Embracing Community and Vulnerability in Faith
Summary
In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of community and vulnerability in our spiritual journey. I highlighted that while we each have a personal relationship with God, He also moves within us as a collective body. I stressed that we cannot fully embrace the Christian life unless we are part of a Christian community. I also discussed the concept of vulnerability, which often makes people uncomfortable, but is crucial for spiritual growth and maturity. I encouraged the congregation to not just be present or accessible, but to be available and vulnerable, to truly immerse themselves in the community. I concluded by urging everyone to take a step towards real community, to experience the intimacy and connection that God has created for us.
Key Takeaways:
- God moves within us individually and as a collective body. We cannot fully embrace the Christian life unless we are part of a Christian community. [ 51:04]
- Vulnerability is crucial for spiritual growth and maturity. We need to be not just present or accessible, but available and vulnerable. [ 51:42]
- The church is not just a service on Sunday, it's a community of people. We need to be part of this community to truly experience the Christian life. [ 01:13:50]
- We need to take a step towards real community, to experience the intimacy and connection that God has created for us. [ 01:20:06]
- We are continually being wiped clean and freed of shame and mistakes through the continuous work of the Cross in our lives. [ 01:12:37]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 13:35 [01:17:33]
2. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 [51:42]
Observation Questions:
1. In John 13:35, what does it mean when it says "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another"?
2. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, how does Paul describe the church as a body? What roles do individual members play in this body?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of love in John 13:35 relate to the idea of Christian community?
2. How does the metaphor of the church as a body in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 help us understand the importance of community and individual roles within it?
Application Questions:
1. How can you demonstrate love to your fellow church members this week in a way that reflects John 13:35?
2. Can you identify a specific role you play in your church community? If not, what steps can you take to find your role?
3. How can you encourage others in your church community to embrace their roles within the body of the church?
4. Can you think of a time when you felt disconnected from your church community? How did that impact your spiritual growth?
5. How can you help create a more welcoming and inclusive environment in your church community?
Devotional
Day 1: The Dangers of Isolation
God never intended for us to live in isolation. We are wired for connection and meaningful relationships. Research has shown that being in community leads to a longer life, better health, and improved well-being. Isolation, on the other hand, can lead to the same health risks as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. [57:05]
Genesis 2:18 - "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt isolated. How did it affect your physical, emotional, and spiritual health?
Day 2: The Importance of Community
From the beginning of humanity, we learn that it is not good to do life alone. We need other people. The first issue in the biblical account is not eating the apple, but God recognizing that it is not good for Adam to be alone. [58:19]
Acts 2:44-47 - "All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people."
Reflection: How can you foster a sense of community in your life? What steps can you take to avoid isolation?
Day 3: The Power of Vulnerability
To truly be part of a community, we must be vulnerable. We must be willing to share our struggles and our joys, our doubts and our faith. We cannot grow beyond what we won't expose. [51:04]
James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to be vulnerable? How can you work towards opening up in this area?
Day 4: The Role of the Church
God moves in two spheres: individually and collectively. While we each have a personal relationship with God, we are also part of His body, the Church. We cannot fully embrace the Christian life unless we are tied to a Christian community. [52:18]
1 Corinthians 12:27 - "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
Reflection: How do you view the Church? How can you contribute to the body of Christ?
Day 5: The Blessing of Connection
God blesses us when we connect with others. We are made for each other. We are meant to do life together, to share in each other's burdens and joys. [01:22:24]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."
Reflection: Who are the people in your life that you can connect with on a deeper level? How can you be a blessing to them?
Quotes
1. "If you often hear people say something like this to you 'oh I know you're busy but...' you're probably too busy. You're probably not connecting with people well. Maybe it's religion. I've heard it said that religion is the best hiding spot from God because you can hide behind 'oh I go to church every Sunday' and you can hide behind all those things." - 01:05:22
2. "A lot of times we don't actually be the church, we just play Church. We have all the stuff on the outside, we got all the tools, it looks right, it looks like it's in the right place, but it's not real. We say the right things and we look the right way and we just kind of blend in and just on the outside it looks great, we look like we have it, but it's just a counterfeit, it's not the real thing." - 01:05:22
3. "There's no real connection without vulnerability because vulnerability is allowing people to know the real you. That's why when I tell you up here all the bad things that I do and have done, I'm being real with you, I'm being vulnerable with you because that's what it requires." - 01:08:21
4. "We often resist vulnerability but vulnerability is actually a great strength because it means that we are being honest about who we are and what God is doing in us. We're acknowledging that God loves us and died for us even the worst parts of us." - 01:08:21
5. "The average American spends four hours on this thing (phone) per day. Four hours on the phone, again that's the average. We have this thing now which makes us accessible all the time, all the time we are accessible to people." - 44:58
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