Embracing Faith and Community Through Love and Support
Summary
In today's gathering at St. John's Church, we celebrated the unique and vibrant community that we are blessed to be a part of. Our church is known for its love and support, which is evident in how the local community seeks us out for help and companionship. This is a testament to the love we have for God and each other, a love that is rooted in the love God has for us. We took a moment to celebrate the birthdays of Kathy and Joan, two young adults who are now of age and part of our community. We also acknowledged the struggles and triumphs of the past week, offering prayers for those in need and those in joy.
Reflecting on the story of Daniel, we were reminded of the power of faith in the face of adversity. Daniel's unwavering faith, even when facing lions, serves as an inspiration for us all. We discussed the importance of being honest about our faith journeys, acknowledging that there are times when our faith may waver. It's okay to have doubts and questions, as even biblical figures like Abraham and Job wrestled with God. In these moments, we are encouraged to lean on each other and on God, knowing that He is always present, whether our faith is strong or weak.
Dr. Matt shared insights on how to communicate the love of God to those who may be unsure or struggling with their faith. It's crucial to approach these conversations with empathy and understanding, recognizing that everyone's journey is unique. We are reminded that God is with us in our best and worst times, and that His love is constant and unwavering. As we go forth, we pray for God's presence to be felt by those who are struggling and for His guidance to be evident in our lives.
Key Takeaways:
- Our community is a beacon of love and support, sought out by those in need. This is a rare and precious thing, reflecting the genuine love we have for God and each other. Our actions speak louder than words, showing the world the transformative power of God's love. [05:29]
- The story of Daniel teaches us about the strength of faith in adversity. Even when facing lions, Daniel's faith did not falter, reminding us that true faith is steadfast and resilient. We are called to emulate this faith, trusting in God's protection and guidance. [46:56]
- It's important to be honest about our faith journeys, acknowledging doubts and struggles. Like Abraham and Job, we may wrestle with God, but this is part of a genuine relationship with Him. Our faith is not always perfect, but God is always present. [51:47]
- Sharing God's love with those who are unsure requires empathy and understanding. We must meet people where they are, offering support and encouragement without judgment. Our role is to be a reflection of God's love, guiding others gently towards Him. [49:03]
- God is with us in both our triumphs and trials. His love is constant, and He is present in every moment of our lives. We are reminded to rely on Him, knowing that He is our strength and comfort in all circumstances. [51:47]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[04:24] - Community and Celebration
[05:29] - Love and Support in Action
[07:34] - Opening Prayer
[46:56] - The Story of Daniel
[48:03] - Honest Faith Journeys
[49:03] - Sharing God's Love
[51:47] - Wrestling with God
[52:30] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Daniel 6:16-23 - The story of Daniel in the lion's den.
2. Genesis 18:22-33 - Abraham's negotiation with God.
3. Job 1:20-22 - Job's response to his trials.
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Observation Questions:
1. What actions did Daniel take that demonstrated his faith when he was thrown into the lion's den? How did God respond to Daniel's faith? (Daniel 6:16-23)
2. In the sermon, how did the pastor describe the community's perception of St. John's Church? What makes this perception unique? [05:29]
3. How did Dr. Matt suggest we approach conversations with those who are unsure about their faith? [49:03]
4. What examples from the Bible were mentioned in the sermon to illustrate wrestling with God? [51:47]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Daniel's faith in the lion's den inspire us to trust in God's protection and guidance during our own adversities? (Daniel 6:16-23)
2. What can we learn from Abraham's negotiation with God about being honest in our faith journey and expressing our doubts and questions? (Genesis 18:22-33)
3. How does the story of Job encourage us to maintain our faith even when we face significant trials and challenges? (Job 1:20-22)
4. In what ways can the love and support of a church community, as described in the sermon, reflect God's love to those who are struggling? [05:29]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your faith was tested. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience about God's presence in your life?
2. How can you contribute to making your church community a place where people feel loved and supported, as described in the sermon? [05:29]
3. Think of someone in your life who is unsure about their faith. What specific steps can you take to approach them with empathy and understanding, as Dr. Matt suggested? [49:03]
4. When you face doubts or struggles in your faith, what practical steps can you take to lean on God and your community for support?
5. How can you emulate Daniel's steadfast faith in your daily life, especially when facing challenges or "lions"?
6. Consider a situation where you might need to wrestle with God, like Abraham or Job. How can you approach this with honesty and openness in your prayers?
7. Identify one way you can be a reflection of God's love to someone in need this week. What specific action will you take to show them support and encouragement?
Devotional
Day 1: Love in Action Reflects God's Love
Our community is a living testament to the love and support that stems from our faith in God. This love is not just spoken but demonstrated through our actions, as we reach out to those in need and offer companionship to the lonely. The genuine care we show each other and the wider community is a reflection of the transformative power of God's love in our lives. As we celebrate the milestones of our members, like the birthdays of Kathy and Joan, we are reminded of the joy and strength that comes from being part of a loving community. Our actions, more than our words, reveal the depth of our faith and the love we have for God and each other. [05:29]
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to today to show God's love through your actions?
Day 2: Faith's Resilience in Adversity
The story of Daniel serves as a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of faith in the face of adversity. Daniel's unwavering trust in God, even when confronted with the threat of lions, inspires us to remain steadfast in our own faith journeys. True faith is not shaken by challenges but is strengthened through them, as we trust in God's protection and guidance. We are called to emulate Daniel's example, holding firm to our beliefs and relying on God's strength in difficult times. [46:56]
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing, and how can you draw strength from Daniel's example to trust in God's guidance?
Day 3: Embracing Doubts in Our Faith Journey
It's important to be honest about our faith journeys, acknowledging that doubts and struggles are a natural part of a genuine relationship with God. Like Abraham and Job, we may wrestle with God, questioning and seeking understanding. These moments of doubt do not diminish our faith but can deepen it as we lean on each other and on God. We are reminded that God is always present, whether our faith is strong or weak, and that He welcomes our questions and struggles as part of our journey with Him. [51:47]
"Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh." (Jude 1:22-23, ESV)
Reflection: What is one doubt or question you have about your faith, and how can you bring it to God in prayer today?
Day 4: Sharing God's Love with Empathy
Communicating the love of God to those who are unsure or struggling with their faith requires empathy and understanding. It's crucial to meet people where they are, offering support and encouragement without judgment. Our role is to be a reflection of God's love, guiding others gently towards Him. By approaching these conversations with compassion, we can help others experience the constant and unwavering love of God in their own lives. [49:03]
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life is struggling with their faith, and how can you approach them with empathy and understanding today?
Day 5: God's Constant Presence in Our Lives
God is with us in both our triumphs and trials, offering His constant love and presence in every moment of our lives. We are reminded to rely on Him, knowing that He is our strength and comfort in all circumstances. As we navigate the ups and downs of life, we can find peace in the assurance that God's love is unwavering and that He is always by our side, guiding and supporting us. [51:47]
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to feel God's presence today, and how can you invite Him into that space?
Quotes
1. "We were the one church in town that didn't make hacky pastor jokes. You just killed it. You killed it, man. I couldn't be more excited about today. It's going to be a weird one in the best possible way. Matt asked something specific about what church is going to be like, and he said, if I do this thing, will I get fired? And I said, well, now that I know, if you don't, then you'll get fired. So it's going to be good. It's going to be really good." ([00:04:38] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "The McEnroys were going to the trick-or-treating downtown that we... as a church helped collect candy for, and we're just so excited still that the community here in St. John's seeks out the church for support, first and foremost, that if you don't realize, that is not a thing. That's not a thing that happens anywhere. I've been other places. There is distrust of the church, but not here, not here, because people know that we're here to serve. We're here to support. We're here to love." ([00:05:40] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "I've talked to a decent number of people who've had really, really, really hard weeks this week. So we want to be in prayer for those who are struggling. We want to be in joyous prayer for those who've had really good weeks and everything in between. So if you'll join me, let's open this service in a word of prayer." ([00:06:49] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "Daniel and his friends, they always, like, they lived in faith. And we've seen that. One, two, three, four, five, six. Every single chapter, Daniel and his friends lived in faith. You lead a group of people as Dr. Matt, because we know you're always in character, always. Sorry, not character. Matt Clark is the character. Dr. Matt is the..." ([00:48:34] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "I just ask because some of the things that I've learned in my life I've learned a lot of you are like me and the person you fight with the most is actually God. I mean like if you've seen the worst of the worst who are you gonna fight with and this is biblical Abraham fought with God Job fought with God other people fought with God this it's in the Bible read your Bible." ([00:51:47] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "I was talking with Scott he was losing at a board game this week and he goes David you're waning faith is causing me problems accurate right I hit a point where sometimes I'm like I don't know still very Christian probably the most Christian I've ever been and also the most honest about my faith I've ever been which is I don't always know and if you're coming here and you're not feeling like Daniel or Shadrach or Meshach or Abednego sometimes we're not and Matt talked today about dr. Matt talk today about people who have a strong faith sometimes when you're staring down a lion the faith is just not there." ([00:52:24] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "If you're here and you're facing down a lion and you have a strong faith God bless you if you're here and you're facing down a lion and you don't also god bless you because sometimes we got faith and sometimes we have less and you know what God's there regardless and if you don't feel God dr. Matt is there regardless he'll bring you back." ([00:54:33] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "He's a he's good at uh mediating and uh he's mediated plenty between me and god that's actually real we've gotten uh we've gotten coffee before and i just unload but sometimes we need to unload right we need to be like abraham we need to be like joe we need to be like other people in the bible they're there read your bible." ([00:55:29] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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