Embracing Community and Transformation in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Physical Presence

Gathering together as a church community is more than just a routine; it is a vital aspect of our spiritual lives. The physical presence of fellow believers fosters a unique sense of community and spiritual connection that online services cannot replicate. When we come together every Sunday, we strengthen our faith and unity as a body of believers. This communal worship and fellowship are irreplaceable and should be prioritized to maintain the health and vibrancy of our spiritual lives. [01:19]

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: Think about a time when you felt particularly uplifted or encouraged by attending a church service in person. How can you make a commitment to prioritize physical attendance at church gatherings, even when it’s inconvenient?

Day 2: The Importance of Context in Scripture

Understanding the context of scripture is crucial to avoid misinterpretations that can lead to dangerous conclusions. The Bible was written in specific historical, cultural, and linguistic contexts, and taking verses out of context can distort their meaning. Resources like "Escape to Reality" by Paul Ellis can provide clarity and deeper understanding of New Covenant Christianity, ensuring that we grasp the true meaning of biblical texts. By studying scripture in its proper context, we can grow in our faith and apply God's word accurately in our lives. [02:55]

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Reflection: Reflect on a scripture passage that you have struggled to understand. How can you use resources like commentaries or trusted websites to gain a better understanding of its context and meaning?

Day 3: Freedom in the New Covenant

The Old Testament laws served their purpose in their time, but we are now under a New Covenant established by Jesus. This New Covenant brings freedom from the old laws while upholding God's eternal principles. It allows us to live in grace and truth, no longer bound by the stringent requirements of the old laws but guided by the Spirit of God. This freedom is not a license to sin but an invitation to live a life that reflects the love and grace of Jesus. [08:43]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you feel bound by legalistic thinking. How can you embrace the freedom that comes from living under the New Covenant of grace and truth?

Day 4: Righteousness Through Faith

The Old Testament laws highlighted our sinfulness and our need for a Savior. Jesus fulfilled these laws and offers us righteousness through faith, not by our own efforts. This righteousness is a gift from God, emphasizing His grace and love for us. It is not something we can earn but something we receive through faith in Jesus Christ. This understanding shifts our focus from trying to earn God's favor to living in gratitude for the grace we have received. [10:54]

Romans 3:21-22 (ESV): "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe."

Reflection: Reflect on your own efforts to be righteous. How can you shift your focus from trying to earn God's favor to living in gratitude for the righteousness you have received through faith in Jesus?

Day 5: Transformation in Christ

Accepting Jesus leads to a profound transformation where our old sinful nature is replaced with a new, righteous spirit. This change is internal and eternal, making us new creations in Christ. Despite the challenges we may face in our soul and emotions, our spirit remains righteous and connected to God. This transformation is not just about following rules but about a profound change from the inside out, driven by the Holy Spirit. [17:56]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

Reflection: Think about an area of your life where you still struggle with old habits or thoughts. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation in that area, making you more like Christ?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to celebrate the joy of being back together as a church community. There's something irreplaceable about physically being in the same room, worshiping and fellowshipping together. Online services are convenient, but they can't replicate the experience of being present with one another. This is why it's crucial to prioritize coming together every Sunday.

We delved into the importance of context when interpreting the Bible. Misunderstanding or taking scripture out of context can lead to dangerous misinterpretations. A helpful resource for understanding New Covenant Christianity is the "Escape to Reality" website by Paul Ellis, which provides insightful teachings and contextual explanations of various scriptures.

We also discussed the topic of tattoos and their cultural significance, particularly within the Maori community. While some Old Testament laws, like those against tattoos, were specific to their time and context, we are now under a New Covenant. This New Covenant, established by Jesus, brings freedom from the old laws while still upholding the timeless principles of God.

The sermon emphasized that while the Old Testament laws were good, they were never meant to make us righteous. They highlighted our sinfulness and our need for a Savior. Jesus fulfilled the law and offers us a new kind of righteousness—one that is based on faith and grace, not on our ability to keep the law. This righteousness is a gift from God, made possible through Jesus' sacrifice.

Finally, we explored the transformation that occurs when we accept Jesus. Our old sinful nature is replaced with a new, righteous spirit. This transformation is not just about following rules but about a profound change from the inside out. Even though our soul and emotions can still be affected by trauma and life's challenges, our spirit remains righteous and connected to God.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Gathering Together: Physical presence in church fosters a unique sense of community and spiritual connection that online services can't replicate. Prioritizing Sunday gatherings strengthens our faith and unity as a body of believers. [01:19]
2. Context in Biblical Interpretation: Understanding the context of scripture is crucial to avoid misinterpretations. Resources like "Escape to Reality" can help provide clarity and deeper understanding of New Covenant Christianity, ensuring we grasp the true meaning of biblical texts. [02:55]
3. Freedom in the New Covenant: While Old Testament laws served their purpose, we are now under a New Covenant established by Jesus. This covenant brings freedom from the old laws while upholding God's eternal principles, allowing us to live in grace and truth. [08:43]
4. Righteousness Through Faith: The Old Testament laws highlighted our sinfulness and need for a Savior. Jesus fulfilled these laws and offers us righteousness through faith, not by our own efforts. This righteousness is a gift, emphasizing the grace of God. [10:54]
5. Transformation in Christ: Accepting Jesus leads to a profound transformation where our old sinful nature is replaced with a new, righteous spirit. This change is internal and eternal, making us new creations in Christ, despite the challenges we may face in our soul and emotions. [17:56]
### [17:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:19] - The Joy of Being Together
[02:55] - Importance of Context in Scripture
[04:03] - Resource: Escape to Reality
[06:34] - Tattoos and Cultural Significance
[08:43] - Old Testament Laws and New Covenant
[09:27] - Principles of the Old Testament
[10:54] - Righteousness Through Jesus
[12:09] - Sabbath and Resurrection Day
[14:07] - Forgiveness in the New Covenant
[15:36] - Body, Soul, and Spirit
[17:23] - Transformation in Christ
[19:59] - Challenges in the Christian Walk
[21:05] - The Battle Within
[23:09] - Once Saved, Always Saved?

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Hebrews 10:24-25 say about the importance of gathering together as a church community?
According to Matthew 5:17, what was Jesus' purpose regarding the Old Testament laws?
How does Romans 8:1-2 describe the freedom we have in Christ?

Interpretation Questions

Why is physical presence in church emphasized over online services according to the sermon? ([01:19])
How does understanding the context of scripture help prevent misinterpretations? ([02:55])
What does the sermon suggest about the cultural significance of tattoos and how should Christians view Old Testament laws in light of the New Covenant? ([08:43])
How does the concept of righteousness through faith differ from righteousness through the law as explained in the sermon? ([10:54])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own church attendance. How can you prioritize gathering with your church community more consistently? ([01:19])
Have you ever misunderstood a Bible passage because you didn't consider its context? How can you improve your approach to studying scripture? ([02:55])
In what ways can you embrace the freedom of the New Covenant while still honoring the timeless principles of God? ([08:43])
How does understanding that righteousness is a gift from God through Jesus change your perspective on your own spiritual journey? ([10:54])
Think about a time when you experienced a significant transformation in your life after accepting Jesus. How did this change affect your daily living and interactions with others? ([17:56])
How can you support others in your church community who may be struggling with trauma or emotional challenges, knowing that their spirit remains righteous and connected to God? ([20:37])
Identify one area in your life where you still struggle with old habits or sinful nature. What steps can you take to allow the Holy Spirit to bring about transformation in that area? ([17:56])

Sermon Clips

1. "Honestly, there's nothing like it. Online is cool, it's all very good. But honestly, being in the room, there's nothing like it. There's nothing like it. So make sure you make it a priority to come 10.15, come on, let's all be together. And it's going to be great." [01:19] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So it brings revelation. That's why we need teachers in the Bible and so in the body of Christ. He is a teacher and so he puts a lot of stuff online. So Escape to Reality website is a very helpful tool. That's good for big questions." [04:32] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "I think don't underestimate some of the things that God says. I mean, because the thing is, some are very good. You know, because they had reasons why they were in those days. Good. Even pork, you know, because they were scavengers. And of course, they were scavenging all this rubbish. And so I can imagine, I think these days, because they are grown differently, those are some of the arguments people have." [08:43] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The whole thing is Jesus. It's very important. Jesus is the end of the law for righteousness. That's what it says. Not just the end of the law for righteousness. We're about to, if they want to look it up. Oh actually, I don't know that one. Just look it up. Just go and just put it in the line, in the top line. Honestly, I don't know by heart. It's the righteousness issue. And please Google it." [11:11] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "There's a new righteousness in town. And that righteousness is not based on performance, which was the old covenant, which we are now never called to. But that's what it is. And we're called to the new covenant, which is a righteousness that's by faith because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. Yeah. And that's why it's so beautiful. And that's why it's grace. Because we can't earn it. We don't even deserve it." [11:24] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "So before you're a Christian, the Bible says you have a body, soul, spirit. The body, you got your body, the body, you got the soul, which is the mind and that whole thing. And you got the spirit. The spirit is who you really are. The spirit is eternal. The body is not eternal. This is going to die. But the spirit is eternal. Now when we're born, everybody who's born is born in Adam. And Adam is sinful." [15:20] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "So Jesus then, in the New Testament, denotes his second Adam, his last Adam. The first what Adam has done, he then changes this whole thing with his own life sacrifices. So this whole thing can be turned around. And then anybody who then gives their life to Jesus, then actually something happens on the inside that the sinful nature, the Bible talks in Romans, actually cut out. You actually get a new spirit. Your old spirit is taken out and the new spirit taken in." [17:39] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Now and that, that's the difference with Christianity. People, it's not just having rules or belief in a God. It's actually a transformation. Yeah. From the inside out. They call it a circumcision of the heart. Yeah. Yeah. That's love." [18:09] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Trauma can do that. Trauma can do something. You're a Christian, but you get such a trauma in your life and your emotions, not your spirit, your emotions, you get so hurt and you get so down and your brain is piled at the whole thing that you can't completely negate. You can't even jump off a bridge by then because you're so depressed. You're still a born again Christian, but you're still a bit overwookered. It's been overwhelmed by other feelings." [20:37] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "So some people say it can't be done. So you're still saved, although you're living like the devil. But there's still the saviour. It's not what God wants. Yeah. And I'm sure you have this world war three inside of you going on." [23:24] (11 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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