Embracing God's Story: Faithfulness and Community
Summary
In the sermon, I was reminded of the importance of the story of God's redeeming love in Jesus Christ in our lives. The speaker emphasized that we become the story, and that the story is everything. I was reminded of my childhood experiences in the church, where faithfulness was rewarded and our lives were structured around prayer and the reading of scripture. The speaker also highlighted the decline in church attendance and engagement with the narrative of God's love over the past 25 years, describing it as the great Exodus of the past century.
The sermon also touched on the importance of the narrative in creating community. The speaker explained that every time we meet, we reenact the narrative, which binds us together and empowers us. The speaker also emphasized the importance of faithfulness, which is not just about believing in our hearts, but is a practice that requires us to be in the scripture and in the story every day. The speaker also shared how the story of Jean Val Jean in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables had a profound impact on his understanding of the gospel.
Key takeaways:
- The importance of the story of God's redeeming love in Jesus Christ in our lives and how we become the story ([42:15])
- The decline in church attendance and engagement with the narrative of God's love over the past 25 years ([31:55])
- The role of the narrative in creating community and the importance of reenacting the narrative every time we meet ([22:26])
- The importance of faithfulness as a practice that requires us to be in the scripture and in the story every day ([38:18])
- The profound impact of the story of Jean Val Jean in Victor Hugo's Les Miserables on the speaker's understanding of the gospel ([39:54])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Exodus 12: 1-4 - #!!19:35!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What is the significance of the lamb in Exodus 12: 1-4?
2. What does the act of smearing blood on the doorposts symbolize in the context of the Passover?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the Passover narrative in Exodus 12: 1-4 relate to the concept of justice and redemption?
2. What does the phrase "Justice is coming" mean in the context of the Exodus narrative?
Application Questions:
1. How can you apply the concept of "Justice is coming" in your daily life, especially when facing challenges or injustices?
2. How can you embody the story of God's redeeming love in your interactions with others?
3. Can you think of a situation where you felt like you were in an "Exodus" or a period of transition and how did your faith guide you through it?
4. How can you actively participate in God's story of redemption in your community?
5. How can you prepare yourself, like the Israelites with their sandals on, to walk into God's future for you?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Community in Faith
The sermon emphasizes the importance of community in our faith journey. We are not meant to walk this path alone, but rather to congregate under the story of God's redeeming love. We are encouraged to help each other along, to lean on our pastors and leaders, and to continually engage with the narrative of our faith. This communal aspect of faith is not just about belief, but about daily practice and commitment ([37:22]).
Bible Passage: Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: Reflect on your role within your faith community. How can you contribute to the communal narrative of faith and help others along their journey?
Day 2: The Importance of Narrative in Faith
The sermon highlights the significance of narrative in our faith. The grand story of God's love and redemption is not just a tale to be told, but a narrative to be lived out in our daily lives. This narrative gives continuity to our community and empowers us to act in accordance with our faith ([22:26]).
Bible Passage: Psalm 78:4 - "We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done."
Reflection: How does the narrative of God's love and redemption shape your daily actions and decisions?
Day 3: The Role of Faithfulness in Our Lives
The sermon underscores the role of faithfulness in our lives. Faithfulness is not just about belief, but about daily practice and commitment. It is about being in the scripture, being in the story, and being in prayer. It is about acknowledging our shortcomings and striving to let the story of God's love triumph in our lives and in our church ([37:22]).
Bible Passage: Lamentations 3:22-23 - "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Reflect on your own faithfulness. How can you practice faithfulness in your daily life?
Day 4: The Impact of Story on Our Lives
The sermon explores the profound impact of story on our lives. The narrative of God's love and redemption is not just a tale to be told, but a narrative to be lived out in our daily lives. This narrative shapes our identity, our actions, and our understanding of the world ([39:54]).
Bible Passage: Psalm 107:2 - "Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe."
Reflection: How has the story of God's love and redemption impacted your life? How can you live out this narrative in your daily life?
Day 5: The Role of Children in the Faith Narrative
The sermon emphasizes the role of children in the faith narrative. Children are not just passive recipients of the story, but active participants who ask questions and seek understanding. They are integral to the perpetuation of the faith narrative and the continuity of the faith community ([40:40]).
Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Reflection: How can you involve children in the faith narrative? How can you encourage their curiosity and understanding?
Quotes
1. "We are together, we can imagine having a walking stick because we know that Justice is coming. We're not going to be filled with despair because no matter what CNN or Fox News says, Justice is coming. We have our sandals on, we are ready to walk into God's beautiful future as God's Beloved Community." - 41:33
2. "What can replace that meta narrative? It has to be a story and usually it's a form of tribalism, what we might call patriotism, nationalism, in which we root our sense of meaning in the cult of our nation. But this is not the end of our story, this is not the ultimate diminishment of our people. Justice is coming, the kingdom is coming, love is coming for us." - 34:19
3. "Our lives were dripping in the story. We would go to church and hear someone give a testimony about how their life was unfocused and how they were seeking things that were not healthy for them. And when you receive Christ, it's not just a person you receive into your life, not a being, you receive the whole story. It comes with your opening up of your lives. I accept the story of God's redeeming love in Jesus Christ into my life." - 31:11
4. "We lost 15% in all religions across the board. 15% of adults alive today who were rooted in the story, rooted in community. What is the label that we give to that population that withdrew their lives from the story? The label that they are given today is the de-churched." - 32:44
5. "Narrative gives continuity to community, data does not. In the church, the central narrative is The Narrative of the Eucharist. Every time we meet, we reenact The Narrative and that's the way you create community. But when you dissolve The Narrative into facts or data or conquests or management, then you don't have that empowering, summoning glue that will sustain the transaction." - 23:09
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