Embracing the Gift of Community in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Tapestry of Community

Community is a divine gift, reflecting the kingdom of God. It brings together diverse individuals, creating a unique fellowship that mirrors the inclusive love of God. This diversity is a testament to the transformative work of God in our lives. The imagery of penguins huddling together and Roman soldiers forming a protective shield illustrates the strength found in unity. In a world that often emphasizes individualism, the church stands as a beacon of collective strength and support. The diversity within a congregation is not just a reflection of human variety but a glimpse into the kingdom of God, where all are welcome and valued. [40:05]

Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

Reflection: Think of a person in your church community who is different from you in background or perspective. How can you reach out to them this week to strengthen the bond of fellowship?

Day 2: Salvation's Communal Joy

Salvation is not just a personal experience but a communal one. It restores our relationships with God, others, and ourselves, inviting us into a fuller experience of God's love. The joy of salvation is magnified when shared within a community. Just as the speaker's childhood memory of playing football was enriched by sharing it with friends, our spiritual journey is deepened when we walk alongside others. The banquet in scripture, where everyone is invited, serves as a powerful reminder of the inclusive nature of God's love and the joy found in shared salvation. [43:05]

1 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Reflection: Reflect on your own experience of salvation. How can you share this joy with someone in your community this week, inviting them into a deeper relationship with God?

Day 3: The Spirit's Work in Fellowship

The Holy Spirit equips us for community, fostering relationships that reflect the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, and other virtues are best experienced in fellowship, highlighting the Spirit's ongoing work in our lives. From Jesus calling his disciples to the early church in Acts, the Spirit's presence is evident in the formation of deep, meaningful relationships. The Spirit not only empowers individuals but also binds them together, creating a community that embodies the virtues of the Spirit. [58:09]

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: Identify one fruit of the Spirit you feel called to cultivate more in your relationships. What practical steps can you take this week to nurture this fruit within your community?

Day 4: Communion as a Unifying Symbol

The communion table is a powerful symbol of unity and community. It is a place where we remember Christ's sacrifice, examine our relationships, and celebrate our identity in Him. Gathering around the table strengthens our bonds with God and each other. The act of communion is not just a ritual but a profound reminder of the unity we share in Christ. It calls us to reflect on our relationships, ensuring they are marked by love and reconciliation. [01:07:00]

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 (ESV): "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread."

Reflection: As you prepare for the next communion service, consider any relationships in your life that need healing. How can you take steps toward reconciliation before coming to the table?

Day 5: Living the Gift of Community

We are called to live out the gift of community, sharing the love and grace we have received. This involves examining our relationships, seeking reconciliation, and embodying the virtues of the Spirit in our interactions with others. The practice of gathering, sharing, and remembering is central to our faith, reminding us of the transformative power of community. As we live out this calling, we become a living testament to the work of God in our lives and the world. [01:09:39]

Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."

Reflection: Reflect on your daily interactions. How can you intentionally embody the virtues of the Spirit in your relationships this week, becoming a beacon of God's love and grace?

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Sermon Summary

Returning to Park Heath feels like coming home, a place where my journey with God began and where I first experienced the love and community of the church. This weekend, we are reflecting on the theme "Created for Community," exploring how our lives are intertwined with the divine purpose of living in fellowship with one another. We began by considering images that illustrate community, like penguins huddling together for warmth and Roman soldiers forming a protective shield. These images remind us that we are stronger together, especially when we engage in prayer and support one another.

The essence of community is beautifully depicted in the diversity of our congregation, a reflection of God's kingdom. This gathering is a testament to the work of God in our lives, bringing together people from all walks of life. We are reminded of the banquet in scripture where everyone is invited, illustrating the inclusive nature of God's love.

Reflecting on my childhood, I shared a story about receiving a football on Christmas Day. While I enjoyed playing alone, the true joy came when I shared the game with friends. This parallels the gift of salvation, which is fully realized when shared within a community. Our salvation not only reconciles us with God but also restores our relationships with others and ourselves.

We journeyed through scripture, observing how the Holy Spirit fosters community. From Jesus calling his disciples to the early church in Acts, the Spirit's work results in deep, meaningful relationships. The Spirit equips us to live in community, shaping us to embody love, joy, peace, and other fruits that thrive in fellowship.

As we gather around the communion table, we remember the significance of community. The table is a powerful symbol of unity, where we share the story of Christ's sacrifice and our identity in Him. It is a place to examine our relationships, ensuring we are united with God and each other. This practice of gathering, sharing, and remembering is central to our faith, reminding us of the transformative power of community.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Community: Community is a divine gift, reflecting the kingdom of God. It brings together diverse individuals, creating a unique fellowship that mirrors the inclusive love of God. This diversity is a testament to the transformative work of God in our lives. [40:05]
2. Salvation and Community: Salvation is not just a personal experience but a communal one. It restores our relationships with God, others, and ourselves, inviting us into a fuller experience of God's love. The joy of salvation is magnified when shared within a community. [43:05]
3. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit equips us for community, fostering relationships that reflect the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, and other virtues are best experienced in fellowship, highlighting the Spirit's ongoing work in our lives. [58:09]
4. The Table as a Symbol of Unity: The communion table is a powerful symbol of unity and community. It is a place where we remember Christ's sacrifice, examine our relationships, and celebrate our identity in Him. Gathering around the table strengthens our bonds with God and each other. [67:00]
5. Living Out Community: We are called to live out the gift of community, sharing the love and grace we have received. This involves examining our relationships, seeking reconciliation, and embodying the virtues of the Spirit in our interactions with others. [01:09:39]
** [69:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[36:04] - Introduction and Personal Reflections
[37:37] - The Impact of Community
[38:06] - Created for Community
[39:36] - Images of Community
[40:35] - The Banquet of Diversity
[41:05] - Childhood Memories and Community
[42:35] - The Gift of Salvation
[43:36] - Salvation and Relationships
[45:34] - Peter's Journey and Community
[49:38] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
[53:37] - Acts and the Birth of the Church
[57:09] - The Power of Prayer and Community
[59:11] - The Table as a Symbol of Unity
[69:39] - Examining Relationships and Community

Sermon Clips

1) "We looked at how penguins in Antarctica huddle together to keep each other warm and how they make room for those on the outside. And I said it's a beautiful picture of the church. We looked at Roman soldiers particularly from that famous passage in Ephesians about wearing the armor of God. And the picture that we looked at was not necessarily one of single soldiers who run into battle individually but how when soldiers group together in that testudo formation and they put their shields together and then my armor protects you and your armor protects me and we are stronger together and particularly how that's lived out through the practice of prayer." [38:36] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "Look around this sanctuary right now. Look at the people here. Right? And I want to ask you this question as you look at the diversity of people in this room. Like in what other way of life would this group of people come together? Right? Is there any other space or place or gathering in the world that looks quite like this one? I think you would go far to see a gathering like this. And again that's evidence of the fruit of the work of God in your lives is this idea of beautiful diverse kingdom community and this is what it looks like." [39:36] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "When we think through this gift that we've been given, that we call salvation, the love of God, whatever language it is you might use for it, it's a beautiful gift to be cherished absolutely on our own on the one hand. But if you want to know the fullness of that gift, we only step into the fullness of that gift when it's shared and experienced with those around us. That's kind of what we're talking about here when we wrestle with this idea of what it means for us to be saved for community." [42:35] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Created in the image of a God who in and of himself is community, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We pondered that whether that image of God that's been placed in us might be this desire for community. Then we grieved the brokenness of the world which damages and puts distance in the relationships of a life firstly between us and God but also with each other and then later on even a relationship with ourselves. But that's why we finished by saying that we've been saved for a community. That those relationships might be brought back to the way God intended them in the first place." [44:05] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "The fruit of the Spirit is love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Absolutely. Do you know what the outcome of all those ingredients if you put them into the one cake is? It's community. Not many of those characteristics can be lived out in isolation. Love and joy and peace again are these wonderful things that are best experienced or some of them can only be experienced as they're lived out in relationship amongst each other." [58:09] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Christ put a table at the centre of your worship. I want to invite the band to come back up. And I believe the children are going to join us during the singing of this song. It's important that they do because this is the family table, right? And I'll also invite those who have been asked to help serve communion this morning just to come and sit along the front. And after we've sung together, we'll get around this table. But maybe you want to take a moment to examine yourself. Unless you want to examine your own relationship with God. Think wider this morning. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. But also love your neighbour as yourself." [01:09:08] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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