Embracing Community: The Importance of Church Engagement
Summary
### Summary
In our ongoing series, "Blueprints," we are focusing on developing everyday rhythms for spiritual maturity and intentional discipleship at home. This week, we delved into the second pillar: church engagement. We began with a touching story about Tammy Harris, who found her birth mother through a series of providential events, illustrating our innate desire for connection and family. This longing for relationships is a reflection of how God created us—not to be alone but to be in community.
We explored the concept of church engagement through the lens of Ephesians 2:19-22, where Paul speaks about Gentiles no longer being strangers but citizens and members of God's family. This passage emphasizes that following Jesus is a "we" life, not a "me" life. We are part of a larger community, a nation, and a family, and we are the building blocks of God's holy temple. This collective identity calls us to be intentional about our engagement with the church.
We discussed practical steps for church engagement, starting with big group worship and small group involvement. These are the foundational on-ramps for deeper church engagement. We also touched on other ways to engage, such as serving in various ministries, participating in church activities, and staying on mission by living out the vision of our church. The key is to be intentional and to write down and calendar these commitments.
I shared a personal story about how church engagement profoundly impacted my life, emphasizing that being present and engaged in church activities can be life-changing. The Spirit of God often moves in these settings, leading to spiritual growth and transformation.
### Key Takeaways
1. Community and Connection: We are created for relationships, and our longing for connection is a reflection of God's design. Whether through family, friends, or church, we seek to belong and be known. This is why church engagement is crucial; it provides a spiritual family where we can grow and support one another. [04:58]
2. Citizenship in God's Kingdom: As followers of Jesus, we are citizens of a different kingdom. Our primary allegiance is to God's kingdom, not any earthly nation. This perspective shifts our priorities and helps us live a "we" life, focused on community and collective growth rather than individualism. [10:02]
3. Intentional Church Engagement: Engaging with the church should be intentional. Whether it's attending big group worship, joining a small group, or serving in a ministry, writing down and calendaring these commitments helps us stay accountable and integrated into the church community. [22:40]
4. Family as a Model for Church: The church is described as a family, where relationships are based on the blood of Jesus. This familial bond is stronger than any national or social ties, calling us to live in close, supportive relationships with our spiritual brothers and sisters. [16:54]
5. Spiritual Growth Through Engagement: Personal spiritual growth often happens in the context of church engagement. Being present in church activities and open to the movement of the Spirit can lead to profound transformation and a deeper relationship with God. [38:37]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:14] - Introduction to Blueprints Series
[02:23] - Story of Tammy Harris
[04:58] - The Need for Relationships
[06:23] - Examples of Community
[07:39] - Turning to Ephesians
[08:46] - Overview of the Bible
[10:02] - Citizenship in God's Kingdom
[11:26] - Historical Context of Citizenship
[12:45] - Personal Relationship vs. Community
[14:01] - Story of Fort McHenry
[15:31] - Allegiance to God's Kingdom
[16:54] - Church as Family
[18:16] - Personal Story of Family
[21:24] - Church as a Temple
[22:40] - Practical Steps for Church Engagement
[25:17] - Balancing Commitments
[27:29] - Intentionality in Engagement
[28:38] - Small Group Importance
[29:55] - Serving in the Church
[31:04] - Staying on Mission
[32:08] - Next Steps and Calendar
[33:17] - Personal Story of Church Impact
[38:37] - Importance of Being Present
[40:03] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[41:17] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 2:19-22 (NLT): "So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him, you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Ephesians 2:19-22, what are Gentiles no longer considered to be? What new identity do they have?
2. What metaphor does Paul use in Ephesians 2:19-22 to describe the collective identity of believers?
3. In the sermon, what story was shared to illustrate our innate desire for connection and family? ([02:23])
4. What are the two foundational on-ramps for deeper church engagement mentioned in the sermon? ([22:40])
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being "citizens along with all of God’s holy people" in Ephesians 2:19-22 change the way we view our relationship with the church community?
2. What does it mean to live a "we" life instead of a "me" life as described in the sermon? How does this align with the teachings in Ephesians 2:19-22? ([10:02])
3. How can the story of Tammy Harris and her birth mother help us understand the importance of intentional church engagement? ([02:23])
4. Why is it important to be intentional about church engagement, and how can writing down and calendaring commitments help in this process? ([22:40])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current level of church engagement. Are you more of a "me" or a "we" person in your approach to church involvement? What steps can you take to shift towards a "we" mentality? ([10:02])
2. Think about the story of Tammy Harris. How can you be more intentional in seeking and fostering relationships within your church community? ([02:23])
3. What practical steps can you take to be more engaged in big group worship and small group involvement? Write down and calendar these commitments. ([22:40])
4. How can you serve in various ministries or participate in church activities to deepen your church engagement? Identify one ministry or activity you can commit to this month. ([29:55])
5. The sermon mentioned the importance of being present in church activities for spiritual growth. How can you ensure that you are consistently present and engaged in your church community? ([38:37])
6. How can you balance other commitments, such as family or work, with your church engagement? What strategies can you use to stay intentional about your church involvement? ([25:17])
7. Reflect on the idea of the church as a family. How can you build stronger, supportive relationships with your spiritual brothers and sisters? ([16:54])
Devotional
Day 1: Created for Relationships
Description: We are created for relationships, and our longing for connection is a reflection of God's design. Whether through family, friends, or church, we seek to belong and be known. This is why church engagement is crucial; it provides a spiritual family where we can grow and support one another. Our need for relationships is not just a social construct but a divine design. God Himself exists in a community as the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This divine community is mirrored in our own lives as we seek meaningful connections with others. Church engagement offers a unique opportunity to fulfill this need for connection in a spiritually enriching environment. [04:58]
Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Reflection: Think of a relationship in your life that needs nurturing. How can you intentionally invest in this relationship today to reflect God's design for community?
Day 2: Citizens of God's Kingdom
Description: As followers of Jesus, we are citizens of a different kingdom. Our primary allegiance is to God's kingdom, not any earthly nation. This perspective shifts our priorities and helps us live a "we" life, focused on community and collective growth rather than individualism. Understanding our citizenship in God's kingdom helps us to reframe our identity and purpose. It calls us to live in a way that reflects the values and mission of God's kingdom, prioritizing spiritual growth and community over personal gain. [10:02]
Philippians 3:20-21 (ESV): "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Reflection: In what ways can you shift your daily priorities to reflect your primary allegiance to God's kingdom? What practical steps can you take today to live out this "we" life?
Day 3: Intentional Church Engagement
Description: Engaging with the church should be intentional. Whether it's attending big group worship, joining a small group, or serving in a ministry, writing down and calendaring these commitments helps us stay accountable and integrated into the church community. Intentionality in church engagement means making a conscious effort to be involved and present. It requires planning and commitment, but the rewards are profound as it leads to deeper relationships and spiritual growth. [22:40]
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: What specific church activities or groups can you commit to this week? Write them down and add them to your calendar to ensure you follow through.
Day 4: Church as Family
Description: The church is described as a family, where relationships are based on the blood of Jesus. This familial bond is stronger than any national or social ties, calling us to live in close, supportive relationships with our spiritual brothers and sisters. The concept of church as a family emphasizes the depth of our connections within the church. These relationships are not just social but spiritual, rooted in our shared faith and commitment to Jesus. This bond calls us to support, love, and grow with one another in a way that mirrors a healthy family dynamic. [16:54]
1 Timothy 5:1-2 (ESV): "Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity."
Reflection: How can you strengthen your relationships within your church family? Identify one person you can reach out to this week to offer support or encouragement.
Day 5: Spiritual Growth Through Engagement
Description: Personal spiritual growth often happens in the context of church engagement. Being present in church activities and open to the movement of the Spirit can lead to profound transformation and a deeper relationship with God. Engaging with the church provides a fertile ground for spiritual growth. It is in these communal settings that we often experience the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, leading to transformation and a deeper understanding of our faith. [38:37]
Colossians 3:16 (ESV): "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent church activity or service where you felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. How can you create more opportunities for such experiences in your life?
Quotes
1. "Every member of that family on both sides is looking for family. They're looking for relationships. They want people in their life because God created us not to be alone. God created us to have relationships. And so family was the primary place for that. But the way that the enemy works, the enemy takes good things that God creates and then he tries to destroy those good things or pervert them or distort them." [04:58] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Loneliness is epidemic in America. In fact, there's a startup that's called Ground Floor. Started in the Bay Area of California, now in LA. Ground Floor, this is what people described it. Ground Floor doesn't describe it as this, but they said it's like after school club for adults. And so what Ground Floor is, is they've got space where you can work there. You can rent out meeting rooms for work. You can rent out what's basically a phone booth to be your cubicle if you want to work there." [06:23] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If you're following Jesus, it's a we, not a me life. I hear people say quite a bit. We talk about church and things like that. They go, I don't go to church. My relationship with God is just personal. Like I have a personal relationship with God. Well, here's what I'll tell you. Like if you have a deep personal relationship with God and you begin to read his word, you begin to understand what you will begin to see is that this walk with God is not a personal walk with God. It is a we and not a me walk." [12:45] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I love America. But if I'm ever put into a place where it becomes America or Jesus, I have to turn in my passport because I'm not from here. My citizenship isn't American when it's all said and done. There's a time that I'm going to go home to the place that I was created for, to heaven, to be with God. And I'm leaving all of my American flags and all of my American stuff. I'm even leaving all my Texas stuff, which is going to be hard." [15:31] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Paul says, hey, you're a nation now. You are a family. It's we, not me. Then he says, he says, you're also a temple. Verse 20, he says, That's what their job was. A prophet didn't tell the future. He didn't foretell. He foretold. Here's what God says. Thus says the Lord. And that's what prophets say. The word of God's the foundation and the cornerstone, the most important piece of the building, the one that holds it all together is Christ Jesus himself." [19:35] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "If we are a family, if we are the temple of God, then it makes sense that we are engaged together, right? We don't do this. We don't do this alone. And so a part of your, your discipleship, a part of your spiritual maturity is being intentional, thinking through how do I engage with my church? What does that church engagement look like? When we talked about spiritual disciplines, of course, there's a, there's a ton of them and there's a ton of ways you can engage with the church." [21:24] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "What is God calling you to do? How do you engage with church? Now, I give this example all the time as I talk to families about this. So you come in and on your, your, uh, everyday rhythms, you write down in that center column, center column is like the rhythms kind of daily, weekly things. And you've got seasons and you go, Hey, we are, we're probably a three Sunday a month family. And you write it down. I'm attending corporate worship three Sundays a month." [23:59] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "It's about intentionality. It's not about, Hey, my plan's right and your plan's wrong. It's what, what is happening in your life right now or the next year. What is God doing? And what can you do to intentionally engage with your church? Big group. How many, that's the first on-ramp. Second on-ramp, if you're going, Hey, where do I start? That's a small group. You got a big group. You got a small group. We're trying to create some ways now where we can put people together, where they can hang out with people." [27:29] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "If you came up with one spiritual discipline last week and you wrote it down and you spend 10 minutes this afternoon and you write down one way that you're going to engage with the church, you're 50% done with your everyday rhythm. We'll talk about the other two in the next couple of weeks. Doesn't have to be extravagant. It has to be yours. What is the spirit of God calling you to do over the next 12 months? Write it down, plan it, rhythms, seasons, make it happen." [32:08] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Church engagement matters. I'm going to close with this story. Some of you probably heard it because it's just a part of my story. So if, if you know me or you've been around me a lot, you hear my story come about. I started following Jesus right before I turned seven. I was a little kid. Grew up, grew up in church. Like we went, we weren't four Sunday a month. We were four Sunday a month people. And then we were also fifth Sunday a month people. We didn't just do Sunday morning. We did Sunday night and we did Wednesday night." [33:17] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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