often feels isolating and challenging, the church provides a sense of belonging and community. It is a place where we can be real, share our struggles, and find comfort in knowing that we are not alone. The church is a family, and each member plays a vital role in its growth and mission. [01:02]

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."

Reflection: How can you contribute to the sense of community and belonging in your church this week? What specific actions can you take to support and encourage your fellow believers?

Day 2: The Essential Role of a Good Pastor

A good pastor and a loving congregation are essential for experiencing the move of God. Pastors are under spiritual warfare and need our prayers and support. They are anointed and called to lead us to green pastures and still waters. Never forget to love and support your pastor and his family. Pastors carry a significant burden as they shepherd the flock, and their well-being directly impacts the health of the church.

Supporting your pastor goes beyond just attending services; it involves actively praying for them, offering words of encouragement, and being willing to serve in various capacities within the church. A pastor who feels supported and loved by their congregation is better equipped to lead effectively and to hear from God on behalf of the church. [02:56]

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (ESV): "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves."

Reflection: What are some specific ways you can show support and appreciation for your pastor and their family this week? How can you make their burden lighter?

Day 3: Embracing Change for Growth

Change is inevitable and necessary for growth. Just as seasons change, so must we adapt to new seasons in our church life. Complaining and resisting change can hinder our growth. Instead, we should embrace new seasons and serve others, finding fulfillment and satisfaction in aligning with God's purpose. Change can be uncomfortable, but it is often through change that God brings about new opportunities and blessings.

When we resist change, we may miss out on the new things God wants to do in our lives and in our church. Embracing change requires faith and trust in God's plan, even when we do not fully understand it. By serving others and being open to new ways of doing things, we can experience personal growth and contribute to the overall health and vitality of the church. [11:52]

Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Reflection: What changes are currently happening in your church or personal life that you find challenging? How can you embrace these changes and trust God’s plan for growth and new opportunities?

Day 4: The Power of Accountability

The church is a place of accountability. We need authentic relationships where we can be real and be held accountable. This helps us grow and mature in our faith. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. We are better together than we are by ourselves. Accountability is not about judgment or criticism; it is about mutual support and encouragement to live out our faith more fully.

Authentic relationships within the church provide a safe space for us to share our struggles, confess our sins, and receive guidance and support. These relationships help us stay on track and grow in our walk with God. Accountability partners can pray for us, offer wise counsel, and help us stay committed to our spiritual goals. [17:12]

Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Reflection: Who in your life can you turn to for accountability and support in your faith journey? How can you cultivate more authentic and accountable relationships within your church community?

Day 5: The Fulfillment of Serving Others

Serving others brings fulfillment and satisfaction, lifting us out of our struggles and aligning us with God's purpose. The greatest life we can live is one of giving and serving others, following in the steps of Jesus. When we serve and give, we become rivers of living water, leading others to the cross of Jesus Christ. Serving others is not just about meeting their needs; it is also about experiencing the joy and fulfillment that comes from living out our faith in practical ways.

When we focus on serving others, we shift our attention away from our own problems and challenges. This shift in focus can bring a sense of purpose and joy that we might not experience otherwise. Serving others also allows us to be the hands and feet of Jesus, demonstrating His love and compassion to a hurting world. [30:35]

Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Reflection: What specific acts of service can you commit to this week to help others in your church or community? How can serving others bring you closer to fulfilling God’s purpose for your life?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

It's a joy to witness the growth and transformation happening in this church. The value of a church home cannot be overstated. Church is not just a routine; it is a supernatural body of believers that Jesus Christ died for. It is a place where we come together to worship, be sharpened, and be reignited in our faith so that we can shine brightly in a dark and hurting world. Our world needs Jesus more than ever, and the church plays a crucial role in this.

A good pastor and a loving congregation are essential for experiencing the move of God. Pastors are under spiritual warfare and need our prayers and support. The church is a place where we can experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit, as seen in the book of Acts. It is a place of devotion, fellowship, and mutual care. We need to be devoted to God and to each other, taking care of one another's needs.

Change is inevitable, and it can be challenging, but it is necessary for growth. Just as seasons change, so must we adapt to new seasons in our church life. Complaining and resisting change can hinder our growth. Instead, we should embrace new seasons and serve others. Serving others brings fulfillment and satisfaction, lifting us out of our struggles and aligning us with God's purpose.

The church is also a place of accountability. We need authentic relationships where we can be real and be held accountable. This helps us grow and mature in our faith. The church should preach the entire Word of God, not just the parts that are easy to hear. The Word of God is powerful and essential for our daily lives.

In conclusion, the church is a family where everyone has a role to play. Serving and giving back are crucial for the church to continue growing and fulfilling God's purpose. God has great plans for this church, and it will take everyone's effort to see those plans come to fruition.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Value of a Church Home: Church is not just a routine activity; it is a supernatural body of believers that Jesus Christ died for. It is a place where we come together to worship, be sharpened, and be reignited in our faith so that we can shine brightly in a dark and hurting world. Our world needs Jesus more than ever, and the church plays a crucial role in this. [01:02]
2. The Importance of a Good Pastor: A good pastor and a loving congregation are essential for experiencing the move of God. Pastors are under spiritual warfare and need our prayers and support. They are anointed and called to lead us to green pastures and still waters. Never forget to love and support your pastor and his family. [02:56]
3. Embracing Change: Change is inevitable and necessary for growth. Just as seasons change, so must we adapt to new seasons in our church life. Complaining and resisting change can hinder our growth. Instead, we should embrace new seasons and serve others, finding fulfillment and satisfaction in aligning with God's purpose. [11:52]
4. The Power of Accountability: The church is a place of accountability. We need authentic relationships where we can be real and be held accountable. This helps us grow and mature in our faith. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. We are better together than we are by ourselves. [17:12]
5. Serving Others: Serving others brings fulfillment and satisfaction, lifting us out of our struggles and aligning us with God's purpose. The greatest life we can live is one of giving and serving others, following in the steps of Jesus. When we serve and give, we become rivers of living water, leading others to the cross of Jesus Christ. [30:35]
### [30:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:02] - The Value of Your Church Home
[02:56] - The Importance of a Good Pastor
[03:30] - Personal Church Experience
[11:52] - Embracing Change
[17:12] - The Power of Accountability
[20:01] - Devotion in the Church
[24:10] - Complaining and New Seasons
[30:35] - Serving Others
[33:54] - Closing Story and Prayer
[39:54] - Conclusion and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) — > "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

2. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)
> "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."

3. Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
> "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

Observation Questions

According to Acts 2:42-47, what were the early believers devoted to, and what were the results of their devotion?
In Ecclesiastes 3:1, what does the Bible say about the nature of change and seasons?
How does Hebrews 10:24-25 describe the importance of community and encouragement within the church?
What did the pastor emphasize about the role of a good pastor and the congregation's responsibility towards them? ([02:56])

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to be devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers as described in Acts 2:42-47? How can this devotion impact a church community?
How can the concept of different seasons in Ecclesiastes 3:1 help us understand and embrace changes within our church life? ([11:52])
Why is accountability important in a church setting, and how does it contribute to spiritual growth according to the sermon? ([17:12])
How does serving others align with God's purpose for our lives, and what are the benefits mentioned in the sermon? ([30:35])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own church experience. How has being part of a church community helped you grow in your faith? What specific aspects of church life have been most impactful for you? ([01:02])
How can you actively support and pray for your pastor and church leaders, knowing the spiritual warfare they face? ([02:56])
Think about a recent change in your church or personal life. How did you respond to it? What steps can you take to better embrace new seasons and serve others during times of change? ([11:52])
Identify one or two people in your church with whom you can build an authentic, accountable relationship. How can you start fostering this relationship? ([17:12])
Serving others is a key theme in the sermon. What specific actions can you take this week to serve someone in your church or community? How can this act of service help you align with God's purpose? ([30:35])
How can you incorporate daily Bible reading and prayer into your routine to ensure you are continually growing in your faith? What resources or strategies might help you stay consistent? ([13:09])
Reflect on a time when you felt fulfilled by serving others. How did this experience impact your faith and perspective on life? How can you seek out more opportunities to serve in the future? ([30:35])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Church is a supernatural body of believers that Jesus Christ died for. So that you and I can come together. So that we can be sharpened. So that we can worship God. So that we can hear the preach and the spoken word of God. A place where we can come and get back on fire for the Lord. A place where we can come and plug in. So that the other six days of the week. We can go and shine brightly into a dark and a hurting world. How many of you know our world is dark and hurting right now? Come on somebody. I said our world is dark and hurting right now. And more than a donkey and more than an elephant. More than a conservative or more than a liberal. More than a democrat or more than a republican. Our world needs a savior. Our world. Our world needs a redeemer. Our world needs Jesus." [01:02](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Can I tell you something? There is nothing in the word of God that says we will ever be comfortable serving Jesus Christ. Amen. In the middle of a dark world. And our generations now, they seek comfort. They want comfort in everything that they do. They comfort everywhere. Can I tell you, if we are serving God, if we are cutting edge ministry, if we are a church that is shining the light, if we are a family that is leading others to Jesus Christ, we will never be comfortable. God will always move us to the next season." [11:52](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "How many believe in the power of prayer still these days? Come on can I hear a good amen? Like you know what like you come to church and you're a part of a body like you you like sickness hits your life tragedy hits your life somebody that you love gets a bad report from the doctor something goes wrong in your life do you realize you are one text message away from hundreds of people flooding the throne of god calling out your name or calling out the name of your loved one to god the father the creator the healer the deliverer do you realize the power that we have in prayer when we're connected to a local church boom like that like i love church i love preaching i love praying i love worship i love the fellowship that we have" [17:12](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "How many believe our lives would be better if we woke up every day and said, how am I going to stir somebody else up to love and good works? Like what if you husband said, how am I going to stir my wife up today? And that ain't real hard. Come on, somebody. Can I hear a good amen? How am I going to stir my wife up to love and good works? How am I going to encourage her? How am I going to encourage my wife? Honey, you're the best. Honey, you're beautiful. Honey, you're the mama of my children. What if we woke up and what if you women woke up and look at your husband and say, you know what? I'm going to encourage him to love and good works. God, you're blessed. You're a good husband. You're a good father. What if we started speaking to our children and speaking encouragement over our children? What if we went to our workplace and we started considering how can we raise somebody else up and encouraging somebody else up? How many know our world would be better if we all started encouraging somebody else serving somebody else? It's the answer to the world." [31:25](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God's good, y'all. Can I hear a good amen? God loves you. And God saved you and delivered you. And now your life should be total surrender and it should be all about Him and serving Him in everything that we do. There's no greater satisfaction. So, I'll close today and say this. How many know we're all family? Family of Christ. Families serve one another." [36:39](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Never forget the value of your pastor. Never forget to love your pastor and his family. Never forget. They are under spiritual warfare. Never forget that God has anointed them and called them out of the workplace to lead you and to lead God's sheep to the place that God wants them to be. To green pastures. To still waters. Never forget to pray for and support your pastor. Can I hear a good amen? Never ever forget that. And so I'm thankful for Brad. I'm thankful for this church and for what God is doing here. And that's what I want to talk to you about today." [02:56](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We need churches nowadays that will preach the word of God. How many know the word of God is powerful? The word of God is quick. The word of God is sharp. The word of God. The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of the Lord remains forever. We have got to get the word of God in us. Can I tell you something? Can I encourage you something? 11 o'clock service. You've got to get you a Bible. You've got to get it on your phone. You've got to get an app on your iPad. You've got to get it on your MacBook. You've got to get an old school letter and paper Bible. But if you want to be all that God has called you to be, you've got to start reading the word of God and get the word of God inside of you. It's not just enough. It's not enough that you come to church on Sunday and hear a preacher preaching the word of God. You've got to have it daily. It is our daily bread." [13:09](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "The gospel of Jesus Christ is all about lost people. If you're not saved and you're far from God, the gospel is all about you. But once you receive the gospel and you're adopted in the family of God and you become a new creation and you become an heir to the throne of God, no longer is it all about you. It's all about Him. And all about other people. It's a tendency. It happens in my church. It happens in every church. Rather than complain, we need to learn to serve. We need to learn to serve other people and embrace new seasons." [24:41](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "You know what the enemy would do to us? When we have struggles, when we have hard times, when we have pain, the enemy would want us to turn inwardly and look at ourselves. And the more that we look at ourselves, and the more that we look at our situation, the darker and the deeper and the stronger the depression gets. You know what? You know the way out of depression. You know the way out of the valley is to lift up your eyes under the hills, under where your help comes from, where your help comes from the Lord, and to make up in your mind, I am not going to serve myself. I'm not going to have pity on my life. I'm going to serve God and serve others. And when you serve God and serve others, it will take you up out of the valley and place you on a mountaintop. It will bring more fulfillment and more satisfaction. Than anything on this earth. When we start serving and giving to one another." [30:35](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Can I say this? I'm no prophet, but can I say something, speak something prophetically over New Hope? God wants to do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond all that you've been asking or thinking about. Where you are right now is just an inkling of where God wants to take you. Can I say something else? Your eyes haven't seen and your ears haven't heard and neither has entered into your heart the things that God has prepared for this place, for your house, for this house, for New Hope. It's great and mighty. But it's going to take everybody together. They're serving and loving and doing their..." [38:28](Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?