Embracing Community: Strength in Relationships and Faith

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound significance of community and relationships in our spiritual journey. We began by acknowledging the challenges and busyness of life, inviting everyone to find rest and belonging in Christ, the true vine. We are reminded that we are branches rooted in God's love, and through abiding in Him, we find strength and nourishment for our souls. This sense of belonging is not just a personal experience but a communal one, as we are welcomed and made whole as children of God.

Reflecting on the African proverb, "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together," we delved into the importance of community and relationships. We all have an inherent desire to belong, to find our tribe, and to flourish in meaningful connections. This longing for community is not just a social need but a spiritual one, as we are created for relationships. The book of Proverbs, particularly Proverbs 13:20, emphasizes the impact of the company we keep on our spiritual lives. Walking with the wise leads to wisdom, while associating with fools leads to folly.

We are reminded that the Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. From the very beginning, God designed us for community, as seen in the creation of Adam and Eve. The church, despite its imperfections, is a vital part of our spiritual journey. It serves as a place where we can grow, learn, and be held accountable. The community of believers acts as a support system, guiding us and helping us stay on the path of righteousness.

In our relationships, we must choose wisely. The people we surround ourselves with have a profound influence on our thoughts, actions, and spiritual growth. We are encouraged to seek out wise companions who fear the Lord and seek Him wholeheartedly. However, this does not mean cutting off those who do not follow Jesus. Instead, we are called to engage with the world while ensuring that our primary influences are those who lead us closer to Christ.

Ultimately, wisdom is cultivated within community. Just as athletes huddle to strategize and encourage one another, we too find strength and guidance in the fellowship of believers. Through community, we are shaped and molded into the image of Christ. Let us lean into the community of God, whether through Sunday gatherings, life groups, or Bible studies, and allow ourselves to be known, loved, and transformed by His grace.

Key Takeaways:

- Created for Community: We are inherently designed for relationships, as seen in the creation narrative. God declared it was not good for man to be alone, emphasizing our need for companionship and community. This design is reflected in the church, where we find belonging and support. [38:27]

- The Impact of Relationships: The company we keep profoundly influences our spiritual lives. Proverbs 13:20 highlights the importance of walking with the wise to gain wisdom. Our relationships shape our thoughts, actions, and spiritual growth, making it crucial to choose companions who lead us closer to Christ. [35:52]

- No Lone Ranger Christians: The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. We are called to a communal faith, where we support and hold each other accountable. The church, despite its imperfections, is a vital part of our spiritual journey, providing guidance and encouragement. [41:50]

- Choosing Wise Companions: While engaging with the world, we must ensure our primary influences are those who fear the Lord. Wise companions are not just intelligent but are those who seek God wholeheartedly. They help us navigate life with wisdom and discernment. [47:35]

- Wisdom in Community: Just as athletes huddle for strategy and encouragement, we find strength and guidance in the fellowship of believers. Community is where we grow, learn, and are shaped into the image of Christ. Let us lean into the community of God and allow ourselves to be transformed by His grace. [52:07]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Invitation to Worship
- [02:00] - Jesus Paid It All
- [03:45] - Prayer of Thanksgiving
- [05:30] - Introduction to Community
- [07:15] - The Need for Belonging
- [09:00] - Proverbs and Wisdom
- [11:30] - The Impact of Relationships
- [14:00] - Created for Community
- [17:00] - Choosing Wise Companions
- [20:00] - Wisdom in Community
- [23:00] - The Role of the Church
- [26:00] - Invitation to Reflect
- [28:00] - Closing Prayer and Song

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Proverbs 13:20 (Amplified Version): "He who walks as a companion with wise men or women shall be wise. But he who associates with self-confident fools will be a fool himself and shall smart for it."

Observation Questions:
1. What does Proverbs 13:20 suggest about the impact of the company we keep on our spiritual lives? [35:52]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of community in the Christian life, particularly in relation to the creation of Adam and Eve? [38:27]
3. What are some characteristics of wise companions according to the sermon? [47:35]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of "no Lone Ranger Christians"? [41:50]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that community influences our spiritual growth and wisdom? [52:07]
2. How does the African proverb "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together" relate to the biblical teaching on community? [27:06]
3. What does the sermon imply about the balance between engaging with the world and choosing wise companions? [47:35]
4. How does the sermon interpret the role of the church as a community for believers? [41:50]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current circle of friends. Do they lead you closer to Christ or away from Him? How can you seek out more wise companions? [52:07]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of community in spiritual growth. What steps can you take to become more involved in your church community or a small group? [41:50]
3. Consider a time when you felt isolated in your faith journey. How did that impact your spiritual growth, and what can you do to prevent isolation in the future? [58:13]
4. How can you be a wise influence in the lives of others, especially those who may not yet know Christ? [47:35]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of being known and loved within a community. How can you create an environment of openness and support in your small group or church? [58:13]
6. Think about a relationship in your life that may not be leading you towards wisdom. What changes can you make to ensure your primary influences are those who fear the Lord? [47:35]
7. How can you actively contribute to the community of believers, ensuring it remains a place of growth, accountability, and encouragement? [41:50]

Devotional

Day 1: Designed for Connection
We are inherently designed for relationships, as seen in the creation narrative. God declared it was not good for man to be alone, emphasizing our need for companionship and community. This design is reflected in the church, where we find belonging and support. [38:27]

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life do you consider part of your spiritual community, and how can you intentionally invest in those relationships this week?


Day 2: The Influence of Companions
The company we keep profoundly influences our spiritual lives. Proverbs 13:20 highlights the importance of walking with the wise to gain wisdom. Our relationships shape our thoughts, actions, and spiritual growth, making it crucial to choose companions who lead us closer to Christ. [35:52]

"Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.' Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:33-34, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one relationship that may be negatively influencing your spiritual journey. What steps can you take to either transform or distance yourself from this influence?


Day 3: Embracing Communal Faith
The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation. We are called to a communal faith, where we support and hold each other accountable. The church, despite its imperfections, is a vital part of our spiritual journey, providing guidance and encouragement. [41:50]

"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." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church community this week to both give and receive support and encouragement?


Day 4: Choosing Godly Influences
While engaging with the world, we must ensure our primary influences are those who fear the Lord. Wise companions are not just intelligent but are those who seek God wholeheartedly. They help us navigate life with wisdom and discernment. [47:35]

"Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." (Proverbs 13:20, ESV)

Reflection: Who are the wise, God-fearing individuals in your life that you can spend more time with to grow in wisdom and faith?


Day 5: Growth Through Fellowship
Just as athletes huddle for strategy and encouragement, we find strength and guidance in the fellowship of believers. Community is where we grow, learn, and are shaped into the image of Christ. Let us lean into the community of God and allow ourselves to be transformed by His grace. [52:07]

"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." (Acts 2:42-43, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take to deepen your involvement in a small group or Bible study to foster spiritual growth and transformation?

Quotes

"I'm so glad to see each one of your faces. There's a whole lot that's happening in our world, and I know even in many of your lives there's a lot that's happening. And so I just want you to know and to feel the welcome of God in this place where you can be, where you can breathe, where you can experience the love of God, the presence and the fellowship of His body in this place. So hear these words. However you are today, come and find rest in Christ, who is the true vine." [00:07:44] (40 seconds)


"I've been thinking quite a bit recently about community. I've been thinking quite a bit recently about relationships in our lives and the desire that I believe each one of us possess and has to find belonging, to find, if you will, our people, to find our tribe, right? Where we can say, you know, y 'all, and y 'all don't kick me out of here, right? You find belonging, our home, if you will, right? I've been thinking recently and have been in several conversations and also in some personal reading about the tribe or the community in which we involve ourselves in, or maybe the community and the belonging that I think we all actually long for." [00:28:48] (75 seconds)


"Because truth be told is we need community. We need relationship. We need our people, our tribe, our brothers and our sisters. We need soul friends. So as we traverse through our current teaching series through the book of Proverbs, we're considering what a gift it is, our need for connection. Our need and the call of God to seek wise counsel, to seek wise company and community for our spiritual growth." [00:30:26] (47 seconds)


"There are no lone ranger Christians. The Christian life is not meant to be lived as a lone ranger. God does not invite us to an individual faith. Rather, we are invited into a communal faith. We consider even from the very beginning of time, we see from the very beginning of the book of the Bible, we see all the way back in the book of Genesis, that gives us the account of creation and how all things came into being." [00:37:56] (34 seconds)


"Would it be fair to say that we are created for community we're wired for it it is built into us we consider the Old Testament the nation of Israel God's people were called by God to not follow or lead in the example of the Western modernized world where we live nuclear lives separated and doing our own thing with an individualistic type of faith and living but instead God called the people of God to live communally to live this communal faith and to follow God together within the confines of a community that we can call the church the people of God." [00:43:16] (51 seconds)


"Wise living recognizes that we cannot do this life alone nor that we should do it alone that we need a tribe a people a village the people of God and wise relationships begin with understanding our design and our need for community and secondly wisdom in our relationships means that we must choose wise relationships that we must choose what that we must choose wise relationships we see that from Proverbs chapter 13 verse 20 he who walks as a companion with wise men is wise but he who associates with self-confident fools is a fool himself and shall smart for it." [00:45:13] (45 seconds)


"To live wisely is to keep the company in the companionship of wise people. Because the company we keep can and does influence our outlook on life. The company we keep can and does influence our circumstances. It can even influence our steps, the way we go, how we live. Anybody know a negative Nancy? You know a negative Nancy? None of you named Nancy in here. I'm scanning the crowd. I'm sorry." [00:47:00] (35 seconds)


"And as the wisdom writer challenges readers to intentionally choose to walk among the wise, we must intentionally choose to be with wise people, people of wisdom. and these are the people who are not just intelligent or not just smart but the wise referred here are people who fear the Lord are people who trust in God. And our people who seek him with all of their heart, with all of their soul, with all of their mind, and with all of their strength." [00:50:06] (39 seconds)


"Finally, this morning, from Proverbs 13, we notice that wisdom happens in community. Wisdom happens within community. Now, when I was growing up, I played several sports. I played a season of soccer and then realized I hate running. It's awful. Olivia tells me to hurry all the time. I'm like, don't tell me to hurry. I'm not running. I played a season of basketball and realized I can't dribble and run at the same time." [00:52:31] (44 seconds)


"The truth is that we grow in faith and wisdom in and through community there's only so much we can learn sometimes on our own the very community that we need and we are wired for is the very same community God uses to grow us to teach us to shape us to mold us more and more into the image of Jesus wisdom happens in community and because the scripture is full of places and people who grow in faith with God through community is why we too as Jesus modeled invite each one of us to deep connection and to authentic community." [00:54:11] (51 seconds)


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Transcript
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