Embracing Community and Obedience in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Church as Family

The church is a vibrant family of believers, not just a building or a weekly event. It's a place where everyone is welcome to find belonging and purpose. As members of this family, it is essential to actively participate and reach out to those who are searching for a spiritual home. This is a reflection of the New Testament church, where believers lived in a close-knit community, supporting and sacrificing for one another. [19:48]

Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the sense of family in your local church this week?

Day 2: Choosing Battles Wisely

As followers of Christ, encountering opposition is inevitable, but wisdom is needed to choose which battles to fight. This requires patience and discernment, as well as a steadfast focus on obedience to God's will. Trusting in God's guidance, believers can navigate through conflicts and challenges, knowing that their journey is under His sovereign care. [28:53]

James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
Reflection: What current conflict are you facing, and how can you seek God's wisdom in addressing it?

Day 3: Valuing the Local Church

The local church is a divine gift that fosters community and fellowship among believers. It is a place where individuals can experience the love and mutual affection that characterized the early Christian fellowship. Embracing the local church is essential for spiritual growth and for living out the 'one another' commands of Scripture. [06:43]

1 Peter 4:8-9 - "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."
Reflection: In what ways can you show love and hospitality to someone in your church this week?

Day 4: Unwavering Obedience to God

Obedience to God's will is crucial, even when it seems to defy human logic or leads to personal sacrifice. The apostle Paul's unwavering commitment to God's plan, despite the risks, is a powerful example for believers today. Embracing our calling in Christ means being ready to follow wherever He leads, trusting in His perfect wisdom. [31:30]

Acts 20:22-24 - "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you need to practice greater obedience to God's will?

Day 5: Trusting in God's Unseen Plan

God's will may not always align with our immediate desires or understanding, but trusting in His plan is vital. The lives of early Christians and missionaries like Amy Carmichael demonstrate that embracing God's will can lead to significant impact and fulfillment of His purposes. We are called to live by the principle, "let the will of the Lord be done," in every aspect of our lives. [34:46]

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Can you identify a situation where you need to trust more deeply in God's unseen plan?

Sermon Summary

The sermon emphasizes the church as a family and community of believers, rather than just a location for events. The congregation is encouraged to invite others into this family, particularly those seeking belonging. The speaker draws from the apostle Paul's example of sacrifice and the importance of gratitude. The need to expect and wisely choose battles against unfair opposition as followers of Jesus is also highlighted, with personal anecdotes illustrating the importance of patience and discernment. The speaker shares their experiences of opposition in Europe and within their own family, urging obedience and trust in God's wisdom.

The sermon also reflects on the challenges of understanding scripture, with the hope that the message will resonate and remind listeners of their role in the great family of God. The local church is presented as a gift from God, with the journey of Paul and Luke to Tyre exemplifying Christian fellowship and mutual affection. Paul's obedience to God's will, despite warnings of danger, is emphasized, showing his determination to follow God's plan.

The speaker shares personal experiences from a local church in Spain, highlighting the strong fellowship despite being a minority. The local church is seen as God's hope for society, with an emphasis on active participation and embracing the church family. The story of Edward Baker is used to stress the importance of heeding good advice and following instructions, relating this to the guidance provided in the book of Acts for living a faithful life for Jesus.

Believers are reminded to expect unfair treatment and opposition, both culturally and within the church, as seen in Paul's experiences in Jerusalem. The deep love and affection among early Christians are highlighted, with a call to embrace and be embraced by local churches. The story of Amy Carmichael is shared, illustrating that God's will may not always be understood immediately but should be embraced nonetheless.

The sermon begins with a light-hearted mention of Thanksgiving before delving into the relevance of the book of Acts for believers today. The stories in Acts are meant to guide and instruct in interactions with a world that may be hostile to Christ. The speaker discusses Paul's accommodation of immature believers in the church and the inevitability of opposition in the Christian life. Finally, the sermon reflects on the church at Ephesus and their love for Paul, expressing a desire for such a loving church community.

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What actions did Paul and his companions take when they arrived in Tyre, and how did the local believers respond to them? (Acts 21:1-6)
How did the believers in Caesarea react to the prophecy of Agabus regarding Paul's fate in Jerusalem? (Acts 21:10-12)
What was the reaction of the entire city of Jerusalem when Paul entered the temple, and what actions did they take against him? (Acts 21:30-31)
How did Paul respond to the warnings and pleas from the believers about the dangers awaiting him in Jerusalem? (Acts 21:13-14)

Interpretation Questions

What does Paul's determination to go to Jerusalem despite the warnings tell us about his understanding of obedience to God's will? (Acts 21:13-14) [32:10]
How does the fellowship and mutual affection among the early Christians in Tyre and Caesarea reflect the concept of the church as a family? (Acts 21:1-6, 8-14) [08:42]
In what ways does the opposition Paul faced in Jerusalem illustrate the inevitability of facing unfair treatment as a follower of Jesus? (Acts 21:30-36) [23:45]
How can the story of Edward Baker, as shared in the sermon, serve as a cautionary tale about the importance of heeding good advice and following instructions? [04:40]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own experience with your local church. How can you actively participate and contribute to the sense of family and community within your church? [19:48]
Have you ever faced opposition or unfair treatment because of your faith? How did you handle it, and what did you learn from that experience? [28:17]
Paul was willing to face imprisonment and even death to follow God's will. Are there areas in your life where you struggle to submit to God's will? How can you work on embracing His plan for you? [32:54]
The sermon emphasized the importance of patience and discernment in choosing battles within the church. Can you think of a recent situation where you had to decide whether to engage in a conflict or let it go? What guided your decision? [28:53]
The story of Amy Carmichael illustrates that God's will may not always align with our desires. Can you recall a time when you had to trust God's plan despite not understanding it fully? How did that experience shape your faith? [34:46]
The sermon mentioned the deep love and affection among early Christians. How can you foster such relationships within your small group or church community? [12:51]
How can you invite others into the church family, especially those who are seeking belonging and community? What practical steps can you take this week to reach out to someone new? [20:28]

Sermon Clips

"The church is a people, it's a family of God that happens to meet in a place for a series of events. So begin to switch your mindset to seeing the church as your family." [19:48] (Download)

"Participating in family life means that you're meaningfully present, that you're engaging. God's will for your life is that you see us as family and then you participate in what this family life is all about." [21:44] (Download)

"Thankful Christians embrace the local church as God's gift to them. If you're a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, then one of the blessings bestowed upon you is that you become part of His family, you get us all." [06:43] (Download)

"Paul just obediently submitted to God's will for his life. He embraced that knowing that God knows better." [32:54] (Download)

"Let the will of the Lord be done. God used the church to tell Paul that things were going to get nasty in Jerusalem and they naturally want to dissuade him from going because they love him." [34:09] (Download)

"God's greatest work in your life is going to be mediated through those around you. Those people sitting around you right now, they're God's gift to you, and God has gifted them and you for the others' edification." [18:28] (Download)

"Church family life can be the greatest blessing of God on your life, but you have to embrace it. Thankful people embrace local church." [19:05] (Download)

"Believers Embrace unfair opposition from the culture and from even inside the church... the family of God can be a little bit dysfunctional... but we're a family inside of a hostile environment." [23:04] (Download)

"Paul knew the Christian Life was going to involve difficulty and his responsibility was simply to obey." [33:31] (Download)

"God ultimately gave her the why many decades later, but that's his prerogative. Thankful people just embrace His will." [36:11] (Download)

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