Embracing Community and Restoration in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Finding Solitude with God

In our fast-paced and noisy world, it is crucial to find moments of solitude to connect with God. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray, setting an example for us to follow. These quiet moments allow us to hear God's voice and align our hearts with His will. By spending time alone with God, we can gain clarity, strength, and direction for our lives. This practice is not just about escaping the noise but about intentionally seeking God's presence and guidance. [40:20]

Luke 5:16 (ESV): "But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray."

Reflection: When can you carve out a specific time this week to be alone with God, away from distractions? How can you make this a regular practice in your life?

Day 2: Embracing Repentance and Restoration

Peter's story is a powerful reminder that failure is not the end. When Peter denied Jesus, he repented and was restored. Similarly, David's story shows that repentance leads to restoration. God does not remember our failures when we repent. Instead, He sees us as people after His own heart. This is a powerful reminder that God's grace is greater than our mistakes. We should focus on the faithfulness of our Savior rather than our shortcomings. [53:00]

Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV): "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

Reflection: Is there a failure or mistake in your life that you need to bring to God in repentance? How can you embrace His restoration and move forward in faith?

Day 3: The Strength of Community

The disciples valued their community and stayed together even in despair. This unity gave them strength and courage. As believers, we should also prioritize our community, supporting and encouraging one another in our walk with Jesus. The resurrection of Jesus changed the disciples, giving them courage and strength. They valued community and stayed together, even when they were afraid. [54:46]

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: How can you actively support and encourage someone in your faith community this week? What steps can you take to strengthen your connections within your church?

Day 4: Unity as a Testament to the World

Unity is a secondary source of our strength, and the enemy often attacks it. Jesus commanded us to love one another, and this mutual love is a testament to the world that we are His disciples. Our unity in Christ is a powerful witness to the world. Tertullian, an early church father, noted that the world recognizes Christians by their love for one another. This mutual love sets us apart from the world, which is often filled with mutual hatred. [01:04:32]

John 13:34-35 (ESV): "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate Christ-like love to those around you, especially within your church community? How can your actions reflect the unity and love that Jesus commanded?

Day 5: Diverse Yet United in Christ

The disciples were diverse, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Despite their differences, they were united in their mission to follow Jesus. Community is the crucible that helps us become more like Jesus, polishing us and knocking off our rough edges. The disciples served Jesus till the end, facing persecution and martyrdom with courage and faith. [01:01:04]

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (ESV): "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many."

Reflection: How can you embrace the diversity within your faith community and see it as a strength? What steps can you take to foster unity and collaboration among different members of your church?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we are reminded that we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, called to walk in God's ways. As we gather, let's seek His face and encourage one another. Nate will now share a testimony from the men's retreat.

Reading from Luke 6:12-16, we see Jesus going to the mountainside to pray and spending the night in prayer. The next morning, He called His disciples and chose twelve of them, designating them as apostles. These included Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Him.

From this passage, I learned three key lessons. First, we need to spend time alone with God, just as Jesus did. Second, we should not focus on our failures but on the faithfulness of our Savior. Peter's story teaches us that even when we fail, repentance brings restoration. Third, the importance of community is evident in the lives of the disciples. They stayed together even in despair, valuing the unity Jesus had brought them into.

Reflecting on "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry" by John Mark Comer, I realized the importance of escaping the noisy world to find a quiet place with God. Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray, setting an example for us to follow. In our information-muddied world, we need to be still and spend time with our Heavenly Father.

Peter's story is a powerful reminder that failure is not the end. When Peter denied Jesus, he repented and was restored. Similarly, David's story shows that repentance leads to restoration. God does not remember our failures when we repent. Instead, He sees us as people after His own heart.

The disciples, even in their despair, did not isolate themselves. They gathered together, supporting one another. This unity is crucial for us as well. We are all part of the larger Church, and we should continue to encourage one another in our walk with Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus changed the disciples, giving them courage and strength. They valued community and stayed together, even when they were afraid.

Unity is a secondary source of our strength, and the enemy often attacks it. Jesus commanded us to love one another, and this love is a testament to the world that we are His disciples. Tertullian, an early church father, noted that the world recognizes Christians by their love for one another. This mutual love sets us apart from the world, which is often filled with mutual hatred.

The disciples were diverse, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Peter was impetuous and brave, Andrew brought people to Jesus, James and John were ambitious, Philip asked good questions, Bartholomew was honest, Matthew was a tax collector, Thomas doubted, and Simon the Zealot was a revolutionary. Despite their differences, they were united in their mission to follow Jesus.

Community is not the goal of our Christianity; Christlikeness is. Community is the crucible that helps us become more like Jesus. It is diverse and includes people who may rub us the wrong way, but this helps polish us and knock off our rough edges. The disciples served Jesus till the end, facing persecution and martyrdom with courage and faith.

As we conclude, let's remember the importance of spending time with God, focusing on His faithfulness, and valuing the unity of our community. Let's love one another as Jesus loved us, and by this, the world will know that we are His disciples.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Spending Time Alone with God: Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray, setting an example for us to follow. In our noisy world, it is crucial to find quiet moments to be still and spend time with our Heavenly Father. This practice helps us to hear God's voice and align our hearts with His will. [40:20]
2. Repentance and Restoration: Peter's story teaches us that failure is not the end. When we repent, Jesus restores us, and our failures are erased. This is a powerful reminder that God's grace is greater than our mistakes. We should focus on the faithfulness of our Savior rather than our shortcomings. [53:00]
3. The Importance of Community: The disciples valued their community and stayed together even in despair. This unity gave them strength and courage. As believers, we should also prioritize our community, supporting and encouraging one another in our walk with Jesus. [54:46]
4. Unity as a Source of Strength: Unity is a secondary source of our strength, and the enemy often attacks it. Jesus commanded us to love one another, and this mutual love is a testament to the world that we are His disciples. Our unity in Christ is a powerful witness to the world. [64:32]
5. Diverse Yet United: The disciples were diverse, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Despite their differences, they were united in their mission to follow Jesus. Community is the crucible that helps us become more like Jesus, polishing us and knocking off our rough edges. [01:01:04]
### [61:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[40:20] - Introduction and Nate's Testimony
[41:33] - Lessons from Jesus' Prayer
[42:17] - The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
[53:00] - Repentance and Restoration
[54:46] - The Importance of Community
[58:09] - Unity in the Church
[59:15] - The Resurrection and Courage
[61:04] - Community and Christlikeness
[64:32] - Unity as a Source of Strength
[66:13] - Love One Another
[69:54] - Closing Prayer and Song

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What did Jesus do before choosing His twelve apostles according to Luke 6:12-16?
How does John 13:34-35 describe the way people will recognize Jesus' disciples?
According to 1 John 4:10-12, what is the evidence of God's love being made complete in us?
What were some of the characteristics and backgrounds of the twelve apostles mentioned in the sermon? ([44:52])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus spent the entire night in prayer before choosing His apostles? What does this teach us about making important decisions? ([40:20])
How does the command to love one another in John 13:34-35 serve as a testament to the world that we are Jesus' disciples? ([01:05:09])
In what ways does the diversity of the apostles reflect the nature of Christian community? How can this diversity be both a challenge and a strength? ([44:52])
How does the concept of repentance and restoration, as seen in Peter's story, apply to our personal failures and God's grace? ([53:00])

Application Questions

Reflecting on Jesus' example of spending time alone with God, what practical steps can you take to find quiet moments in your daily life to be still and spend time with your Heavenly Father? ([42:17])
Think about a recent failure in your life. How can you shift your focus from your failure to the faithfulness of your Savior? What steps can you take to seek repentance and restoration? ([53:00])
How can you actively contribute to the unity of your community, especially when facing disagreements or differences? What specific actions can you take to promote love and understanding within your group? ([01:01:04])
Identify a person in your life who may be feeling isolated or disconnected. How can you reach out to them and offer support, reflecting the unity and love that Jesus commanded? ([54:46])
Considering the diverse backgrounds and personalities of the apostles, how can you embrace and appreciate the differences within your own community? What steps can you take to ensure that these differences strengthen rather than divide your group? ([44:52])
How can you make a conscious effort to love others as Jesus loved you, especially those who may be difficult to love? What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate this love? ([01:05:09])
Reflect on a time when you felt the strength of community in your life. How can you foster that same sense of community for others in your church or small group? ([54:46])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The first time I read the book, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer. How many of you have heard of that book? Riley actually mentioned it in a sermon a couple of weeks ago. The first time I read it, I used Blinkist. Do you know what Blinkist is? It's an app that takes a 300-page book and summarizes it to about 15 minutes. You listen to it, right? And I listened to it at 1.5 speed while I was mowing the lawn. Somehow, there was something I missed. So I went back, I read the book, I studied the book, but I noticed something here. In the last one, one and a half chapters from the end of 4, again in chapter 5, and here in chapter 6, Jesus had gone away to a lonely place to spend time alone with his Father, to escape the noisy world that he lived in and ministered to. And we live in an information-muddied world, don't we?" [42:17]( | | )

2. "I have a lot of noise in my ears. I think I do that because my flesh wants to escape the internal noise that we all live with. The world says to drown it out. When you have worries, all the noise and the hurry seem to help find no. So both my friends are in first service. So they got that tagline. But anyway, that's what the world tells us, right? But Jesus says to escape the kingdom of noise, what you need to do is you need to find a quiet place alone. Be still and spend time with your heavenly father. And in Jesus' case, he prayed all night because he had this huge decision to make. He was gonna pick his 12 closest disciples, the ones he called apostles." [44:05]( | | )

3. "I reached out and I kept reaching out until he finally talked to me. And now we have a relationship again. And that's what we're supposed to do. That's what we're supposed to do. When somebody goes to a different church, right? I mean it's not like they're leaving their walk with Jesus Christ like some of my friends. They're continuing to walk with Jesus Christ. We're all part of what everybody else calls the Big C Church. I don't because I'm a grammar nerd. And I can explain that to anybody who's interested later. But they're all part of the church, right? And we can continue to have fellowship with them. We can continue to encourage them in their walk with Jesus Christ. And we should." [58:09]( | | )

4. "The touchstone of every life is our encounter with Jesus Christ. Those of us who believe and receive him are forever changed. Those who ignore him are dead in their sins. And those who reject him are filled with bitterness and hate. Jesus changes every life. Even those who reject Jesus are changed by their encounter with him." [49:15]( | | )

5. "Unity is putting Jesus first, others next, and my right to be right aside for the sake of fellowship. Community is not the goal of our Christianity. Christlikeness is. Community is the crucible, the forge, the rock tumbler, the factory floor, the workbench, the team that helps make us more like Jesus. Community isn't the goal. Being more like Jesus is. And that's why community is supposed to be diverse. Different flavors of dysfunctionality, right? Diverse. We need people, we need to be in community with people who rub us the wrong way. Which is in my job description, by the way. Because when people rub us the wrong way, it polishes us all, right? It knocks off some of those rough edges on both of us if we respond with the love of Jesus." [01:01:04]( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "So I learned three lessons from this passage, and I want to share them with you. The first one I learned from Jesus, and that is we need that time alone with God. We need to spend time with him. And the second one is about failure. And I feel like I'm pretty much an expert on failure. But I learned that one from Peter. And the lesson is this. Don't focus on your failure. Don't focus on your failure. Focus on the faithfulness of your Savior. And then the third lesson I learned from all the disciples, and that's about community." [41:33]( | | )

2. "Failure is written in pencil if we repent. Think of Peter. He says, they may all desert you, Lord, but I will never, I will never desert you. And then, you know, a little girl said, oh, you're also with Jesus. And he said, I don't even know the guy. He failed. But he repented. And even though we remember that Jesus, that Peter denied Jesus, what Jesus remembered is that Peter repented, and Peter was the one he had chosen. To feed his sheep. He said, feed my sheep when he restored him. When we repent, Jesus restores us. Think about David. We can talk about David not for very long before most of us remember that David really made a mess of things with Bathsheba. But when David died, God didn't mention Bathsheba. God said he was a man after my own heart. Because David repented. And God restored him." [53:00]( | | )

3. "Even in despair, the disciples didn't isolate themselves. Luke 24, 9-11. They thought Jesus was dead and gone. They feared for their own lives. But they still gathered together. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the eleven and to all the others. They were all gathered together. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women because their words seemed to them like nonsense. See, even though their Savior was gone, they gathered together. They didn't isolate themselves. And when they gathered together and they were grieving over the loss of their teacher, their Savior, their Lord, I wonder if any of them grieved the loss of their companion who betrayed Jesus." [54:46]( | | )

4. "The resurrection didn't change their persecutors. The resurrection didn't change the people persecuting the disciples. If anything, it made it worse, right? But the resurrection changed the disciples. And somehow they were no longer afraid. Death had been defeated, swallowed up in victory. And they were no longer afraid. But even when they were afraid, even when they were in despair, they gathered together. They valued the community that Jesus had brought them into so much. The first part of community is come. I mean, I know that's not really the root word, but it is the first part of community. So if you're looking for community, don't leave. Come. Don't search. Come. The essence of community is to come together in unity." [59:15]( | | )

5. "So, I got a question for you. It's an easy question, I think. What do synergy, unity, unity, what does it have in common with hair? Alright? Samson got his strength from God, right? But when Delilah cut off his hair, he lost his strength. Our strength comes from Jesus Christ. He's the source of our strength, and the enemy cannot take him away from us. But the secondary source of our strength is unity. So the enemy attacks there. The enemy wants to take away the synergy that we have as a unified body, or as the unified, united church. The enemy is always attacking that because that's a secondary source of strength for us." [01:04:32]( | | )

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