Embracing Community: Overcoming Fear Together in Faith
Summary
Taking a deep breath, I shared my personal journey with fear and anxiety, particularly my health-related anxieties, as a way to connect with the broader theme of our series, "Do Not Fear." I opened up about my hypochondriac tendencies, humorously blaming WebMD for exacerbating my fears. This led us into a deeper exploration of fear, especially in a society that, despite being safer than ever, is gripped by anxiety. We revisited the idea that, as followers of Jesus, we are never alone because the Holy Spirit resides within us, providing strength and comfort.
As we delved into the book of 1 Peter, we focused on 1 Peter 5:7, which encourages us to cast our anxieties on God because He cares for us. However, I challenged the notion that simply telling someone to "give it to God" is sufficient. This approach often feels like a Christian cliché, lacking the depth needed to address real fears and anxieties. Instead, I emphasized the importance of understanding the context in which these scriptures were written—addressing communities under severe persecution, not individuals in isolation.
The heart of the message was a call to return to the communal roots of the early church, as depicted in Acts. The church is not just a building or a Sunday event but a community of believers living life together, supporting one another through trials and triumphs. We need to move beyond individualism and embrace a collective approach to dealing with fear and anxiety. This involves being present for one another, listening, and offering genuine support rather than platitudes.
I encouraged everyone to open up about their struggles and to be willing to listen to others. For those in a stable place, the call was to be available and attentive to those in need. The church should be a place where people find connection and support, reflecting the love and life that Jesus came to give. As we concluded, I invited everyone to adopt a mindset of being the church, not just attending it, and to pray for boldness to live out this calling.
Key Takeaways:
- Facing Personal Fears: Acknowledging personal fears, like health anxieties, can be a starting point for understanding broader societal fears. It's important to recognize how external influences, like WebMD, can exacerbate these fears and to seek a deeper understanding of their roots. [04:11]
- Scriptural Context Matters: 1 Peter 5:7 encourages us to cast our anxieties on God, but understanding the communal context of this scripture is crucial. It was written to a persecuted community, highlighting the importance of collective support in overcoming fear. [12:37]
- Beyond Individualism: The early church thrived on community and shared life. Today's church must return to these roots, moving beyond individualism to support one another genuinely, reflecting the communal nature of the early believers. [16:09]
- Active Engagement in Church Life: Church is not just a Sunday event but a community of believers living life together. Engaging actively with others, sharing burdens, and offering support are essential to embodying the true essence of the church. [19:03]
- Living Out Faith Collectively: Faith without works is dead. We must move beyond platitudes like "give it to God" and actively engage in each other's lives, offering real support and reflecting the life and love Jesus came to give. [24:18]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Personal Fears and Anxieties
- [04:11] - The WebMD Effect
- [06:28] - Cultural Fear and Anxiety
- [08:12] - Prayer and Introduction to 1 Peter
- [09:53] - Casting Anxieties on God
- [11:02] - The Problem with Christian Clichés
- [12:37] - Context of 1 Peter
- [16:09] - The Importance of Community
- [19:03] - The Early Church Model
- [20:35] - Individualism vs. Community
- [23:03] - Walking Together in Faith
- [24:18] - Faith in Action
- [26:48] - Being Present for Others
- [28:59] - Closing Thoughts and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Peter 5:7
- 1 Peter 3:8-9
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Observation Questions:
1. What personal fear did the pastor share, and how did he humorously attribute its cause? [04:11]
2. According to the sermon, what is the cultural paradox regarding fear and safety in today's society? [06:28]
3. How does the pastor describe the original context of 1 Peter 5:7, and why is it important to understand this context? [12:37]
4. What does the pastor suggest is missing in the modern church compared to the early church as described in Acts? [19:03]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might understanding the communal context of 1 Peter 5:7 change the way believers approach their anxieties? [12:37]
2. In what ways does the pastor suggest that the church has become too individualized, and what are the consequences of this shift? [20:35]
3. How does the pastor propose believers should respond to others' fears and anxieties, and what biblical principles support this approach? [24:18]
4. What does the pastor mean by "being the church" rather than just attending it, and how does this relate to the early church model? [30:20]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a personal fear or anxiety you have. How can you begin to open up about it within your church community? [25:48]
2. How can you actively engage with others in your church to offer genuine support rather than relying on clichés like "give it to God"? [11:02]
3. In what ways can you contribute to creating a more communal and supportive environment in your church, similar to the early church? [19:03]
4. If you are in a stable place in life, how can you make yourself available to listen and support those around you who may be struggling? [26:48]
5. Consider the idea of "faith without works is dead." What practical steps can you take this week to live out your faith in a way that supports others? [24:18]
6. How can you shift your mindset from seeing church as a Sunday event to being an active part of a community of believers? [30:20]
7. Identify one person in your church who might need support. What specific action can you take to reach out to them this week? [28:59]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
Day 1: Understanding Personal Fears
Description: Personal fears, such as health anxieties, can often be exacerbated by external influences like online medical resources. These fears, while personal, are reflective of broader societal anxieties. In a world that is statistically safer than ever, anxiety levels continue to rise. Recognizing the roots of these fears is crucial for addressing them effectively. By acknowledging these fears, individuals can begin to understand the broader context of anxiety in society and seek deeper, more meaningful solutions. [04:11]
1 Kings 19:11-12 (ESV): "And he said, 'Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper."
Reflection: What external influences in your life contribute to your personal fears, and how can you seek God's whisper amidst the noise?
Day 2: Embracing Scriptural Context
Description: The scripture in 1 Peter 5:7 encourages believers to cast their anxieties on God, but understanding the context in which it was written is essential. This passage was addressed to a community facing severe persecution, emphasizing the importance of collective support in overcoming fear. Simply telling someone to "give it to God" can feel shallow without understanding the depth of communal reliance that the early church practiced. By embracing the communal context of scripture, believers can find strength and support in their faith communities. [12:37]
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 engage with your faith community to support others and be supported in times of anxiety?
Day 3: Moving Beyond Individualism
Description: The early church thrived on community and shared life, a model that today's church can learn from. In a culture that often prioritizes individualism, returning to the communal roots of the early believers can provide a powerful antidote to fear and anxiety. The church is not just a building or a Sunday event but a community of believers living life together. By moving beyond individualism, believers can genuinely support one another, reflecting the communal nature of the early church. [16:09]
Acts 2:44-46 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to building a stronger sense of community within your church or faith group?
Day 4: Active Engagement in Church Life
Description: Church life is not limited to Sunday services but involves active engagement with others throughout the week. Sharing burdens, offering support, and living life together are essential aspects of embodying the true essence of the church. By being present for one another and listening to each other's struggles, believers can create a supportive environment that reflects the love and life that Jesus came to give. This active engagement is crucial for fostering a sense of belonging and support within the church community. [19:03]
Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: How can you be more intentional in reaching out to someone in your church community this week to offer support or companionship?
Day 5: Living Out Faith Collectively
Description: Faith without works is dead, and believers are called to move beyond platitudes like "give it to God" by actively engaging in each other's lives. This involves offering real support and reflecting the life and love that Jesus came to give. By living out faith collectively, believers can create a community that embodies the teachings of Jesus and provides a refuge for those struggling with fear and anxiety. This collective approach to faith is essential for building a strong, supportive church community. [24:18]
James 2:14-17 (ESV): "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can demonstrate your faith through action in your community this week?
Quotes
1. "As a culture, as a society, though we're living in quite literally the safest time period our world has ever seen, we've never been more gripped by fear and anxiety as a culture. And I'm not talking about being afraid of spiders or ghosts or anything like that, but I'm talking about this existential fear that is somehow affecting over half the people in our country." [06:28] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I would reckon to say that we as Christians, we've been dealing with things like, like mental health and anxiety and depression. We've been dealing with them all wrong. I think the way we've been dealing with these things is broken. I do. It's broken and I believe it's broken because simply saying give it to God or, or I'll pray for you are nothing more than Christian buzzwords at this point." [11:02] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The American church, I'll be real, has been incredibly individualized. We followed the trends of this world, and don't get me wrong, while it's cool to be able to like miss a Sunday service. watch the sermon later on YouTube or Facebook. The message alone isn't what church is all about." [16:09] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The church can't work individual because that's making the church something it was never supposed to be. From the very beginning, the Bible says that it's not good for us to be alone. Yet when it comes to things like anxiety and depression and mental health issues, that's exactly what we're doing." [21:34] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Canned responses like, give it to God, I got to be real, they're not enough. Saying, I'll pray for you and walking away, even if you do pray, it's not enough. James, the brother of Jesus, he said, faith without works is dead. Faith without works is dead. You saying, I'll pray for you and walking away is dead." [24:18] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If you're in the midst of some sort of anxiety today, I would encourage you today to be courageous, to live without fear, and to begin to open up to those sitting next to you today. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not encouraging you to trauma dump on someone you've never even met before, but I would encourage you to begin to open up and to talk about some of the stuff that bothers you." [25:48] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "There are people all around us who are longing for this human connection, this human contact. And don't get me wrong, again, I'm not telling you to go and try to be someone's therapist. That's something I always tell people, like, look, man, I'll listen to your problems, but I'm not a therapist." [26:48] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "So to everyone in this place this morning, as we come to a close today, my challenge for you is to be a person who is you is just to simply begin to adopt this mindset that the church, it's not a building, it's not a gathering, it's not an event, but it's a group of people who love each other and who want to make a difference in this world by loving God and loving their neighbor." [27:25] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "So maybe we just need to start operating as the church, not as the event. Or building or organization, but as just a people, a tribe. Maybe we just need to start letting people in. A lot of times we keep people at an arm's length. Maybe we need to drop our guard a little bit. Be vulnerable a little bit." [30:20] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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