Embracing Community: The Call to Show Up

As a new season begins, there’s a unique energy in the air—students returning to school, ministries launching, and a sense of fresh opportunity. In the midst of all this, it’s easy to slip into a life of counting down the minutes, numbing out, or curating an image rather than truly showing up. Yet, Jesus calls us to something far deeper: to be present, to engage, and to allow His vision for life to shape us. The invitation is not just to attend, but to participate—to move from spectators to active members of God’s mission.

Growth doesn’t happen by accident. Just as I learned in my early days of band, you won’t grow up until you show up. Spiritual maturity and meaningful community require intentionality. Jesus’ words challenge us to prioritize calling over comfort, to resist the drift toward isolation, and to step into the sometimes uncomfortable work of real relationships. The easy button of life—where everything is convenient and effortless—leads only to loneliness. True community, on the other hand, is forged through commitment, sacrifice, and the willingness to be present with others.

Jesus sent out the 72 disciples in pairs, not alone, to prepare the way for Him. This was a call to one another—a reminder that faith is not a solo journey. We are called to choose community, to go on mission together, and to pray for more laborers. The urgency of the harvest is real; there are people all around us who are spiritually receptive, waiting for someone to show up and offer hope.

But Jesus’ instructions go further. He calls us to bless others, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. The disciples were sent out with nothing but dependence on God and the hospitality of strangers. Their mission was urgent, humble, and vulnerable. We, too, are called to bless those around us—neighbors, coworkers, classmates—by beginning with prayer, listening with care, sharing meals, serving in love, and sharing our stories. These simple acts can be powerful tools for God’s work in the world.

Finally, we are called to spiritual wisdom. Not every heart will be open, and it’s not our job to force transformation. We must discern where God is already at work, persist in prayer, and invest in relationships with patience and grace. The difference between growing up and just getting older is the willingness to show up—again and again—for God, for others, and for the mission He’s given us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Intentional Presence Over Passive Participation Spiritual growth and meaningful relationships require more than just being physically present; they demand intentional engagement. Drifting through life or faith leads to isolation, but choosing to show up—emotionally, spiritually, and relationally—creates space for transformation. The journey from spectator to participant is where God does His deepest work in us. [42:34]
• 2. Calling Is Greater Than Comfort Jesus’ invitation is not to a life of ease, but to a life of purpose. Prioritizing comfort leads to a small, ineffective calling, while embracing God’s call often means stepping into discomfort, risk, and sacrifice. The path of following Jesus is countercultural, but it is the only path that leads to true fulfillment and impact. [45:00]
• 3. Community Is a Choice and a Commitment We don’t stumble into authentic community; we build it through intentional choices and ongoing investment. Jesus sent His disciples out in pairs, modeling that faith is a team sport. Real community requires us to sacrifice convenience, invest in others, and pray for God to raise up more partners for the mission. [46:30]
• 4. Blessing Others Is a Lifestyle, Not a Program The framework of BLESS—beginning with prayer, listening with care, eating together, serving in love, and sharing your story—offers a practical way to live out Jesus’ call to bless others. These simple, everyday actions open doors for God’s grace to flow through us, often in ways we cannot predict or control. [50:27]
• 5. Spiritual Wisdom Means Trusting God with the Results Not every person will be receptive to God’s invitation, and it’s not our responsibility to force change. Spiritual wisdom is discerning where God is already at work, persisting in prayer, and maintaining relational integrity even when progress is slow. Our role is to faithfully show up; God’s role is to bring the harvest. [54:44]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:10] - Back to School and Ministry Launches
• [04:45] - The Art of Showing Up: Series Introduction
• [07:30] - Band Story: Lessons in Growth
• [12:15] - We Won’t Grow Up Until We Show Up
• [15:40] - Calling Is Greater Than Comfort
• [19:05] - Jesus’ Challenge: No Looking Back
• [22:50] - Called to One Another: Community and Mission
• [28:30] - The Urgency of the Harvest
• [32:10] - The Easy Button Myth and the Drift to Isolation
• [36:45] - Building Real Community Takes Work
• [42:34] - Called to Bless Others: Jesus’ Instructions
• [45:00] - Dependence, Urgency, and Vulnerability
• [48:05] - The BLESS Framework: Practical Steps
• [54:44] - Called to Spiritual Wisdom
• [58:36] - Taking Your Next Step: Group Connect
• [59:23] - Call and Response: Showing Up Together
• [60:58] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Reading

Luke 10:1-9 (ESV) — 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’
6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.
7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.
8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.
9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”

Observation Questions

1. According to Luke 10:1-2, why did Jesus send the 72 disciples out in pairs, and what did he tell them about the harvest and the workers?
2. What specific instructions did Jesus give the disciples about what to bring and how to interact with people as they went out? (Luke 10:3-7)
3. In the sermon, what was the “easy button” analogy used to describe, and what does it reveal about our expectations for community? [1930s]
4. What is the BLESS framework mentioned in the sermon, and what are its five steps? [48:05]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus emphasized going out in pairs rather than alone? What does this say about the importance of community in following Jesus? (Luke 10:1) [22:50]
2. The sermon says, “We won’t grow up until we show up.” What does it mean to “show up” spiritually, emotionally, and relationally? How is this different from just being physically present? [42:34]
3. Jesus told the disciples to depend on God and the hospitality of strangers, not their own resources. What might be the purpose behind this instruction? [45:00]
4. The sermon mentions that not everyone will be receptive to God’s invitation. How should we respond when people are not open to faith or relationship? [54:44]

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to move from being spectators to participants in God’s mission. In what area of your life are you most tempted to “just show up” without really engaging? What would it look like to be more intentional this week? [42:34]
2. Think about the “easy button” mentality. Are there places in your life where you’ve been looking for convenience or comfort instead of stepping into the hard work of real community? What’s one step you could take to move toward deeper relationships? [1930s]
3. The BLESS framework starts with prayer. Who is one person (neighbor, coworker, classmate, etc.) you could begin praying for this week? How might you take the next step—listening, eating together, serving, or sharing your story? [48:05]
4. Jesus sent the disciples out with urgency and vulnerability. Is there a situation or relationship where you need to take a risk or be more vulnerable for the sake of God’s mission? What’s holding you back? [45:00]
5. The sermon says, “Community is a choice and a commitment.” What is one practical way you can invest in your small group or church community this month, even if it’s inconvenient? [46:30]
6. When have you experienced someone “showing up” for you in a meaningful way? How did it impact you? How can you do the same for someone else this week? [42:34]
7. The difference between growing up and just getting older is the willingness to show up again and again. What is one area of your faith or relationships where you need to “show up” more consistently? What’s your next step? [58:36]