Embracing Change: Unity and God's Transformative Presence
Summary
In today's gathering, we experienced a profound movement of the Spirit, inviting us to press into God's presence. This moment of divine encounter reminds us that while prayer, preaching, and singing are vital, sometimes what we truly need is a direct touch from God. As we continue to engage in our community, we are reminded of the importance of our local missions and outreach efforts. These initiatives, made possible through consistent giving, allow us to bless our city and fulfill our calling as a church in Sand Springs.
Our discussion today also focused on the significance of culture within the church. Culture, built upon our behaviors and core values, is crucial in supporting our vision. We explored the importance of unity, emphasizing that God expects us to walk in unity, which is not about uniformity but about agreement on purpose. Unity is a divine expectation, and when we fail to uphold it, we set ourselves against God's intentions.
We also delved into the concept of change, a topic that often evokes mixed feelings. Change is inevitable, and while it can be challenging, it is necessary for growth. The early church in Acts 2 serves as a powerful example of how embracing change can lead to significant impact and growth. The disciples' willingness to adapt to the new movement of the Holy Spirit resulted in the rapid expansion of the church.
As a church, we are committed to changing our methods while never compromising the message of Jesus Christ. This commitment allows us to remain culturally relevant and effectively reach and disciple the next generation. We recognize that change can be painful, but it is essential for growth and impact. Our prayer is that we would embrace change, trusting that God knows what is best for us, even when it is difficult to see.
Key Takeaways:
1. Pressing into God's Presence: In moments of divine encounter, we are reminded that a touch from God can transform our lives in ways that human efforts cannot. It is essential to create space for these encounters, allowing the Spirit to move freely among us. [0:00]
2. The Power of Unity: Unity is not about uniformity but about aligning with God's purpose. When we walk in unity, we fulfill a divine expectation and create an environment where God's presence can dwell. Disunity sets us against God's intentions, hindering His work among us. [40:01]
3. Embracing Change for Growth: Change is often met with resistance, but it is necessary for growth and impact. The early church's willingness to embrace change led to significant expansion and transformation. We must be open to change, trusting that God is leading us into new seasons of growth. [01:03:42]
4. Cultural Relevance and the Unchanging Message: While methods may change to remain culturally relevant, the message of Jesus Christ remains constant. Our commitment to the unchanging truth of the Gospel allows us to effectively reach and disciple the next generation. [01:07:22]
5. Navigating Forced Change: Sometimes, God uses forced change to guide us into His plans. In seasons of unexpected change, we must trust that God knows what is best for us and be willing to follow His leading, even when it is difficult. [01:27:38]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [0:02:00] - Pressing into God's Presence
- [0:05:00] - Local Missions and Outreach
- [0:10:00] - The Importance of Culture
- [0:15:00] - Unity in Diversity
- [0:20:00] - Embracing Change
- [0:25:00] - The Early Church's Example
- [0:30:00] - Changing Methods, Unchanging Message
- [0:35:00] - Personal Revival and Church Culture
- [0:40:00] - Navigating Forced Change
- [0:45:00] - Trusting God's Plan
- [0:50:00] - Responding in Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Acts 2:1-11, 37-41
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of the disciples being together in one place during the event described in Acts 2? How does this relate to the concept of unity discussed in the sermon? [59:58]
2. How did the early church respond to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and what was the immediate impact on the community? [01:03:42]
3. In the sermon, what examples were given to illustrate the importance of unity within the church community? [40:01]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between culture and vision within the church? [37:34]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the event of Pentecost in Acts 2 demonstrate the necessity of embracing change for growth within the church? [01:03:42]
2. The sermon emphasizes that unity is not about uniformity but about agreement on purpose. How can this understanding of unity be applied to modern church communities? [40:01]
3. What are some potential challenges a church might face when trying to remain culturally relevant while maintaining the unchanging message of Jesus Christ? [01:07:22]
4. How can the concept of forced change, as discussed in the sermon, be seen as a way God guides us into His plans? [01:27:38]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a profound movement of the Spirit. How did it impact your life, and how can you create space for such encounters in your daily routine? [49:33]
2. In what ways can you contribute to fostering unity in your church community, especially when there are differences in opinions or practices? [40:01]
3. Consider a change you are currently resisting in your life. How might embracing this change lead to personal or spiritual growth? [01:03:42]
4. How can you support your church's efforts to remain culturally relevant while ensuring the message of Jesus Christ remains unchanged? [01:07:22]
5. Think about a time when you faced forced change. How did you respond, and what did you learn about trusting God's plan during that season? [01:27:38]
6. Identify one local mission or outreach effort your church is involved in. How can you actively participate or support this initiative to bless your community? [30:08]
7. What steps can you take to align your personal values with the core values of your church, especially in areas where you might currently differ? [37:34]
Devotional
Day 1: Experiencing God's Transformative Presence
In moments of divine encounter, we are reminded that a touch from God can transform our lives in ways that human efforts cannot. It is essential to create space for these encounters, allowing the Spirit to move freely among us. These moments are not just about feeling good but about genuine transformation that aligns us more closely with God's will. As we press into God's presence, we open ourselves to His guidance, healing, and empowerment, which can lead to profound changes in our lives and communities. [0:00]
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally create space in your daily routine to invite God's presence and allow Him to transform you?
Day 2: Unity in Purpose, Not Uniformity
Unity is not about uniformity but about aligning with God's purpose. When we walk in unity, we fulfill a divine expectation and create an environment where God's presence can dwell. Disunity sets us against God's intentions, hindering His work among us. True unity requires us to agree on our purpose and mission, even if we have different perspectives or methods. It is about coming together to achieve what God has called us to do, fostering a community that reflects His love and grace. [40:01]
"Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind." (Philippians 2:2, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to unity within your community or church, even when you disagree with others?
Day 3: Embracing Change for Spiritual Growth
Change is often met with resistance, but it is necessary for growth and impact. The early church's willingness to embrace change led to significant expansion and transformation. We must be open to change, trusting that God is leading us into new seasons of growth. Change can be uncomfortable, but it is through these shifts that we often experience the most profound spiritual growth. By embracing change, we allow God to mold us into vessels that can carry out His will more effectively. [01:03:42]
"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?" (Isaiah 43:18-19, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are resisting change? How can you trust God to lead you through this change for your growth?
Day 4: Cultural Relevance with an Unchanging Message
While methods may change to remain culturally relevant, the message of Jesus Christ remains constant. Our commitment to the unchanging truth of the Gospel allows us to effectively reach and disciple the next generation. It is crucial to adapt our approaches to meet people where they are, without compromising the core message of Christ's love and redemption. By doing so, we ensure that the Gospel remains impactful and transformative across different cultures and generations. [01:07:22]
"For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them." (1 Corinthians 9:19, ESV)
Reflection: How can you adapt your approach to sharing the Gospel in a way that resonates with those around you, while staying true to its core message?
Day 5: Trusting God Through Forced Change
Sometimes, God uses forced change to guide us into His plans. In seasons of unexpected change, we must trust that God knows what is best for us and be willing to follow His leading, even when it is difficult. These moments can be challenging, but they are opportunities to deepen our faith and reliance on God. By trusting Him through forced changes, we open ourselves to His greater plans and purposes, which often exceed our own understanding. [01:27:38]
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent unexpected change in your life. How can you trust God to use this change for your good and His glory?
Quotes
1) "And one of the things that I heard years ago was that I don't care how good your vision is. If your culture does not support the vision, culture wins every time. You can have the best vision since the invention of sliced bread. But if the culture does not support it, the vision will never take off and go anywhere. And so one of the things that I harp a lot on to our staff in leadership stuff is we talk about culture. Because culture is simply that important. And culture is really built. And culture is built up or built around our behaviors. The way that we act builds the culture that we have." [37:34] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "We each do our part to keep unity in our speech, in our attitude, and in our actions. And what we wanted us to see was that number one is that God expects unity from us. This isn't a good idea, that God models and we just kind of look at and go, oh, if we could ever attain to that. No, no, no, no. He actually expects us to walk in unity, right? That is a God expectation placed on his people, okay? And we learn that actually that when we don't walk in unity, when we create this unity, we actually are setting ourselves up as an enemy of God because it's a God idea, not an our idea." [40:01] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "We truly believe that God intended you to live life with other people, to live within the context of community. And when you do, you find support, you find care, you find accountability. Come on. Because nobody can call you on the carpet like your closest friends. Let a stranger come in and call you on the carpet. You do not. You do nothing but get offended. But you let someone that you know absolutely loves you and has your best interest at heart call you on the carpet. You might get offended, but you get over it because you know they love you." [46:51] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "We will change the methods, never the message. Now, I'm going to need everybody in the room just to kind of sit back and take a deep breath because there are a lot of people out of us in this room that absolutely despise change. So everybody just take a breath with me. Breathe in. Breathe out. Right? I want to talk to everyone in the room for just a second because I want you to see that almost everyone in this room, whether we admit it or not, absolutely hates change." [47:50] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "Because, specifically when we're talking about the church, when we embrace change, lives will be impacted. Now, I want to read, I want you to go with me to Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2. Acts chapter 2 should be, for those of you who come out of the, the Pentecostal Charismatic Movement, that, like, this should be a core scripture for you. For those who didn't come out of that movement, it should still be a core scripture. It's where the church was birthed. It was where the Holy Spirit was poured out. So I want you to, I want you to read it and I want you to look at it through the eyes of change for a moment because I think that can help us bring, some things into perspective." [59:58] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "And here's what I've found, is everyone wants change in their lives except for when it comes to the church. We, I remember when we first moved to Durant, one of my first board meetings we sat into, and here's one thing that you learn quickly about church leadership is when you work as a board, the opinion of the board becomes your opinion when you walk out of the door, because you walk out in unity. We place all opinions on the table, but when a decision is made, we walk out in unity. So whether I would have chosen it or not, or they would have chosen it or not, that's irrelevant when we walk out of the door, because then we walk out and it was our decision. This is how we do it." [01:07:22] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "And so if we're going to be committed to making an impact on the next generation, then we've got to increase our capacity for pain. We have to change the way we think about change. Not all change is negative. As I think I've proven to you over this last 30 minutes or so. But change can be difficult. And so I want you to understand even though it's a core value, we get it. I get that. But we as a body have made a commitment that we're going to reach every generation with the gospel. Change changing the methods. Never the message." [01:23:14] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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