Embracing Our Identity as One Diverse Church
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound truth that we are one church, a diverse and unified body of believers reflecting God's heart for all nations, ethnicities, and generations. We began by acknowledging God's sovereignty over all creation, recognizing His rule over every nation and ethnic group. This understanding sets the stage for our identity as a church—a living, breathing expression of God's love and purpose on Earth.
Psalm 22 served as our foundational scripture, highlighting the prophetic nature of Jesus' crucifixion and the global impact of His sacrifice. We are reminded that Jesus died for all nations and generations, calling us to be a church that mirrors this inclusivity. Our church is a blended family, much like the series "This Is Us," representing a multinational, multiethnic, and multigenerational community. This diversity is not just a reflection of our earthly reality but a glimpse of the heavenly vision where every tribe and tongue will worship God together.
The concept of "One Church" is central to our mission. It signifies a shift from an individualistic mindset to a collective understanding of our role in God's kingdom. This transformation is rooted in Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17, which continues to resonate through the ages. As a multinational church, we embody the Acts 1:8 mandate to be witnesses to the ends of the Earth, embracing the diversity of God's creation.
Moreover, we are called to be a multiethnic church, celebrating the unique identities and cultures that God has created. Our skin color and ethnic backgrounds are not erased by the blood of Jesus but are embraced as part of His divine design. We reflect God's identity and nature, both inside and out, as we love one another across cultural lines.
Finally, we are a church with missional movement, driven by the Holy Spirit to impact the world. This movement requires action—stepping out in faith, sharing the gospel, and being the light in every location we find ourselves. We are not confined to a single place but are a church in many locations, carrying the mission of God wherever we go.
Key Takeaways:
- God's Sovereignty and Our Identity: Recognizing God's sovereignty over all nations and ethnicities shapes our identity as a church. We are called to reflect His heart for inclusivity and unity, embracing our role as a diverse body of believers. [00:28]
- One Church, Many Nations: The concept of "One Church" challenges us to move from an individualistic mindset to a collective understanding of our mission. This unity is rooted in Jesus' prayer for oneness and is manifested in our multinational community. [08:19]
- Celebrating Diversity: Our multiethnic identity is a testament to God's creative design. Rather than erasing our differences, we celebrate them as reflections of God's nature, loving one another across cultural lines. [17:05]
- Missional Movement: The church is called to be active and dynamic, driven by the Holy Spirit to impact the world. This movement requires us to step out in faith, share the gospel, and be the light in every location we find ourselves. [29:14]
- A Church in Many Locations: We are not confined to a single place but are a church in many locations, carrying the mission of God wherever we go. This understanding empowers us to be the church in every interaction and community we engage with. [36:24]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - Acknowledging God's Sovereignty
- [01:12] - Introduction to Psalm 22
- [02:51] - The Purpose of Christ's Crucifixion
- [04:50] - Celebrating Diversity in the Church
- [06:47] - One Church: A Unified Body
- [09:03] - The Multinational Church
- [12:39] - Embracing a Multiethnic Identity
- [17:05] - The Value of Diversity
- [25:04] - God's Mission Across Generations
- [29:14] - The Dynamics of Missional Movement
- [36:24] - A Church in Many Locations
- [39:07] - Launching New Congregations
- [44:32] - A Call to Dream and Pray
- [51:00] - Invitation to Prayer and Commitment
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 22:27-31
2. John 17:20-23
3. Acts 1:8
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Observation Questions:
1. In Psalm 22:27-31, what is the significance of all the ends of the world remembering and turning to the Lord? How does this relate to the sermon’s theme of a multinational church? [03:10]
2. How does the sermon describe the transformation from an "I" mindset to a "we" mindset in the context of being one church? [07:05]
3. What examples from the sermon illustrate the concept of a multiethnic church, and how does this reflect God's creative design? [16:42]
4. According to Acts 1:8, what is the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering the church to be witnesses to the ends of the earth? How was this concept emphasized in the sermon? [09:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret Jesus' prayer for unity in John 17:20-23, and what implications does this have for the church today? [08:19]
2. The sermon mentions that our ethnic backgrounds are embraced as part of God's divine design. How does this understanding challenge or affirm your view of diversity within the church? [17:05]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between God's sovereignty and the church's identity as a diverse body of believers? [00:28]
4. How does the concept of "missional movement" in the sermon relate to the church's responsibility to impact the world? What role does the Holy Spirit play in this movement? [29:14]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal mindset. How can you shift from an "I" mindset to a "we" mindset in your involvement with the church community? [07:05]
2. Consider the diversity within your own church or community. How can you actively celebrate and embrace this diversity in a way that reflects God's heart? [16:42]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being a church in many locations. How can you carry the mission of God into your daily interactions and community engagements? [36:24]
4. Identify a specific way you can participate in the church's missional movement. What steps can you take to share the gospel or be a light in your current environment? [29:14]
5. How can you contribute to the unity of the church, as prayed for by Jesus in John 17? What practical actions can you take to foster unity among diverse groups within your church? [08:19]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt challenged by cultural or ethnic differences. How can you use that experience to grow in love and understanding towards others in your church community? [17:05]
7. The sermon calls for action driven by the Holy Spirit. What is one area in your life where you feel the Holy Spirit prompting you to step out in faith? How will you respond to this prompting? [29:14]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Sovereignty Shapes Our Identity
Recognizing God's sovereignty over all nations and ethnicities shapes our identity as a church. We are called to reflect His heart for inclusivity and unity, embracing our role as a diverse body of believers. This understanding begins with acknowledging that God is the ruler over every nation and ethnic group, and it is His divine plan that we, as a church, embody this diversity. Our identity is not just about individual faith but about being a collective expression of God's love and purpose on Earth. As we embrace this identity, we become a living testament to God's inclusive heart, welcoming all people into His family. [00:28]
Psalm 86:9-10 (ESV): "All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God."
Reflection: How can you actively reflect God's heart for inclusivity and unity in your interactions with others today?
Day 2: One Church, Many Nations
The concept of "One Church" challenges us to move from an individualistic mindset to a collective understanding of our mission. This unity is rooted in Jesus' prayer for oneness and is manifested in our multinational community. As believers, we are called to be witnesses to the ends of the Earth, embracing the diversity of God's creation. This shift requires us to see ourselves not just as individuals but as part of a larger body, working together to fulfill God's mission. Our unity is a powerful testimony to the world of God's love and the transformative power of the gospel. [08:19]
Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV): "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
Reflection: In what ways can you contribute to the unity and mission of your church community this week?
Day 3: Celebrating Diversity
Our multiethnic identity is a testament to God's creative design. Rather than erasing our differences, we celebrate them as reflections of God's nature, loving one another across cultural lines. This celebration of diversity is not just about acknowledging our differences but about embracing them as part of God's divine design. Our unique identities and cultures are not erased by the blood of Jesus but are embraced as part of His plan. As we love one another across cultural lines, we reflect God's identity and nature, both inside and out. [17:05]
Revelation 7:9 (ESV): "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands."
Reflection: How can you intentionally celebrate and learn from the diverse cultures and backgrounds within your community?
Day 4: Missional Movement
The church is called to be active and dynamic, driven by the Holy Spirit to impact the world. This movement requires us to step out in faith, share the gospel, and be the light in every location we find ourselves. We are not confined to a single place but are a church in many locations, carrying the mission of God wherever we go. This missional movement is about being proactive in our faith, taking the initiative to reach out to others and share the love of Christ. It is about being the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities and beyond. [29:14]
Acts 13:47 (ESV): "For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’"
Reflection: What is one specific action you can take this week to share the gospel or serve others in your community?
Day 5: A Church in Many Locations
We are not confined to a single place but are a church in many locations, carrying the mission of God wherever we go. This understanding empowers us to be the church in every interaction and community we engage with. It is a call to be present and active in our faith, recognizing that the church is not just a building but a people on a mission. As we carry the mission of God into our daily lives, we become a living expression of His love and purpose, impacting the world around us. [36:24]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Reflection: How can you be the church in your everyday interactions and bring the mission of God into your daily life?
Quotes
Today, we are thankful for those who are joining us today from across the country and around the world. We are blessed that you are online celebrating with us as we look at this incredible passage of scripture, celebrating the Nations and the ethnic groups of the world. Today, I've titled the message "This Is Us." Kimberly and I, a few years ago, started watching a series on television called "This Is Us," and we watched it because it was a story of a blended family, which is what many families look like today, including my own. [00:04:50]
Would it be safe to say that actually the body of Christ is just like that—a blended family? We are a multinational, multiethnic, multigenerational church. We are a family portrait of what God looks like to the world. We are a living, breathing expression of God to all people. We are a personal picture of God's existence upon the Earth. We are a relational delivery system for God's Eternal Commodities. In other words, we are a blended family of Believers, and without equivocation, we can declare, "This is us." [00:05:48]
Some of you have heard me talk about this incredible idea that when we are spiritually converted, we experience salvation through Jesus Christ. A metamorphosis or a transformation begins to happen in our lives as God begins to move us away from an "I" mindset to a "we" mindset. Suddenly, we find ourselves hearing the voice of the Lord concerning this notion that we are one Church. [00:07:03]
I know when I was converted, when I experienced salvation, God began to change my mindset, my carnal nature, from this idea of "me, myself, and I" to a more biblical understanding of "we, ourselves, and us." That it's not about "what about me, what about me, what about me," but it's now "what about us, what about us, what about us." What is God doing in our world? [00:07:52]
What is he seeking to do through this idea of one church that even began when Jesus himself began to pray the prayer in John chapter 17, "I pray that they may be one." That Jesus' prayer started in the first century and has continued through every Century, every age and Stage, every era of time, even into the 21st century, that his desire is still the same for us—that we would be one church. [00:08:49]
And if I can just talk a few minutes about one church that is multinational, I would refer back to our Psalm, Psalm 22 and verse 27, as we read this idea that all the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the Nations shall worship you. All the families of the nations. In other words, God is creating, he's crafting, he's establishing this idea of a multinational church. [00:09:32]
What does a multinational Church look like? It looks like, I believe, an Acts chapter 1 and verse 8 manifestation that says that when the Holy Spirit comes—in fact, at the birth of the church when the Holy Spirit came—all of a sudden there was this manifestation that we would be Witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. [00:09:56]
And God has been establishing that for the last several centuries, even into the 21st century. What does a multinational Church look like? It looks like Revelation 5 and verse 9 and 10, when the book of all books says that one day every tribe, every tongue, all people, and all Nations will begin to cry out and say, "Salvation Belongs To Our God who redeemed us from sin. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain who made us Kings and Priests." [00:10:37]
Do you remember that Jesus himself challenged us to go and make disciples of all Nations? And yet in the Greek, the word nations in the New Testament refers to ethnos or all ethnicity. In other words, all the families of the earth. So God's challenge for us is this challenge not just to be multinational but to be multiethnic. [00:12:57]
I know perhaps some of you have heard the statement that the blood of Jesus erases the bloodline or the color line, and I understand the sentiment behind it. It's a noteworthy statement. It sure does preach well that the blood of Jesus erases the color line, but I think the better interpretation is not that the blood of Jesus erases the color line, but it erases the sin line because God created color. [00:16:03]
The reason why our skin color is important is because every one of us is a reflection of God's identity and nature. So when you look at me, you see God. Hopefully, when I look at you, I see God. When we look at one another, we see God. We are a reflection of the very identity and nature of who God is. So our skin color is valuable and important because we reflect God. [00:19:19]
The church is not a building. The church is not a steeple. The church is not a resting place, but the church is a people. So everywhere you go, the church goes. Everywhere you go, Bethesda goes. I know the location that we worship is at 4700 North Beach here in Fort Worth, but you are the church. So every time you have a conversation and share your faith, the church is in that location. [00:37:02]
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