Embracing Faith and Community for Transformation
Summary
In this sermon, I emphasized the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ and the importance of the church community in our spiritual journey. I highlighted that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead resides in us, and through faith, God can perform miraculous things in and through us. However, we must cooperate and partner with God, tapping into the Holy Spirit's power within us. I noted that the church has not been impressive in recent years, mainly because we have not fully embraced the transformation that can occur through faith in Jesus Christ. We often rely on our own strengths and abilities, giving lip service to relying on God, but not truly doing so. I stressed that we need to fully devote ourselves to Jesus to experience the power of His Kingdom. I also expressed optimism that we are on the threshold of something new and different, and that God is going to do something powerful in our midst.
In the second part of the sermon, I focused on the importance of the church community in our spiritual journey. I emphasized that being part of a church community is not optional for those who are all in with Jesus. We need each other to live out the gospel. I used the example of the early church in Acts chapter 2, where the believers were devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. They did life together, and their way of life became a message in itself that spoke to the gospel. I concluded by encouraging the congregation to reflect on their own experiences with the church and to make attending church a priority.
Key Takeaways:
1. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead resides in us, and through faith, God can perform miraculous things in and through us ([46:13]).
2. We need to fully devote ourselves to Jesus to experience the power of His Kingdom ([48:16]).
3. Being part of a church community is not optional for those who are all in with Jesus. We need each other to live out the gospel ([50:16]).
4. The early church in Acts chapter 2 serves as an example of how believers should live, being devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer ([01:03:33]).
5. We should make attending church a priority, reflecting on our own experiences with the church and committing ourselves to being part of the church community ([01:07:20]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Galatians 2:20 [44:00]
2. Hebrews 10:24-25 [50:16]
Observation Questions:
1. What does Galatians 2:20 tell us about our identity in Christ?
2. In Hebrews 10:24-25, what are the believers encouraged to do?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Galatians 2:20 relate to the concept of being "all in" with Jesus?
2. What does Hebrews 10:24-25 suggest about the importance of community in the Christian faith?
Application Questions:
1. In what specific ways can you live out the truth of Galatians 2:20 this week, demonstrating that you are "all in" with Jesus?
2. How can you "spur one another on toward love and good deeds" within your own community or circle of influence this week?
3. Can you think of a specific situation where you tried to follow Jesus alone, without the support of a community? What was the outcome and what did you learn from it?
4. What is one way you can encourage someone in your church community this week?
5. How can you make attending and participating in church a higher priority in your life?
Devotional
Day 1: Devotion to Apostles' Teaching
The early church was devoted to the apostles' teaching, gathering in large and small groups to learn about Jesus and scripture. This commitment to learning and understanding the teachings of Jesus is a crucial aspect of our faith, and it's something we should strive to incorporate into our daily lives ([01:03:33]).
Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
Reflection: How can you devote more time to learning and understanding the teachings of Jesus in your daily life?
Day 2: Fellowship and Shared Life
The early church was not just about hanging out together; it was about a commitment to do life together and to share life together. This shared life was a witness to the world about who and whose they were ([01:05:28]).
Acts 2:44 - "All the believers were together and had everything in common."
Reflection: How can you deepen your commitment to do life together with your fellow believers?
Day 3: Breaking of Bread
The early church devoted themselves to the breaking of bread, a sign of connection and acceptance. Even how they ate together was part of discipling one another and was a witness to the world about who and whose they were ([01:07:20]).
1 Corinthians 10:16 - "Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?"
Reflection: How can you use meal times as an opportunity for connection and discipleship?
Day 4: Devotion to Prayer
The early church was devoted to prayer, coming together in large and small groups to pray. They prayed the prayers they had been taught from a young age, and they prayed for one another and for the multiplication of their fellowship ([01:03:33]).
Colossians 4:2 - "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."
Reflection: How can you deepen your commitment to prayer in your daily life?
Day 5: All In With Jesus
Being all in with Jesus means submitting every single area of our life to Him. It's about recognizing the power of Jesus Christ in our lives and learning how to have undivided devotion to the King of Kings ([48:16]).
Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Reflection: What areas of your life do you need to submit to Jesus? How can you go all in with Jesus in your daily life?
Quotes
1. "God can and will do amazing and miraculous things in and through us. But we have to cooperate with God, right? We have to partner with God. God doesn't force himself on us. So we have to tap into that Holy Spirit power within us if we want to experience that kind of change in transformation." - 44:54
2. "I think we're standing on the threshold of something totally new and different. I feel quite certain, and I know many of our leaders do too, as well, that God is going to do something powerful here at New Hope. And that's really what this series is about. It's about recommitting ourselves to being all in with Jesus, recognizing the power of Jesus Christ in this church and New Hope, learning how to have undivided devotion to the King of King." - 48:16
3. "When we understand and experience the amazing, sacrificial, expansive love of God, it changes everything, doesn't it? It changes everything. It affects every area of our life, and it compels us to go all in with Jesus." - 50:16
4. "What sticks with me is the community. It was the people. The people coming together every Sunday and often during the week. Teaching about Jesus, caring for one another, trying in their own flawed way to do life together with Jesus at the center." - 01:08:59
5. "When a group of people come together to humbly devote themselves to the king, then we can see the power of the kingdom, we see lives changed, we see people healed, we see marriages and families restored, we see the vulnerable cared for, we see people bearing witness to the gospel, and we see God glorified." - 01:13:14
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