Embracing Community: The Path to Spiritual Growth
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound significance of community within the church, drawing inspiration from the early church model described in Acts 2:46-47. The early believers met daily in the temple courts and from house to house, driven by their passionate love for Jesus and their need for mutual support amidst persecution. This model of communal living and worship is not just a historical account but a blueprint for us today. We are called to live in relationship, connection, and community with other believers, as this is the path to spiritual maturity and true discipleship.
We also partook in communion, reflecting on the broken body and shed blood of Jesus. This act is a reminder of the healing and restoration available to us through Christ. Healing is a process, not just an event, and as we come together in community, we can support each other through our brokenness. The importance of small groups was emphasized, as they provide a space for intimate fellowship, prayer, and mutual encouragement. Personal testimonies highlighted how small groups have been instrumental in bringing people to faith, healing marriages, breaking addictions, and building lifelong friendships.
The call to action was clear: get involved in a small group. Whether you are new to the church or have been attending for years, there is a group for you. Overcoming barriers such as busyness, past negative experiences, or introversion is crucial to experiencing the fullness of life in Christ. By prioritizing community, we can grow healthy, full of love, and more like Jesus.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Early Church Model: The early believers met daily in the temple courts and from house to house, driven by their love for Jesus and need for community. This model is a blueprint for us today, emphasizing the importance of regular, intimate fellowship with other believers. [02:39]
2. Communion and Healing: Communion is a powerful reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and the healing available through His broken body and shed blood. Healing is a process, and as we come together in community, we can support each other through our brokenness and receive God's healing. [06:40]
3. The Importance of Small Groups: Small groups provide a space for intimate fellowship, prayer, and mutual encouragement. They are instrumental in bringing people to faith, healing marriages, breaking addictions, and building lifelong friendships. [07:57]
4. Overcoming Barriers to Community: Overcoming barriers such as busyness, past negative experiences, or introversion is crucial to experiencing the fullness of life in Christ. By prioritizing community, we can grow healthy, full of love, and more like Jesus. [31:32]
5. The Call to Action: The call to action is clear: get involved in a small group. Whether you are new to the church or have been attending for years, there is a group for you. By prioritizing community, we can grow healthy, full of love, and more like Jesus. [32:50]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:20] - The Acts 2020 Model
[02:39] - Early Church Community
[03:47] - Preparing for Communion
[06:40] - Healing Through Communion
[07:57] - The Power of Small Groups
[09:14] - Personal Testimony of Healing
[10:31] - The Blood of Jesus and Family
[11:46] - Praying for Healing
[12:54] - The Prayer of Faith
[15:26] - The Thesis of Small Group Sunday
[16:44] - Encouragement for Online Community
[18:01] - Ephesians 4:15-16
[19:27] - Relational Connection
[20:39] - Discovering and Developing Gifts
[21:58] - Helping Others Grow
[23:07] - The Origin of the Father's House
[26:02] - Small Group Testimonies
[29:30] - Types of Small Groups
[31:32] - Overcoming Barriers to Community
[32:50] - Call to Action
[33:50] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Acts 2:46-47 (NIV): "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Acts 2:46-47, what were the daily practices of the early believers? How did these practices impact their community?
2. What does the act of breaking bread together symbolize in the context of the early church? How is this reflected in the sermon? [06:40]
3. In the sermon, what reasons are given for the early church's daily gatherings? [02:39]
4. How does the pastor describe the process of healing in the context of communion? [06:40]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the early church's model of meeting daily and breaking bread together was so effective in fostering community and spiritual growth? [02:39]
2. How does the act of communion serve as a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and the healing available through His broken body and shed blood? [06:40]
3. What role do small groups play in the modern church according to the sermon, and how do they compare to the early church's practices? [07:57]
4. What are some barriers to joining a small group mentioned in the sermon, and why is it important to overcome them? [31:32]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current involvement in church community. How often do you engage in fellowship with other believers outside of Sunday services? What steps can you take to increase this engagement? [02:39]
2. Communion is described as a process of healing. Is there an area of brokenness in your life where you need healing? How can your small group support you in this process? [06:40]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of small groups for spiritual growth and support. Are you currently part of a small group? If not, what is holding you back from joining one? [07:57]
4. Think about a past negative experience or a personal barrier that has prevented you from joining a small group. How can you address and overcome this barrier to experience the fullness of life in Christ? [31:32]
5. The pastor mentioned that healing is a process, not just an event. How can you actively participate in this process within your small group? [06:40]
6. What specific actions can you take this week to prioritize community and fellowship in your life? How can you rearrange your schedule to make room for a small group? [32:50]
7. Identify one person in your life who might benefit from joining a small group. How can you invite and encourage them to get involved? [32:50]
Devotional
Day 1: The Blueprint of Early Church Community
The early church, as described in Acts 2:46-47, provides a powerful model for us today. The believers met daily in the temple courts and from house to house, driven by their love for Jesus and their need for mutual support amidst persecution. This model of communal living and worship is not just a historical account but a blueprint for us today. We are called to live in relationship, connection, and community with other believers, as this is the path to spiritual maturity and true discipleship. By engaging in regular, intimate fellowship, we can grow in our faith and support one another through life's challenges. [02:39]
Acts 2:46-47 (ESV): "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Reflection: How can you incorporate daily or weekly fellowship with other believers into your routine? What steps can you take to build deeper relationships within your church community?
Day 2: Communion as a Path to Healing
Communion is a powerful reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and the healing available through His broken body and shed blood. Healing is a process, not just an event, and as we come together in community, we can support each other through our brokenness and receive God's healing. Reflecting on the broken body and shed blood of Jesus during communion helps us remember the restoration available to us through Christ. By participating in this sacred act, we acknowledge our need for healing and open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love. [06:40]
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV): "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need healing? How can you invite others in your community to support you in this healing process?
Day 3: The Power of Small Groups
Small groups provide a space for intimate fellowship, prayer, and mutual encouragement. They are instrumental in bringing people to faith, healing marriages, breaking addictions, and building lifelong friendships. By participating in a small group, you can experience the transformative power of close-knit community and grow in your faith alongside others. Personal testimonies have shown how small groups can be a catalyst for significant life changes and spiritual growth. [07:57]
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: Are you currently part of a small group? If not, what steps can you take to join one? If you are, how can you contribute more actively to the group's growth and support?
Day 4: Overcoming Barriers to Community
Overcoming barriers such as busyness, past negative experiences, or introversion is crucial to experiencing the fullness of life in Christ. By prioritizing community, we can grow healthy, full of love, and more like Jesus. It is essential to recognize and address the obstacles that prevent us from engaging in meaningful relationships within the church. By doing so, we can create a supportive environment where everyone can thrive and grow in their faith. [31:32]
Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: What barriers are preventing you from fully engaging in your church community? How can you take practical steps to overcome these obstacles and build deeper connections with others?
Day 5: The Call to Action: Get Involved in a Small Group
The call to action is clear: get involved in a small group. Whether you are new to the church or have been attending for years, there is a group for you. By prioritizing community, we can grow healthy, full of love, and more like Jesus. Small groups provide a unique opportunity to develop close relationships, grow in your faith, and support one another through life's challenges. Don't let busyness, past experiences, or introversion hold you back from experiencing the fullness of life in Christ. [32:50]
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: What steps can you take today to get involved in a small group? How can you prioritize community in your life to grow in your faith and support others?
Quotes
1. "They were so passionately in love with Jesus that they just wanted to be with community. And also, they were living under the covering of a Roman empire and there would be persecution coming. And they longed to be with people, other believers, and in community." [02:39] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Salvation is an event, but the healing of our brokenness is a process. And today, again, as we come to the table of the Lord and recognize his broken body, you can receive further healing in your life. Maybe you're in a relationship and left you heartbroken and messed up and disillusioned. Today, God wants to heal you. Maybe there's something in your past and you know Jesus is your savior and you're struggling with him. I truly forgive. And today, he wants to heal your emotions. He wants to heal your soul." [06:40] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The life of a believer is designed to be lived in relationship, connection, and in community with other believers. This is the path to spiritual maturity and true discipleship. And I would even submit this idea that significant and consistent spiritual growth in your life is not possible in isolation. You've been designed to be in community, to be connected, interdependent with one another." [15:26] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "In your Christian journey, listen closely, you're going to need somebody to pray for you and you're going to need to pray for somebody. And that's what the body of Christ is all about. So today, just in a minute, we're going to do something that's commanded in scripture and it's very effective. If you're here at all locations and you need healing in your body or someone you would stand in for that's going through something, they need a miracle, they need healing." [11:46] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Healthy, growing and full of love, becoming more like Jesus. So your marriage, your relationship with your sons and daughters, your relatives, your workplace, your future, the version of you God wants you to become, he wants it healthy, growing and full of love. Amen." [18:01] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Much research has been done around this subject that in order for you to be mentally healthy, emotionally healthy and spiritually healthy, it requires connection with people. And there's devastating effects that a life that's in isolation. Isn't it interesting that this is the way God designed his church for you to be in contact with people? And it's simply a time tested fact that you need that. You need the human touch." [19:27] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "What if everyone at the father's house at all locations begin to discover their gifting, which is your personality. Everyone has a spiritual gift on your unique setting. And then out of that gifting, you develop it and then start serving one another. Guess what would happen? The church would flourish because I hate to give you the bad news, but I might not preach any better sermons than what I'm giving you. This is my, I might've peaked, but God's not done with the church." [20:39] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Jesus didn't come just as our substitution. He also came as a model that we emulate. And we serve as Jesus served. Now the father's house, I don't know if you know this, but we started as a, as a small group. The father's house was an accidental church plant. I was just a disillusioned worship leader. And someone asked me over to a living room on a Monday night to bring my guitar and have a small group in a prayer meeting with eight people." [21:58] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Thousands of people coming to faith, not just in this gathering, but in people's homes. We've seen marriages rescued and people that were lost finding direction. We've seen addictions broken and lifetime friendships, built in the small group setting. It's amazing what God does." [23:07] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "We all make room in our schedule for the things that we truly prioritize. Every parent in the room or grandparent who has a child or a grandchild in sports, you're showing up for that soccer game and that basketball practice. And so we make room and those are great things. I'll also say this, that whatever your passion, your hobby, you carve out time weekly to give to that hobby. I find myself on a golf course as frequently as possible, just confessing before you." [32:50] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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