Embracing Love and Inclusivity in Faith Community

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Diversity in Community

In a world that often emphasizes division, embracing community means recognizing the unique value of each individual and celebrating the diversity within our congregation. This involves creating a space where everyone feels loved and accepted, resisting evil, and serving as Christ's representatives. By doing so, we reflect God's indescribable love and create a welcoming environment for all. This commitment to inclusivity is not just a passive acceptance but an active engagement in building relationships that honor each person's inherent worth. [09:29]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community might feel marginalized or overlooked? How can you actively reach out to them this week to show Christ's love and acceptance?

Day 2: Baptism as a Symbol of Renewal

Baptism is a profound symbol of God's cleansing and renewing love, reminding us that we are His beloved children. It signifies a new beginning, where we are assured of God's presence, protection, and love wherever we go. This sacrament is not just a ritual but a powerful declaration of faith and identity in Christ. As we witness or remember our own baptism, we are called to live out this renewed identity daily, embracing the transformative power of God's love in our lives. [31:42]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your own baptism or a significant moment of spiritual renewal. How can you live out this renewed identity in your daily actions and decisions?

Day 3: Approaching DEI Work with Grace

The challenges of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work are significant, and it is crucial to approach them with grace and understanding. Shame is not an effective teaching tool; instead, we must create spaces where people feel safe to learn and grow. This involves recognizing the importance of intent versus impact and striving to build communities that reflect God's love and justice. By doing so, we honor the image of God in each person and work towards a more equitable and inclusive world. [01:01:51]

"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: Consider a recent interaction where you may have unintentionally hurt someone. How can you approach them with grace and understanding to foster healing and growth?

Day 4: Endurance and Hope Through Suffering

Paul's letter to the Romans teaches us about living in peace with God, justified by Jesus, and living in grace. This peace is not without suffering, but through affliction, we develop endurance, character, and hope. This hope, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, never puts us to shame. It is a reminder that even in the midst of trials, we are being shaped and strengthened for a greater purpose, and our hope in Christ is steadfast and unshakeable. [01:05:02]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you see this as an opportunity for growth in endurance, character, and hope?

Day 5: Building Inclusive Communities

As followers of Jesus, we are called to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities. This work is about relationships and respect, building each other up in love, and living in the Imago Dei. It requires intentionality and a commitment to understanding and valuing each person's unique contributions. By fostering an environment of inclusivity, we reflect the kingdom of God and demonstrate His love to the world. This is not just a task but a calling to embody the love and justice of Christ in all our interactions. [01:13:54]

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one practical step you can take this week to promote inclusivity in your community. How can you encourage and build up those around you in love?

Sermon Summary

Welcome to Epworth, a community where we explore faith and embrace inclusivity. Today, we celebrate the joining of new members and the baptism of Liv, a reminder of God's cleansing and renewing love. As we welcome these new members, we reaffirm our commitment to resist evil and serve as Christ's representatives in the world. We are reminded that we are loved by an incomprehensible God whose love is indescribable. This love is celebrated in our community, and we are grateful for each person who is part of it.

The story shared from Brene Brown's book highlights the challenges of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work. It reminds us that shame is not a good teaching tool and that we must approach DEI work with grace and understanding. Paul's letter to the Romans offers insights into living in peace with God, justified by Jesus, and living in grace. This peace is not without suffering, but through affliction, we develop endurance, character, and hope. This hope, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, never puts us to shame.

The personal story shared about the jurisdictional conference illustrates the challenges of DEI work and the importance of intent versus impact. It highlights the need for grace and understanding in our interactions. We are reminded that we are created in the image of God, and as followers of Jesus, we are called to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities. This work is about relationships and respect, building each other up in love.

Key Takeaways

1. Embracing community means recognizing the importance of each individual and celebrating the diversity within our congregation. We are called to resist evil and serve as Christ's representatives, creating a space where everyone feels loved and accepted. [09:29]
2. Baptism is a powerful symbol of God's cleansing and renewing love. It reminds us that we are God's beloved children, and wherever we go, God is with us, offering protection and love. [31:42]
3. The story from Brene Brown highlights the challenges of DEI work and the importance of approaching it with grace and understanding. Shame is not a good teaching tool, and we must create spaces where people feel safe to learn and grow. [61:51]
4. Paul's letter to the Romans teaches us about living in peace with God, justified by Jesus, and living in grace. Through suffering, we develop endurance, character, and hope, which never puts us to shame. [65:02]
5. As followers of Jesus, we are called to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities. This work is about relationships and respect, building each other up in love, and living in the Imago Dei. [73:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:29] - Importance of Community
[30:10] - Reaffirming Faith
[31:42] - Baptism and Symbolism
[37:17] - Anointing and Blessings
[40:37] - Welcoming New Members
[59:46] - Story of Diversity and Inclusion
[61:51] - Challenges of DEI Work
[63:01] - Paul's Letter to the Romans
[65:02] - Peace, Suffering, and Hope
[66:34] - Living in Grace
[68:11] - Personal Story of DEI Work
[71:11] - Overcoming Shame
[73:54] - Creating Inclusive Communities
[76:31] - Closing Remarks

Sermon Clips

"We have the amazing joy of welcoming new members into our congregation today. So if you are joining us today, I would invite you to come up here and stand over here facing the congregation so that we can introduce you to God. I'm going to introduce you." [00:28:05] (19 seconds)

"We are so excited to have you all. And when we have you join our church officially to become members, we invite you to reaffirm your faith. And so we ask you the following questions." [00:29:57] (13 seconds)

"On behalf of the whole church, do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin? If so, will you answer, I do." [00:30:10] (14 seconds)

"Now this is the oldest creed in our church. Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord? Do you put your whole trust in his grace and promise to serve him in union with the church, which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races? If so, will you answer, I do." [00:30:39] (22 seconds)

"And so this water is a symbol that we need God every day of our lives, and that God will cleanse us, and refresh us, and renew us with that amazing love no matter where we go. So let us pray. God, we thank you for this gift of water, and we thank you for Liv, who's going to receive it." [00:32:41] (20 seconds)

"We pray that you would remind her every day that she is your beautiful daughter, that she can't live without you, but that you will never let her go. Help her to know no matter where she goes, that you are always with her, and that you will always claim her as your own. Amen." [00:33:01] (17 seconds)

"And the dad just looked down and finally looks up at his son with tears in his eyes, and he says, I'd love to stand here, and hear you tell me more about what a jerk I am, but I need to go take the neighbor that I so-called hate to the hospital because her husband had surgery today, and she doesn't drive." [01:00:23] (26 seconds)

"And Brene Brown tells us clearly shame is not a good teaching tool. It may stop behavior momentarily, but it does nothing to change people's understanding and understanding of what they're doing. And so I think it's important to understand that." [01:02:42] (13 seconds)

"And this peace is dependent on the fact that we are justified by Jesus, that we can live in grace in the present. and that we will have the hope of glory with God in the future because the Holy Spirit has poured out love into our hearts." [01:05:02] (22 seconds)

"When we know we are loved, then we know we are accepted and that we belong regardless of our flaws. Then we can live and we can grow. And that's because the Holy Spirit has poured out God's love create a place for others to live that is safe, that is protected by grace, that allows each other to make mistakes." [01:07:32] (19 seconds)

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