Embracing Community: God's Design for Our Faith Journey

Summary

The journey of faith is not meant to be traveled alone. In a world that increasingly prizes individualism and private spirituality, it’s tempting to believe that following Jesus is simply about getting our beliefs right and then living out our faith in isolation. Yet, from the very beginning, God’s design has always been for His people to walk together, to be a community that embodies His love, grace, and wisdom in the world. The church—messy, imperfect, and sometimes even hurtful as it can be—is God’s chosen vessel for making His manifold wisdom known, not just to the world, but even to the spiritual realms.

Throughout history, the church has wrestled with what it means to be truly Christian, especially in a pluralistic society where truth is often seen as relative and faith is easily mixed with other ideas. The early church faced these same challenges, prompting the creation of creeds like the Nicene Creed to clarify the essentials of the faith. One of the most profound declarations in the creed is the belief in “one holy, catholic, and apostolic church.” This isn’t about perfection or institutional loyalty, but about being a people set apart for God’s purposes—saints, not because of our moral achievements, but because we are called and loved by God.

The reality, though, is that the church has always been a work in progress. The New Testament is filled with stories of division, favoritism, and even scandal within the early Christian communities. Yet, it is precisely through these flawed people that God chooses to reveal His wisdom and love. The virtues that define the church—compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness—are only possible in the context of real, sometimes difficult relationships. These are not abstract ideals, but practices that require us to bear with one another, to forgive, and to love in tangible ways.

In a culture that is perfecting the art of being alone, the church stands as a countercultural community where people are invited to be known, to share their burdens, and to bear with one another. There is no plan B. God’s answer for a lonely world is a people who belong to Him and to each other. The invitation is to step into this community—not because it’s easy or perfect, but because it’s the only way God’s story is made visible in the world.

Key Takeaways

- The Church Is God’s Only Plan for Making His Wisdom Known
God’s manifold wisdom is revealed not through isolated individuals, but through the gathered, imperfect community of Jesus’ followers. There is no alternative route; the story of God’s redemption and restoration is meant to be lived out and displayed through the church, despite its flaws and failures. This is a humbling reminder that our faith is inherently communal, and that God’s purposes are fulfilled as we walk together. [14:27]

- Holiness Means Being Set Apart for a Purpose, Not Perfection
The word “holy” in the creed and the New Testament does not mean morally flawless, but “set apart” for God’s purposes. Every believer is called a saint—not because of personal achievement, but because God has chosen and loves us. Our identity as holy people is about being available for God’s work in the world, even as we remain works in progress. [18:43]

- True Christian Community Is Marked by Bearing With and Forgiving One Another
The virtues that define the church—compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and especially forgiveness—can only be practiced in the context of real, sometimes messy relationships. Forgiveness is only possible when we have been wronged, and bearing with one another assumes that we will encounter difficult people. The church is a place where we learn to love as Christ loves, not by avoiding discomfort, but by embracing it for the sake of deeper community. [26:56]

- The Church’s Diversity Is a Sign of Its Unity in Christ
The global church is more diverse than ever, encompassing people from every culture, ethnicity, and background. This diversity inevitably brings challenges and misunderstandings, but it is also a powerful witness to the unifying power of Christ. All other divisions are subsumed under our shared identity in Jesus, calling us to intentional practices of love and understanding across our differences. [25:15]

- We Are Not Meant to Bear Life Alone—Community Is God’s Gift and Command
In a world that encourages self-sufficiency and isolation, the church is called to be a community where burdens are shared and no one is left to carry their struggles alone. God invites us both to let others bear with us and to bear with others, even when it’s uncomfortable. This mutual bearing is not just a nice idea, but the very way God’s love and wisdom become visible in the world. [32:43]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:20] - The Surf Trip: No Other Options
[06:17] - Why Do We Need the Church?
[09:49] - The World’s Avoidance of Discomfort
[12:40] - The Messiness of Meaningful Relationships
[14:27] - God’s Wisdom Revealed Through the Church
[15:47] - The Nicene Creed: One Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church
[18:43] - What Does “Holy” Really Mean?
[20:54] - The Church’s Early Struggles and Scandals
[23:00] - God’s Wisdom Through Imperfect People
[25:15] - The Global Diversity of the Church
[26:56] - Practicing Forgiveness and Bearing With One Another
[28:07] - Admonishing and Transforming in Community
[29:08] - How the Early Church Grew: Character and Contact
[30:44] - The Temptation to Distance Ourselves
[32:43] - Questions for Bearing and Being Borne
[35:19] - Prayer and Response

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Church—God’s Only Plan for Community

---

### Bible Reading

1. Ephesians 3:10-11
"His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord."
([14:27])

2. Colossians 3:9-17
(Key verses: “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”)
([23:00])

3. Acts 2:42-47
(Key verses: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer... All the believers were together and had everything in common.”)
([18:43])

---

### Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 3, what is God’s purpose for the church in the world? ([14:27])
2. In Colossians 3, what are some of the virtues Paul says should define the church community? ([23:00])
3. What does the early church in Acts 2 devote themselves to, and what was the result? ([18:43])
4. The sermon mentions that the word “holy” means “set apart for a purpose.” How does Paul address the churches in his letters? ([18:43])

---

### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God chooses to reveal His wisdom through an imperfect community like the church, instead of through individuals alone? ([14:27])
2. The sermon says that “holiness” is about being set apart, not about being perfect. How does this change the way we see ourselves and others in the church? ([18:43])
3. The virtues listed in Colossians 3—compassion, kindness, humility, patience, forgiveness—are only possible in real relationships. Why is it important that these are practiced in community, not just individually? ([23:00])
4. The early church faced division, favoritism, and scandal. What does this tell us about God’s expectations for the church today? ([20:54])

---

### Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “There is no pathway for a Jesus follower that is apart from Jesus followers.” Do you ever find yourself wanting to “do faith” alone? What draws you to that, and what might you be missing? ([29:08])
2. Think about something you are carrying alone right now—a struggle, a doubt, a habit, or a pain. What would it look like to let someone else in the church bear it with you? What holds you back from doing that? ([32:43])
3. Is there someone in your life or in our church who seems to be carrying a burden alone? How could you come alongside them this week, not to “fix” them, but to bear with them? ([33:59])
4. The sermon challenges us to “bear with” difficult people, not just the easy ones. Who is one person you find it hard to bear with? What is one small, practical way you could show patience or kindness to them this week? ([33:59])
5. The church is described as diverse and sometimes messy. How have you experienced the beauty or the challenge of diversity in the church? How can you intentionally build relationships with people who are different from you? ([25:15])
6. The early church was marked by sharing, generosity, and meeting needs. Is there a need in our group or church that you could help meet? What’s one step you could take? ([18:43])
7. The sermon says, “God’s answer for a lonely world is a people who belong to Him and to each other.” What is one way you can help make our group or church a place where people feel they belong? ([14:27])

---

Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for courage to step into deeper community, to bear with one another, and to let themselves be known and loved as God’s set-apart people.

Devotional

Day 1: The Church Is God’s Only Plan for Revealing His Wisdom
God’s manifold wisdom is made known to the world through the church—there is no other option. The church is not just a human institution or a helpful add-on to private spirituality; it is God’s chosen means for making His extraordinary plan known, even to the spiritual realms. Despite its flaws and imperfections, the church is the vessel through which the story of Jesus—God’s rescue and restoration of the world—is lived out and proclaimed. In a world that perfects the art of being alone, God’s answer is a community of people who belong to one another, embodying His wisdom and love together. [14:27]

Ephesians 3:10-11 (ESV)
"so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Reflection: In what ways have you tried to live out your faith alone, and how might God be inviting you to experience His wisdom through deeper connection with His people?


Day 2: Holiness Means Being Set Apart for a Purpose, Not Perfection
To be holy as the church is not about being flawless, but about being set apart for God’s specific purpose. The New Testament repeatedly addresses ordinary believers as “saints” and “holy people,” not because they are perfect, but because they are called and set apart by God. Holiness is about belonging to God and being available for His use, even as we remain works in progress. Through these imperfect saints, God’s story is lived out and told, and there is no other plan for how His message is to be shared with the world. [18:43]

1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV)
"To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours."

Reflection: Where have you confused holiness with perfection, and how might embracing your identity as “set apart” change the way you see your role in God’s story?


Day 3: The Church Is a Messy, Diverse, and Transforming Community
The early church was a beautiful picture of unity and generosity, but it quickly became clear that it was also messy, divided, and full of imperfect people. The letters of the New Testament reveal quarrels, favoritism, discrimination, and even scandalous sin among God’s people. Yet, through this diverse and often dysfunctional community, God continues to work, transform, and reveal His wisdom. The church is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural body where differences can cause confusion, but also where God’s renewing work is on display as people are changed together. [25:15]

Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

Reflection: How have you experienced both the beauty and the messiness of Christian community, and what might God be teaching you through the imperfections of His people?


Day 4: True Community Requires Bearing With and Forgiving One Another
The virtues that define the church—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and especially forgiveness—can only be practiced in the context of real, sometimes difficult relationships. You cannot forgive unless you have been wronged; you cannot bear with others unless they are sometimes hard to bear. The call to “bear with each other and forgive one another” is a call to embrace the discomfort and vulnerability of meaningful relationships, trusting that God is forming a community bound together in love and unity. [26:56]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Who in your life is God inviting you to bear with or forgive today, and what step can you take to move toward them in love?


Day 5: You Are Not Meant to Bear Life Alone—Let Others In
There is no pathway for a Jesus follower that is apart from other Jesus followers. The church is God’s answer for a lonely world, and you are intended for community. While it can be tempting to keep your struggles, doubts, or burdens to yourself, God invites you to let others bear with you—not for you, but with you. Likewise, you are called to help shoulder the burdens of others, even when it is uncomfortable. In doing so, you model the kind of community the world is longing for: a people who know they need each other and are willing to walk together through life’s challenges. [32:43]

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Reflection: What are you carrying alone right now that God might be inviting you to share with someone in your church community?

Quotes

Can we agree that meaningful relationships are messy and uncomfortable? Can we agree to that? Some of you are like, you better not be nodding. This is like weird. This is fine. No, because we know every single meaningful relationship, it gets messy and uncomfortable at some time. Relationships that are, like, neat and tidy, they're not really that meaningful. [00:12:45] (00:00:16 seconds) Edit Clip

The deep longing of all of our lives, regardless of your understanding, belief, you know, faith in Jesus, the Bible, et cetera, the church, whatever, our deep longing, all of us, is to love and be loved. And that necessarily requires us the vulnerability of being known. [00:13:39] (00:00:15 seconds) Edit Clip

When we're talking about holy, it doesn't necessarily mean perfect. It means something else. Some of you know this. It means the word set apart. To be even more kind of explicit here, it's set apart for a specific purpose. It isn't about perfection. It's about being set apart for a specific purpose. [00:19:04] (00:00:15 seconds) Edit Clip

All of these sort of divisive, selfish, indulgent people, they formed this body of Christ. And it is a group of people who is evidently being transformed, is being renewed. Somehow, the manifold wisdom of God, whatever that is, is being revealed through this group of people who are really constantly a work -in -progress kind of people. [00:28:27] (00:00:23 seconds) Edit Clip

The most reliable means of communicating the attractiveness of the faith to others and enticing them to investigate things further was the Christian's character, bearing, and behavior, which means the people who were, like us, kind of not so wonderful all the time, were becoming something together that they could not have been by themselves. [00:29:32] (00:00:22 seconds) Edit Clip

In so doing, we begin to model a kind of community of people that, a community that the world is longing for, because it's a community of people who know they're not all, they don't have all the answers, who are going, we're going to need each other to make it through this. That's an attractive community. That's, that's the answer. That's the answer to the question of how is the manifold wisdom of God made? No. And there is no plan B. There is no other option. [00:34:47] (00:00:30 seconds) Edit Clip