Embracing Faith and Family in Challenging Times

 

Summary

In these challenging times, we are presented with a unique opportunity to deepen our personal relationship with God and strengthen our family bonds. The current crisis has forced us to reconsider our dependency on physical church buildings and instead focus on becoming the church ourselves. This is a time to embrace personal worship and daily surrender to God, utilizing the resources available to us, such as scripture, devotionals, and music, to create a personal church experience at home. This doesn't have to be lengthy but should be consistent, allowing us to engage with God in a raw and honest manner.

The situation also highlights the importance of redefining family beyond the nuclear or biological sense. We are encouraged to see our faith community as an extended family, providing support and connection, especially when physical family support may be lacking. The church is called to live out the "one another" commands of scripture, fostering a community that loves, cares, and prays for each other. Technology offers us the means to stay connected, even when physically apart, ensuring that no one has to face these times alone.

For those with family at home, this is a golden opportunity to build stronger bonds. Simple acts like sharing meals, playing games, and having family devotions can create lasting memories and deepen relationships. It's a chance to engage with our children, teaching them about life and faith, and to reconnect with each other in meaningful ways. Rather than resorting to screens and gadgets, we can use this time to invest in our families, creating a foundation that will endure beyond the current crisis.

Ultimately, this period is a reminder not to waste the opportunities presented by the crisis. It is a call to embrace the teaching moments within the trials, to grow spiritually, and to strengthen our family and community ties. By doing so, we can emerge from this season with a deeper faith and stronger relationships.

Key Takeaways:

1. Personal Worship and Daily Surrender: The current crisis offers a chance to develop a personal worship routine at home, using scripture, devotionals, and music to engage with God daily. This practice allows for a raw and honest relationship with God, free from the distractions of a traditional church setting. [01:41]

2. Redefining Family: Family should be seen in a broader sense, including our faith community. This extended family provides support and connection, especially when physical family support is lacking. Engaging with a local church community, even virtually, is crucial for spiritual growth and support. [05:21]

3. The Church as a Community: The church is called to live out the "one another" commands of scripture, fostering a community that loves, cares, and prays for each other. This is a time to be actively involved in the lives of others, even if it means connecting through technology. [06:03]

4. Strengthening Family Bonds: With more time at home, families can strengthen their bonds through shared meals, games, and devotions. This is an opportunity to engage with children, teaching them about life and faith, and to reconnect with each other in meaningful ways. [07:50]

5. Embracing Teaching Moments: The crisis presents teaching moments within the trials, offering opportunities for spiritual growth and stronger relationships. By embracing these moments, we can emerge from this season with a deeper faith and more resilient family and community ties. [04:09]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction and Viewer Concerns
- [00:51] - Practical Ways to Spend Time with God
- [01:41] - Personal Worship and Daily Surrender
- [02:31] - Being Raw with God
- [03:03] - Dependency on Church Buildings
- [03:35] - Trials as Teaching Moments
- [04:28] - Family as a Blueprint
- [05:04] - Redefining Family
- [06:03] - The Church as a Community
- [07:10] - Intentional Family Time
- [08:09] - Family Devotions and Games
- [09:23] - Avoiding the Easy Way Out
- [10:32] - Spending Time with Young Children
- [11:30] - Reconnecting with Family

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Acts 8:1-4 - The scattering of the church and the spread of the gospel.
2. Hebrews 10:24-25 - Encouragement to meet together and spur one another on.
3. Galatians 6:2 - Carry each other's burdens.

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Acts 8:1-4 reveal about how God can use challenging situations to spread His message? How does this relate to the current crisis mentioned in the sermon? [03:54]

2. According to Hebrews 10:24-25, why is it important for believers to meet together, and how can this be applied in a time when physical gatherings are limited? [06:17]

3. In the sermon, how is the concept of "family" expanded beyond the traditional nuclear family? What role does the faith community play in this broader definition? [05:21]

4. How does the sermon suggest we can use technology to maintain community and connection during times of physical separation? [06:31]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How might the scattering of believers in Acts 8:1-4 serve as a model for how the church can function during a crisis? What lessons can be drawn from this passage for today's context? [03:54]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that personal worship can be more authentic and meaningful outside of a traditional church setting? How does this align with the idea of being "raw with God"? [02:31]

3. How does the sermon interpret the "one another" commands of scripture in the context of a crisis? What practical steps are suggested for living out these commands? [06:03]

4. What are some potential challenges and benefits of redefining family to include the faith community, as suggested in the sermon? [05:21]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current personal worship routine. What changes can you make to ensure it is consistent and meaningful, even without the structure of a church service? [01:41]

2. How can you actively participate in your faith community, even if it's through virtual means? Identify one way you can connect with someone in your church this week. [06:17]

3. Think about your family dynamics at home. What is one intentional activity you can introduce to strengthen your family bonds during this time? [07:50]

4. Consider the "one another" commands mentioned in the sermon. Choose one command to focus on this week and plan a specific action to live it out. [06:03]

5. Identify a teaching moment from the current crisis that you can embrace for spiritual growth. How can you apply this lesson in your daily life? [04:09]

6. If you have children, what is one way you can engage them in discussions about faith and life during this time? How can you make these discussions a regular part of your family routine? [08:51]

7. Reflect on your use of technology. How can you use it more effectively to maintain and strengthen your relationships with both your immediate family and your faith community? [06:31]

Devotional

Day 1: Cultivating Personal Worship at Home
In these challenging times, individuals are encouraged to develop a personal worship routine at home. This involves using scripture, devotionals, and music to engage with God daily. The absence of a traditional church setting allows for a raw and honest relationship with God, free from distractions. By consistently dedicating time to personal worship, one can deepen their spiritual connection and find solace in God's presence. This practice doesn't have to be lengthy but should be sincere and consistent, allowing for a genuine encounter with God. [01:41]

"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)

Reflection: What specific time each day can you set aside for personal worship, and how will you ensure this time remains a priority in your daily routine?


Day 2: Embracing an Extended Family in Faith
The concept of family is redefined to include the faith community, providing support and connection, especially when physical family support is lacking. Engaging with a local church community, even virtually, is crucial for spiritual growth and support. This extended family can offer encouragement, prayer, and companionship, ensuring that no one faces these times alone. By viewing the faith community as family, individuals can experience a sense of belonging and shared purpose. [05:21]

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God." (Ephesians 2:19, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your faith community can you reach out to this week to offer support or encouragement, and how can you make this a regular practice?


Day 3: Living Out the "One Another" Commands
The church is called to live out the "one another" commands of scripture, fostering a community that loves, cares, and prays for each other. This is a time to be actively involved in the lives of others, even if it means connecting through technology. By embracing these commands, the church can create a supportive and nurturing environment where everyone feels valued and cared for. This communal approach strengthens the bonds within the church and reflects the love of Christ to the world. [06:03]

"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, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can encourage or support someone in your church community this week, even if it's through a simple message or phone call?


Day 4: Building Stronger Family Bonds
With more time at home, families have the opportunity to strengthen their bonds through shared meals, games, and devotions. This is a chance to engage with children, teaching them about life and faith, and to reconnect with each other in meaningful ways. By prioritizing family time over screens and gadgets, families can create lasting memories and deepen their relationships. This intentional investment in family life can create a strong foundation that endures beyond the current crisis. [07:50]

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth." (Psalm 127:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one new activity or tradition you can start with your family this week to strengthen your bond and create lasting memories?


Day 5: Embracing Teaching Moments in Trials
The crisis presents teaching moments within the trials, offering opportunities for spiritual growth and stronger relationships. By embracing these moments, individuals can emerge from this season with a deeper faith and more resilient family and community ties. It is a call to recognize the lessons within the challenges and to use them as a catalyst for personal and communal growth. This perspective allows for a transformative experience that enriches one's spiritual journey and relationships. [04:09]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one lesson or insight you have gained from a recent challenge, and how can you apply it to strengthen your faith and relationships moving forward?

Quotes


Well that's a great question and it's also this crisis that's created a great opportunity because you know in Scripture they not only gather together you know corporately but they went from house to house so you got you had you had a lot of house churches and I think often collective gathering has sometimes taken away from personal worship. [00:55:23]

To come to God now in a daily surrender one because you can't go to church and number two because we're in a crisis you put those two together then you take the Word of God and since the Bible says the Holy Spirit is in us we are the temple and the temple of the place of worship. [00:81:90]

This is a learning opportunity to enter into personal church each day doesn't have to be long like your regular church service but now it can be regular because you have the flexibility and the freedom to do that how do you do that you can take a section of scripture you can take a devotional book. [00:97:75]

You can use the support of others, you know songs that you have sung in church now's the time for you to be your own choir director and your own song leader and sing it to the Lord not be ashamed about your voice okay and sing to him, praise him pray to him look at His word. [00:130:16]

One of the benefits of a bad situation that God allows which Bible calls trials these trials are designed to teach and so we're in a teaching learning situation since our country for example since our country is so disunified God decided to help us get together. [00:199:76]

He let a bad situation force witnessing so he's let a bad situation force caring force personal worship force prayer he is setting the stage for us to have to do things that we should have been voluntarily doing on her own so let's look for the teaching in the trial. [00:243:49]

First of all we have to come up with a bigger definition of family because Jesus said the one who is my mother father brother and sister is the one who does my will so don't limit family to nuclear don't even limit it to biologically extended family you want faith family. [00:308:35]

Every Christian should be a vital part of the local church because if something like this happens and you don't have immediate or extended family but you're not connected spiritually then you know you become a lone ranger and see people don't realize that until they get in this situation. [00:331:90]

If you have a church that not only preaches and teachers that's foundational but cares that builds community all the one one-another's of Scripture love one another care for one another share with one another help with one another connect one another pray for one another. [00:349:45]

This is a great opportunity this is so great in a bad season this is a great opportunity because let's take something as simple as eating meals together that's what we did we ate meals together so now you have the time to not rush there no baseball games to go to. [00:456:99]

Just sit down and relax and talk about each other's lives talk about each other's needs pray for one another around the table have family devotions that you weren't having before then play some games together now that's one of the things we did was play monopoly. [00:484:22]

Family is important family matters it is that's the foundation of the kingdom it was all built on the family so reconnecting with family at whatever level you can do is the most important thing you can do right now and the greatest opportunity that has been granted to us by God through a virus. [00:679:89]

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Transcript
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