Embracing Diversity: God's Design for Community

The Great Smoky Mountains, with their ancient ridges and deep valleys, offer a living parable of God’s creative intent for diversity. Within just 800 square miles, more than 19,000 species of plants and animals thrive, each contributing to the vibrancy and resilience of the whole. This remarkable biodiversity is not accidental; it is the result of countless migrations, adaptations, and interdependencies. The Smokies remind us that the beauty and strength of creation come not from uniformity, but from the intricate web of difference and connection.

Just as the mountains are home to a tapestry of life, so too are we called to be a community that celebrates and depends upon our differences. The story of the Douglas fir and the paper birch, as discovered by biologist Suzanne Simard, illustrates this truth: trees grow stronger and healthier when they are surrounded by other species, not when they stand alone. Their roots intertwine, sharing resources and warnings, supporting one another against storms. In the same way, our lives of faith are not meant to be solitary. We are created to be in relationship, to lean on one another, and to grow together.

God’s own act of creation is a testament to this need for community. Even God, in the poetic words of James Weldon Johnson, looked out upon the void and said, “I’m lonely. I’ll make me a world.” Each of us is uniquely made, bearing a facet of God’s image, and it is only in coming together—embracing our diversity—that we begin to glimpse the fullness of God’s presence. To reject diversity is to reject a part of God’s own being, for it is in the mosaic of our differences that God’s image is most clearly seen.

We are called, then, not only to tolerate difference, but to seek it out, to cherish it, and to recognize it as a gift. In a world that often uses difference to divide, we are invited to see diversity as a means of encountering God anew—in our neighbors, in our communities, and even in those beyond our walls. Let us be a people who listen for the Holy Spirit in voices unlike our own, who look for the image of God in every person, and who build a stronger, more faithful community by embracing the beautiful diversity God has given us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Diversity is God’s Design, Not an Accident The Great Smoky Mountains’ rich biodiversity is a living witness to God’s intentional design. Just as the park’s beauty and resilience come from the interplay of thousands of unique species, so too does the church’s strength arise from the diversity of its members. Embracing difference is not merely a social ideal, but a spiritual imperative rooted in creation itself. [37:19]
• 2. Interdependence Makes Us Stronger The story of the Douglas fir and paper birch trees reveals that true growth happens in community, not isolation. Trees support one another through intertwined roots, sharing resources and protection. Likewise, our faith matures and our lives are enriched when we depend on and support each other, recognizing that we are not meant to journey alone. [41:31]
• 3. Rejecting Diversity is Rejecting God’s Image Each person carries a unique reflection of God’s image, and it is only by coming together that we see the fullness of who God is. To turn away from diversity, or to fear difference, is to miss out on the many ways God reveals Himself through others. Our calling is to welcome and honor the uniqueness in each person, knowing that in doing so, we honor God. [49:26]
• 4. Community is Essential to Faith Christianity is not a solitary endeavor. Just as the Smokies’ ecosystem depends on the interconnectedness of its inhabitants, our spiritual lives depend on our relationships with one another. We are called to use every means available—gathering in person, connecting online, sharing meals—to build up the body of Christ and to experience the fullness of God’s love together. [45:28]
• 5. Diversity is a Gift to be Protected and Celebrated The park rangers of the Smokies know that to protect the park, they must understand and value its diversity. In the same way, we are called to actively seek out, protect, and celebrate the diversity among us and beyond us. By doing so, we not only strengthen our community but also open ourselves to deeper encounters with God’s presence in the world.
  
  ** [50:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [14:56] - Prelude and Opening Hymn
• [16:45] - Door Prizes and Children’s Time
• [37:19] - The Great Smoky Mountains: A Lesson in Diversity
• [38:55] - Diversity as the Park’s Strength
• [39:50] - Suzanne Simard and the Interdependence of Trees
• [41:31] - Lessons from the Forest: Community and Support
• [43:04] - Biodiversity and Christian Community
• [45:28] - The Necessity of Connection in Faith
• [47:24] - Created Unique: Embracing Our Differences
• [48:26] - Diversity Reveals God’s Presence
• [49:26] - Rejecting Diversity is Rejecting God
• [50:12] - Growing to Our Full Potential Through Diversity
• [50:50] - Protecting and Celebrating Diversity
• [51:49] - Benediction and Affirmation of Faith
• [52:47] - Hymn of Invitation and Prayers
• [57:39] - Pastoral Prayer and Confession
• [60:39] - The Lord’s Prayer
• [61:22] - Announcements and Opportunities to Serve
• [66:20] - Thank You Notes and Mission Focus
• [68:45] - Passing the Peace and Conclusion

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV) — > Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
> So God created man in his own image,
> in the image of God he created him;
> male and female he created them.

Psalm 104:10-15 (ESV) — > You make springs gush forth in the valleys;
> they flow between the hills;
> they give drink to every beast of the field;
> the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
> Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell;
> they sing among the branches.
> From your lofty abode you water the mountains;
> the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.
> You cause the grass to grow for the livestock
> and plants for man to cultivate,
> that he may bring forth food from the earth
> and wine to gladden the heart of man,
> oil to make his face shine
> and bread to strengthen man’s heart.

Observation Questions

1. According to Genesis 1:26-27, what does it mean that humans are made in the image of God? How does this relate to the idea of diversity?
2. In Psalm 104:10-15, what are some examples of the diversity and interdependence found in creation?
3. The sermon described how the Great Smoky Mountains are home to over 19,000 species, each contributing to the whole. What are some specific ways the sermon said these species depend on each other? ([37:19])
4. What did the story of the Douglas fir and paper birch trees reveal about how different species (or people) can help each other grow? ([41:31])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon said, “To reject diversity, to reject difference, is to reject a part of the very image of God that exists in this world.” What does this mean for how we view people who are different from us? ([49:26])
2. How does the interdependence of trees in the forest serve as a metaphor for Christian community? What might happen to a church or group that tries to “stand alone”? ([41:31])
3. The pastor quoted James Weldon Johnson: “And God stepped out on space, and he looked around and said, I’m lonely. I’ll make me a world.” What does this suggest about God’s desire for relationship and community? ([45:28])
4. The sermon said, “It is only by coming together—embracing our diversity—that we begin to glimpse the fullness of God’s presence.” Why do you think God designed us to need each other in this way? ([48:26])

Application Questions

1. The Smokies’ beauty comes from its diversity, not uniformity. In your own life, do you tend to seek out people who are different from you, or do you stick with those who are similar? What is one step you could take this week to build a relationship with someone different from you? ([37:19])
2. The story of the Douglas fir and paper birch trees shows that we grow stronger together. Can you think of a time when someone very different from you helped you grow in your faith or as a person? How did that experience change you? ([41:31])
3. The sermon said, “To reject diversity is to reject a part of God’s own being.” Are there ways—big or small—that you have ignored or dismissed someone because they were different? What would it look like to honor God’s image in them instead? ([49:26])
4. The pastor said, “We cannot do this thing called faith on our own.” Are there areas of your spiritual life where you try to “go it alone”? What is one way you could invite others into your journey of faith this month? ([45:28])
5. The rangers in the Smokies protect the park by understanding and valuing its diversity. What are some practical ways our church or small group can protect and celebrate the diversity among us? ([50:50])
6. The sermon invited us to “listen for the Holy Spirit in voices unlike our own.” Is there a person or group whose perspective you usually overlook? How can you intentionally listen for God’s voice through them this week? ([50:50])
7. The pastor said, “Let us look for the image of God in each and every single one of our neighbors.” Who is one neighbor (literal or figurative) you find it hard to see God’s image in? What is one thing you could do to change your perspective or relationship with them? ([50:50])