Embracing the Divine Discipline of Community

Summary

In today's gathering, we delved into the profound spiritual discipline of community, exploring its significance in our journey of faith. As we continue our series on spiritual practices, we recognize that community is not just a social construct but a divine discipline that God has modeled for us. The essence of community is deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the early church, as seen in the book of Acts. It is a gift that God has given us to grow, support, and challenge one another in our walk with Him.

Reflecting on my personal journey, I shared how the recent season of fasting and prayer has been a transformative experience, revealing the futility of worldly pursuits compared to the eternal value of Jesus. This realization underscores the importance of aligning our lives with the true gospel, which calls us to be part of God's story rather than making ourselves the heroes. The gospel challenges us to confront cultural norms and embrace the infallible truth of God's Word, which has stood the test of time.

The Acts passage we examined today illustrates the power of community in the early church, where believers were united in body, soul, and spirit. This unity was not just individual but corporate, as the Holy Spirit moved among them, creating a vibrant and dynamic community. The gifts of salvation, God's Word, the Holy Spirit, and the community itself were pivotal in shaping the early church and are equally vital for us today.

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, we must resist the temptation to isolate ourselves and instead embrace the discipline of community. It is within this context that we can truly grow, sharpen one another, and manifest the fruits of the Spirit. Community is not just about attending church or participating in activities; it is about being deeply connected with one another, allowing God to work through us to bring His kingdom to earth.

In this new year, let us commit to being a community that reflects the heart of Jesus, where love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are evident. Let us be intentional in building relationships that challenge and encourage us, knowing that it is through community that we experience the fullness of God's presence and purpose for our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Spiritual Discipline of Community: Community is a divine discipline that God has modeled for us, essential for our spiritual growth and alignment with His will. It is not merely a social construct but a vital part of our faith journey, as demonstrated by the early church. [02:18]

2. The True Gospel vs. Cultural Norms: The true gospel challenges us to confront cultural norms and embrace the infallible truth of God's Word. It calls us to be part of God's story, not the heroes of our own, and to prioritize eternal values over worldly pursuits. [05:04]

3. Unity in Body, Soul, and Spirit: The early church exemplified unity in body, soul, and spirit, as the Holy Spirit moved among them. This unity is crucial for us today, as it enables us to grow, support, and challenge one another in our walk with God. [21:04]

4. The Gifts of Community: The gifts of salvation, God's Word, the Holy Spirit, and community are pivotal in shaping our faith journey. These gifts empower us to navigate life with wisdom and to be part of God's kingdom work on earth. [25:38]

5. Manifesting the Fruits of the Spirit: Community is where we can truly manifest the fruits of the Spirit, as it requires interpersonal connection and accountability. It is through community that we experience the fullness of God's presence and purpose for our lives. [31:40]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:58] - Introduction to Spiritual Practices
- [02:18] - The Discipline of Community
- [04:15] - The Real Gospel
- [05:49] - God's Word and Culture
- [07:00] - The Infallibility of Scripture
- [08:51] - The Power of Fasting and Prayer
- [10:30] - Personal Reflections and Convictions
- [11:29] - The Call to Discipleship
- [16:20] - The Early Church's Unity
- [17:35] - Peter's Sermon and Repentance
- [20:06] - Understanding Body, Soul, and Spirit
- [23:38] - The Gifts in Acts 2
- [27:07] - The Heart of Community
- [29:21] - The Challenge of Community
- [31:40] - Manifesting the Fruits of the Spirit
- [34:58] - The Importance of Authentic Community
- [36:37] - Holy Work and Community
- [38:02] - A Call for Unity in 2025

Study Guide

### Bible Reading

1. Acts 2:37-47 - This passage describes the early church's unity and the gifts of community, salvation, and the Holy Spirit.
2. Ephesians 1:22-23 - This passage emphasizes Christ's rule over the church and the church's central role in God's plan.
3. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 - This passage highlights the importance of spiritual training and godliness.

### Observation Questions

1. What were the key elements of the early church's community as described in Acts 2:37-47?
2. How does Ephesians 1:22-23 describe the relationship between Christ and the church?
3. According to 1 Timothy 4:7-8, what is the value of spiritual training compared to physical training?
4. In the sermon, what analogy was used to describe the speaker's experience during the season of fasting and prayer? [02:18]

### Interpretation Questions

1. How does the unity of the early church in Acts 2:37-47 serve as a model for modern Christian communities?
2. What does Ephesians 1:22-23 suggest about the role of the church in the world, and how might this influence a believer's perspective on community?
3. In what ways does 1 Timothy 4:7-8 challenge believers to prioritize spiritual growth over other pursuits?
4. The sermon mentioned the challenge of aligning with the true gospel versus cultural norms. How can believers discern and confront cultural influences that conflict with biblical teachings? [05:04]

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on your current involvement in your church community. How can you be more intentional in building relationships that reflect the heart of Jesus? [27:07]
2. Identify a cultural norm that you feel conflicts with the teachings of the gospel. How can you address this in your personal life or within your community? [05:49]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of manifesting the fruits of the Spirit within a community. Choose one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on this month. What specific action could you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? [31:40]
4. Consider a time when you felt isolated in your faith journey. How can you use that experience to encourage someone else who might be feeling the same way? [29:21]
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of repentance and aligning with God's story. What is one area of your life where you need to realign with God's purpose? [17:35]
6. How can you contribute to creating a church environment that prioritizes spiritual growth and community over mere attendance and activities? [33:06]
7. Think of a person in your life who challenges your patience. What is a short prayer you can say before the next time you interact with that person to help you respond with the fruit of the Spirit? [30:53]

Devotional

I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:

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Day 1: Community as a Divine Discipline
Community is not just a social construct but a divine discipline that God has modeled for us. It is essential for our spiritual growth and alignment with His will. The early church, as depicted in the book of Acts, exemplified this divine discipline by living in unity and allowing the Holy Spirit to move among them. This unity was not merely individual but corporate, creating a vibrant and dynamic community. As believers, we are called to embrace this discipline, recognizing that it is within the context of community that we can truly grow, support, and challenge one another in our walk with God. [02:18]

Acts 2:42-44 (ESV): "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common."

Reflection: How can you intentionally engage with your community this week to foster spiritual growth and unity?

Day 2: The Gospel's Challenge to Cultural Norms
The true gospel challenges us to confront cultural norms and embrace the infallible truth of God's Word. It calls us to be part of God's story, not the heroes of our own, and to prioritize eternal values over worldly pursuits. This requires a shift in perspective, where we align our lives with the teachings of Jesus and the eternal value of His kingdom. In doing so, we resist the temptation to conform to the patterns of this world and instead live out the transformative power of the gospel in our daily lives. [05:04]

Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

Reflection: Identify one cultural norm you have conformed to. How can you realign this area of your life with the truth of the gospel today?

Day 3: Unity in Body, Soul, and Spirit
The early church exemplified unity in body, soul, and spirit, as the Holy Spirit moved among them. This unity is crucial for us today, as it enables us to grow, support, and challenge one another in our walk with God. The unity of the early believers was not just about physical togetherness but a deep spiritual connection that transcended individual differences. It was a unity that allowed the Holy Spirit to work powerfully among them, creating a community that was both dynamic and transformative. [21:04]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 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 of your church community, fostering a deeper connection in body, soul, and spirit?

Day 4: The Gifts of Community
The gifts of salvation, God's Word, the Holy Spirit, and community are pivotal in shaping our faith journey. These gifts empower us to navigate life with wisdom and to be part of God's kingdom work on earth. Community, in particular, is a gift that allows us to experience the fullness of God's presence and purpose for our lives. It is within the context of community that we can truly manifest the fruits of the Spirit, as it requires interpersonal connection and accountability. [25:38]

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV): "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

Reflection: Reflect on the gifts you have received from being part of a community. How can you use these gifts to serve others and further God's kingdom?

Day 5: Manifesting the Fruits of the Spirit
Community is where we can truly manifest the fruits of the Spirit, as it requires interpersonal connection and accountability. It is through community that we experience the fullness of God's presence and purpose for our lives. By being deeply connected with one another, we allow God to work through us to bring His kingdom to earth. In this new year, let us commit to being a community that reflects the heart of Jesus, where love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are evident. [31:40]

Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV): "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Reflection: Which fruit of the Spirit do you find most challenging to manifest in your community? What steps can you take to cultivate this fruit in your interactions with others?

Quotes

"And so it's good to see your face in the place. I don't know who said that. Someone said that before, but it's good to be in God's house together. And we've been in a collection of talks these past few weeks, these conversations about spiritual practices. How many have enjoyed learning about the spiritual practices of heaven? I know I have. The disciplines, practices that we must all engage in if we want to grow ourselves." [00:32:18] (26 seconds)

"And then we talked a little bit about prayer on the side of that. And then we moved on to fasting. And we talked about that. We had an amazing word about solitude. And today we're going to continue the conversation. And we're talking about the spiritual discipline of community. How many know that community is a spiritual discipline? It's part of the things that God has emulated for us to follow. So I'm going to pray and we'll get straight into it." [01:07:78] (28 seconds)

"How meaningless some of our pursuits are, and how the reward of Jesus holds far more value than absolutely anything we could be chasing in this here moment right now. Jesus is always better. But here we are, learning these new revelations, living in the same rugged world. A world that's trying to bombard us, test us, tempt us, with every lie under the sun." [03:24:22] (39 seconds)

"Not the watered down version or a gospel that puts you and I as the hero, as the centerpiece of the story. We're not the hero of every story. The point of David and Goliath isn't to make you feel like you are David. The point of David and Goliath is to point to the lineage of Jesus and give us principles to follow. He's asking us to join in his story. And that's why we study this thing." [04:51:56] (34 seconds)

"It's supposed to teach us about God. It's supposed to teach us about God. It's supposed to teach us right and wrong and how we can escape the snares of the enemy, should we allow it to, because this wisdom has actually stood the test of time more than the 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 years that we've lived. This word is infallible, which means it is void of errors. Foolproof." [07:16:80] (26 seconds)

"And Peter solemnly testified and continued to admonish and urge them with more words, saying, be saved. And Peter stepped into the church, me and my brothers, let's take communion together. And thean break a Roman marble and curse many stories. People were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to the instruction of the apostles and to fellowship and to eating meals together and to prayers. A sense of awe was felt by everyone and many signs and wonders, which are attesting miracles, were taken from the apostles because the apostles and their disciplesî opinion was not in surfing up God, place through the apostles and all those who believed in Jesus as savior were together and had all things in common considering their possessions to belong to the group as a whole and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing the proceeds with all the other believers as anyone had need 46 says day after day they met in the temple area continuing with one mind and breaking bread in various private homes they were eating their meals together with joy and generous hearts praising God continuously continually and having favor with all the people and the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved I want to start by I'm going to be talking about each and every one of us as three parts today because every person that's talking and looking at me today you are three parts there's three parts to you right there is the body which I like to call level one the level one of you the part of you that everybody interacts with this is the physical aspect of each and every one of our humanity" [17:57:84] (108 seconds)

"His heart is to bring us together, like it says in this book, to inspire us to worship him in spirit and in truth. To pour out his spirit over us, amongst us and inside of us. We need that for the body. Level three connection so that we can outwork it in the level one physical world that we live in. And going out and living under this kingship. But it's not easy. But can I tell you this? If we run away from God's heart for community." [28:50:07] (38 seconds)

"And so much more damaging. The thing that works. The thing that will impact our community, guys. More than signs, miracles, wonders. All the things that we ask for. Healing, bold preaching. Is when we can illustrate the body of Christ from the inside out. Starting with one another. We cannot practice love for an enemy if we do not have love for fellow people in our church." [30:23:49] (28 seconds)