Embracing Community: The Transformative Power of Faith
Summary
The invitation to worship is an invitation to encounter the living God, who holds the depths of the earth and the heights of the mountains, who is both our Creator and our Shepherd. Whether we come with joy or with burdens, God’s presence is near, and His faithfulness endures forever. In the resurrection of Jesus, we find not only the hope of eternal life but also the assurance that Christ walks with us in every season—both in our rejoicing and in our weakness. The resurrection is not a one-day event but a season, a reality that shapes our daily lives as we continue to celebrate the risen Christ and the new life He brings.
We are beginning a journey through the book of Acts, exploring what it means to be the community of God. When we confess Christ, we are not only reconciled to God but also birthed into a spiritual family. There are no “Lone Ranger” Christians; God’s salvation is always personal but never private. We are called into a community that is both beautiful and broken, redeemed and yet being redeemed, a place where our humanness meets God’s grace and where we are shaped together.
The church is God’s community—a place where all belong, where we come to know God, and where we are filled with the Holy Spirit. This community is not exclusive; it is open to all who come in faith, regardless of background or story. The early church modeled this inclusivity, as God added to their number daily those who were being saved. The invitation is to experience God’s work in the present, not just to live off past testimonies, but to recognize that God is actively calling, transforming, and inviting us into deeper faith right now.
Acts 2 gives us a picture of the early church’s devotion: to the Word, to fellowship, and to Christlikeness. They immersed themselves in the apostles’ teaching, shared life deeply, and allowed the Holy Spirit to form Christ within them. This devotion was not just about attending services or reading scripture out of duty, but about nourishing the soul, building authentic relationships, and serving one another sacrificially. The call is to reflect on our own devotion—are we fully engaged in the community God has created us for? Are we allowing ourselves to be fully known and fully loved? Are we letting Christ be formed in us through the rhythms of Word, fellowship, and service? The invitation remains: step into the community, be transformed, and let the image of Christ shine through your life.
Key Takeaways
- Belonging to the Church Is Integral to Faith
When we say yes to Jesus, we are not only reconciled to God but also birthed into a spiritual family. Our faith is never meant to be lived in isolation; God’s design is that we grow, struggle, and rejoice together as a community. Even when we feel distant or unworthy, there is always a place at the table for us, and our belonging is rooted in God’s redemptive work, not our own merit. [26:29]
- The Community of God Is Marked by Radical Inclusivity
The early church was a mosaic of backgrounds, languages, and cultures, yet all were welcomed as equals in Christ. This inclusivity is not just a historical note but a present calling: to make space for others, to extend hospitality, and to recognize that God’s family is always expanding. The church is not a club for the “right kind of people,” but a home for all who seek Jesus, where every story matters and every person is invited to participate. [31:25]
- Devotion to the Word Nourishes and Transforms
The early believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, immersing their lives in the story and instruction of God. This was not a passive or occasional engagement, but a regular, communal, and personal rhythm that nourished their souls. In a world of distractions, we are invited to let scripture shape our hearts, trusting that God speaks and transforms us as we gather around His Word, both individually and together. [45:26]
- Fellowship Means Deep, Vulnerable Participation
Biblical fellowship is more than casual friendship or surface-level connection; it is a deep sharing of life, joys, and struggles. To be devoted to fellowship is to risk being fully known and fully loved, to open our lives to others, and to carry one another’s burdens. In a culture that prizes privacy and self-sufficiency, the church is called to be a countercultural community where intimacy, trust, and mutual care are the norm. [46:21]
- Christlikeness Is Formed in Community
The early church’s devotion to Christ was evident in their generosity, service, and unity. They allowed the Holy Spirit to chisel away at their old identities, forming the likeness of Jesus within them through shared practices and sacrificial love. True transformation happens not in isolation, but as we walk together, serve together, and invite the Spirit to make us more like Christ in the context of real relationships. [53:24]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Call to Worship: Psalm 95
[02:10] - Thanksgiving and Prayer
[04:30] - Celebrating the Resurrection
[06:20] - Introduction to the Community of God Series
[08:15] - Eugene Peterson on Church Membership
[10:00] - The Tension of Redemption and Reformation
[12:00] - The Church as God’s Community
[13:30] - Radical Welcome: All Belong
[15:00] - Living Testimonies: God at Work Now
[17:00] - Acts 2:42-47: The Early Church’s Devotion
[20:00] - Devotion to the Word
[23:00] - Devotion to Fellowship
[26:00] - Devotion to Christlikeness
[29:00] - Reflection and Invitation
[31:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Community of God
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### Bible Reading
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV)
*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. 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, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.*
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Acts 2:42-47, what were the main things the early church devoted themselves to?
2. How did the early believers share life together, both spiritually and practically?
3. In the sermon, what does the pastor say about the church being both “beautiful and broken, redeemed and yet being redeemed”? [[27:46]]
4. What does the sermon say about who is welcome in the community of God? [[31:25]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think the early church’s devotion to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer was so important for their growth and unity?
2. The pastor says, “There are no Lone Ranger Christians; God’s salvation is always personal but never private.” What does this mean for how we live out our faith? [[26:29]]
3. The sermon describes the church as a place where people can be “fully known and fully loved.” Why is this kind of vulnerability and acceptance so rare, and why is it important in the church? [[49:33]]
4. The early church was marked by radical inclusivity. What challenges might we face in living this out today, and why is it still essential? [[31:25]]
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### Application Questions
1. The early church was devoted to the Word. How would you describe your own rhythm of engaging with Scripture? Is it more of a duty or a source of nourishment for your soul? What is one step you could take to grow in this area? [[45:26]]
2. The sermon challenges us to be “fully known and fully loved.” Is there someone in your church community who truly knows you—your joys, struggles, and story? If not, what holds you back from opening up? [[49:33]]
3. The early church shared their possessions and cared for those in need. Is there a practical way you could be more generous with your time, resources, or hospitality this month? [[53:24]]
4. The pastor said, “God’s family is always expanding.” Who in your life might need an invitation to belong—to a meal, a group, or a conversation about faith? What’s one way you could extend that invitation this week? [[31:25]]
5. The sermon asks us to reflect: “Are you part of the community at arm’s length, or are you stepping in to be fully known and fully loved?” What would it look like for you to take a step deeper into community? [[53:24]]
6. The early church let the Holy Spirit form Christlikeness in them through shared practices and sacrificial love. Is there a specific area where you sense God inviting you to grow in Christlikeness right now? How could community help you in that? [[53:24]]
7. The pastor mentioned that sometimes we live off “yesteryear’s testimony.” What is God doing in your life right now? How can you share that with others in your community? [[32:43]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for deeper devotion to God’s Word, for courage to be known and loved, and for the Spirit to form Christlikeness in your community.
Devotional
Day 1: Rooted in Spiritual Family, Not Isolation
When a person says yes to Jesus, they are not only reconciled to God but also welcomed into a spiritual family. Faith is designed to be lived out in community, where growth, struggles, and celebrations are shared together. Even in moments of feeling distant or unworthy, there is always a place at the table because belonging is grounded in God’s redemptive work, not personal merit. This truth invites believers to embrace their identity as part of a larger body, where no one walks alone or carries burdens in isolation. The church is a refuge and a home where God’s grace meets human brokenness, and where healing and transformation happen in relationship. [26:29]
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)
Reflection: Who in your faith community can you reach out to this week to deepen your connection and remind yourself that you belong to a spiritual family?
Day 2: Embracing a Mosaic of Belonging
The community of God is marked by radical inclusivity, reflecting the early church’s example of welcoming people from diverse backgrounds, languages, and cultures as equals in Christ. This inclusivity is not merely historical but a present calling to make space for others, extend hospitality, and recognize that God’s family is always growing. The church is not an exclusive club but a home for all who seek Jesus, where every story matters and every person is invited to participate fully. This challenges believers to examine their own hearts and communities, asking if they truly embody the open arms of Christ or if barriers have crept in. Living out this radical welcome means actively creating environments where differences are celebrated and unity in Christ is prioritized. [31:25]
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:19-20)
Reflection: What is one practical way you can extend radical hospitality this week to someone who feels on the margins or different from you?
Day 3: Scripture as Soul Nourishment and Transformation
Devotion to the Word is a vital rhythm that nourishes and transforms the soul. The early believers immersed themselves regularly and communally in the apostles’ teaching, allowing scripture to shape their hearts and lives deeply. This was not a passive or occasional activity but a committed engagement that formed the foundation of their faith and community. In today’s world filled with distractions, believers are invited to reclaim this discipline, trusting that God speaks through His Word and uses it to transform us. Scripture becomes a living conversation that challenges, comforts, and equips, inviting us into deeper faith and Christlikeness as we gather around it both individually and together. [45:26]
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2)
Reflection: How can you create a daily or weekly rhythm that allows God’s Word to move beyond knowledge into deep soul nourishment and transformation?
Day 4: Vulnerability as the Heart of Fellowship
True biblical fellowship goes beyond casual friendship or surface-level connection; it is a deep sharing of life’s joys and struggles. To be devoted to fellowship means risking being fully known and fully loved, opening one’s life to others, and carrying one another’s burdens. In a culture that prizes privacy and self-sufficiency, the church is called to be a countercultural community where intimacy, trust, and mutual care are the norm. This kind of fellowship requires courage and intentionality but leads to authentic relationships that reflect the heart of God’s family. It is in this vulnerability that healing, growth, and Christ’s love are most powerfully experienced and displayed. [46:21]
“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16)
Reflection: Who in your community do you need to invite into a deeper level of vulnerability and mutual care this week?
Day 5: Christ’s Likeness Formed Through Shared Life
Christlikeness is not formed in isolation but through the shared life of community. The early church’s devotion to Christ was evident in their generosity, service, and unity, as the Holy Spirit shaped their identities and actions. True transformation happens as believers walk together, serve one another sacrificially, and invite the Spirit to chisel away old patterns, forming the image of Jesus within them. This process requires real relationships where grace and accountability coexist, and where the Spirit’s work is embraced in the context of everyday life. The call is to participate actively in this communal formation, allowing Christ’s character to shine through the rhythms of Word, fellowship, and service. [53:24]
“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)
Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally participate in the community this week to allow Christ’s likeness to be formed more deeply in your life?
Quotes
He writes, whether we like it or not, the moment that we confess Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, that is, from the time that we become a Christian, we are at the same time a member of the Christian church. Our membership in the church is of our faith in Christ. We can no more be a Christian and have nothing to do with the church than we can be a person and not be in a family. Membership in the church is a basic spiritual fact for those who confess Christ as Lord. It is not an option for those Christians who happen by nature to be more gregarious than others. It is part of the fabric of redemption. Part of the redemption of God for the world and in our lives is to birth us into the family of God, to birth us into this community called the church of God. [00:25:15] (59 seconds)
But they are members all the same, whether they like it or not, whether they acknowledge it or not. For God never makes private, secret salvation deals with people. His relationships with us are personal. They are intimate, but they are not private. We are a family in Christ. When we become Christians, we are among brothers and sisters in faith. No Christian is an only child, Eugene writes. And it follows along this idea and this theme that we have said time and again, that there are no Lone Ranger Christians. [00:26:29] (34 seconds)
We are not called to be Lone Ranger Christians. We are invited into the community of God. Peterson writes that we are born into a spiritual family when we say yes to following Jesus. That we are birthed into this beautiful and yet broken community. We are invited and we are birthed into the tension of the life of the church that is both redeemed by the blood of Christ and that is also being redeemed. Because the last time I checked, we have not reached the other side of the Jordan and we have not all been fully sanctified. We human. [00:26:58] (44 seconds)
We live in this tension of our humanness involved in the life of the church. And sometimes it gets just a little messy. But yet, we are called and invited into it. I would say that we are created for it. To live in the context of Christian community. To be in the community of God, even in our redemption and also in the reformation of our souls as we follow Jesus. [00:28:10] (39 seconds)
Jesus began forming this community early in his ministry by pouring into his disciples. And after his death and resurrection and ascension, the formation of what we call the church, it was growing. It was booming. It was accelerated in the book of Acts. What we began to see in the book of Acts, in the formation of this community, is this basic idea, this basic understanding of the community of God. It's this big thing to walk away with this morning, is that the church is God's community, where believers belong, know God, and are filled with the Holy Spirit. [00:28:59] (41 seconds)
The early church, the community of God, was not only for the religious. It was not just for the rich. It was not only for the right people, the right kind of thinking. The scripture says in Acts chapter 2 that the Lord added to their numbers daily those who were being saved. And those who were being saved were those from different backgrounds, different understandings, different languages, different cultures, who were hearing the words and the gospel of Christ Jesus and they were putting their faith and trust in him. [00:31:25] (32 seconds)
We cannot hear Bible verses read on a Sunday morning once or twice a month and expect a vibrant walk with God. We must devote ourselves and give ourselves to regular rhythms of taking in the words of God, corporately and individually. [00:45:52] (21 seconds)
The community of God has always been marked pointedly with doing life together. Being a people, a community who love to be together. In the Greek, the word for fellowship here, it means a partnership. It's this idea of literal participation. It carries with it furthermore, more than just mere engagement, but an intimate and a personal participation. It's being invested and entwined in the fabric of the community. [00:46:03] (37 seconds)
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