Embracing Community: Growing Together in Faith and Mission
Summary
In this week's sermon, part of our Connect class series, we explored the dynamic and evolving role of the church in fostering deeper connections and spiritual growth among its members. We began by revisiting the foundational lessons from the previous weeks, emphasizing that the church is not merely a place but a community of people committed to following Jesus together. This perspective shifts our focus from passive attendance to active engagement in our faith journey.
We delved into the concept of the "Fierce Code," a set of values guiding our church's mission and practices. A key element of this code is the encouragement of spiritual growth through both foundational teachings ("milk") and more challenging doctrines ("meat"). This balanced approach helps prevent spiritual stagnation and promotes continuous personal and communal development.
A significant part of the sermon addressed the importance of recognizing that we are sent by Jesus to share His message and live out His teachings. This sense of mission prevents us from becoming complacent or merely "sitting" in church without purpose. We discussed how Jesus, before His ascension, prepared His disciples for the challenges ahead, emphasizing that they were sent into the world with a transformative message of hope and redemption.
We also explored the metaphor of the church as a family, continually making room for "one more." This inclusivity is vital as it reflects God's heart for the lost and His desire for all to come to know Him. The story of friends lowering their paralyzed friend through a roof to see Jesus illustrates this commitment to overcoming obstacles to bring others to Christ.
Furthermore, we touched on the practical implications of our mission, particularly in how we adapt to meet the needs of the next generation. This involves updating our methods and technologies to remain relevant and accessible, especially to younger demographics who are more digitally engaged but may be less present in traditional church settings.
In conclusion, the sermon called each of us to action, challenging us to consider our roles within the church not just as attendees but as active participants in God's work. We were encouraged to take personal steps towards growth and to engage in community life, helping to lead others towards a deeper understanding and relationship with Jesus.
### Key Takeaways
1. Spiritual Growth Requires Both Milk and Meat: Just as a diet of only sweets can lead to poor health, a spiritual diet consisting only of comforting messages ("cake") without deeper, challenging teachings ("meat") can lead to stagnation. We must embrace both to mature in our faith. [00:59]
2. The Church is a Community, Not a Location: Our identity as followers of Christ is not tied to a place but to a people who actively live out Jesus' teachings. This communal aspect emphasizes that spiritual growth happens in community, not in isolation. [02:15]
3. Understanding Our Mission to be Sent: Recognizing that we are sent by Jesus to actively participate in His mission changes our approach from passive attendance to active engagement. This understanding compels us to step up, especially in challenging times, embodying the mission of the church. [06:02]
4. Inclusivity and Making Room for One More: The church must always strive to be a place where there is always room for one more. This commitment to inclusivity reflects Jesus' own ministry and challenges us to go to great lengths to welcome others into God's family. [10:58]
5. Adapting to Serve Future Generations: As we prepare for the future, our methods must evolve to meet the needs of the next generation. This might mean embracing new technologies or rethinking our approach to ensure we are relevant and accessible to all, especially the digitally native younger generations. [18:49]
### Chapters
0:00 - Welcome
00:59 - The Importance of Balanced Spiritual Nutrition
02:15 - Church as Community, Not Just Place
06:02 - The Sent Nature of the Church
10:58 - Making Room for Everyone
18:49 - Preparing for Future Generations
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 5:12-14 - "In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil."
2. Matthew 28:19-20 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
3. Luke 5:18-20 - "Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.'"
### Observation Questions
1. What does the metaphor of "milk" and "meat" represent in Hebrews 5:12-14? How does this relate to spiritual growth? [00:59]
2. According to Matthew 28:19-20, what are the key components of the Great Commission that Jesus gave to His disciples? [06:02]
3. In Luke 5:18-20, what actions did the friends of the paralyzed man take to bring him to Jesus, and what was Jesus' response? [10:58]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of how the church can adapt to meet the needs of future generations? [18:49]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of needing both "milk" and "meat" in our spiritual diet challenge our current approach to spiritual growth? [00:59]
2. What does it mean for the church to be a community rather than just a location, and how does this impact our daily lives as believers? [02:15]
3. How can understanding our mission to be "sent" by Jesus change our approach to church involvement and personal evangelism? [06:02]
4. What practical steps can we take to ensure that our church remains inclusive and always makes room for "one more"? [10:58]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual diet. Are you consuming more "milk" or "meat"? What steps can you take to ensure a balanced spiritual diet? [00:59]
2. How can you actively contribute to making your church feel more like a community rather than just a place you attend? Share specific actions you can take. [02:15]
3. Think about a time when you felt "sent" by Jesus to share His message. How did you respond, and what was the outcome? How can you be more intentional about living out this mission? [06:02]
4. Identify one person in your life who might feel excluded or overlooked. What can you do this week to make them feel included and valued in your church community? [10:58]
5. What are some ways you can help your church adapt to meet the needs of the next generation? Consider both technological and relational approaches. [18:49]
6. Reflect on a time when fear held you back from taking a step of faith. How did you overcome it, and what was the result? How can you apply this experience to current challenges you face? [03:24]
7. How can you personally contribute to the church's mission of making room for one more, even if it means inconveniencing yourself? Share a specific example of how you can do this in the coming weeks. [10:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Spiritual Growth Through Balanced Teaching
Spiritual maturity requires a balanced diet of both comforting and challenging teachings. Just as physical health depends on a varied diet, spiritual health thrives on a mix of foundational lessons and deeper doctrines. This approach prevents spiritual stagnation and encourages continuous growth. By embracing both the "milk" of basic teachings and the "meat" of more complex doctrines, believers can develop a robust faith capable of withstanding life's challenges and complexities. [00:59]
Hebrews 5:12-14: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."
Reflection: What aspect of your spiritual life feels undernourished, and how can you seek more substantial teaching in this area?
Day 2: The Church: A Living Community, Not a Location
The church is fundamentally a community of believers actively living out Jesus' teachings, not just a physical location where people attend services. This understanding shifts the focus from passive attendance to active engagement, where spiritual growth occurs within the context of relationships and shared experiences. As members of this vibrant community, believers are called to support, challenge, and grow alongside one another, embodying the principles taught by Jesus. [02:15]
1 Peter 2:4-5: "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you contribute more actively to the life of your church community this week?
Day 3: Embracing Our Mission as Sent Ones
Understanding that we are sent by Jesus to share His message transforms our approach from mere church attendance to active participation in His mission. This perspective compels us to step up and embody the church's mission, especially during challenging times. By recognizing our role as messengers of hope and redemption, we can make a significant impact in our communities and beyond. [06:02]
John 20:21-22: "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.' And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you live out the mission of being sent this week in your personal and professional life?
Day 4: Inclusivity: Making Room for One More
The church must always strive to be a place of inclusivity, reflecting Jesus' ministry of making room for everyone, regardless of their background or life situation. This commitment challenges us to go to great lengths to welcome others into God's family, just as Jesus did. By continually making room for "one more," we live out the radical hospitality that characterizes the kingdom of God. [10:58]
Luke 14:21-23: "So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.'"
Reflection: Who can you actively include in your community this week to reflect the inclusivity of Jesus?
Day 5: Adapting to Serve Future Generations
As we prepare for the future, it is crucial to adapt our methods and technologies to meet the needs of the next generation. This might involve embracing new technologies or rethinking our approach to ensure relevance and accessibility. By staying attuned to the preferences and needs of younger demographics, the church can continue to be a vibrant and engaging community for all ages. [18:49]
Psalm 78:4-6: "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done... that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children."
Reflection: What changes can you advocate for in your church to better connect with and serve the younger generation?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The church is always preparing for those to come. What that means is the generation we are always has to be thinking about the generation that is next. We need to make sense to them." [18:49]
2. "We've got to work hard to help people understand that Jesus already likes them. What did Jesus do? He came as a human. He could have come as in his like revelation form and be like, 'I'm God, everybody shut up.' But he didn't do that. He came as a man." [13:22]
3. "Acceptance is where the conversation begins. I've noticed that everybody wants a diverse church. Do you want it bad enough to sit around tables with people you don't necessarily know yet that look maybe a little bit different than you?" [14:30]
4. "We always make room for one more. In Luke chapter five, there's a group of friends. They've got a buddy who's paralyzed and Jesus is nearby. They go to the house where Jesus is, but the place is packed, man. They can't get in there." [10:58]
### Quotes for Members
1. "No one gets healthier on cake, and that's a little bit of a strange thing to say, but what we're doing is we're riffing a little bit on a biblical metaphor of milk and meat. Milk is really teaching and messages that is a little bit challenging, but it's made for folks that they're not necessarily acclimated to the Jesus and Christian things yet, and that moves on to meat, which is a little bit more of a challenge." [00:59]
2. "The church is a people, not a place, and the people are together. In other words, Jesus wants me to follow Jesus with other people who are following Jesus. Another fierce code that we said was, the best you is in community." [02:15]
3. "If we don't know that we're sent, it won't be long before we just sit. You've seen this before. You've seen all kinds of organizations. Really, all you really do is you come in and you say, probably some of you have meetings that you're in at work. And you're like, I don't really, I go there and sit. They don't have me do anything." [06:02]
4. "We talk a lot about the Bible and different ways the Bible talks. But one of the ways we could talk about it is the worldview of the Bible is that everybody, everybody, everybody is a captive. They're a captive to their own sin. They're a captive to kind of like the world system. They're captive to the opinions of other people. And Jesus comes and he says, I want to break you out." [08:28]
5. "We got to drink the water of life. See the blind. I mean, this in a figured way, the blind will follow anyone who can see if they sense that you can see they're like this person, they get it, man, that they're connected with something that I don't have. And so I want to get whatever it is they've got." [09:35]
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