Embracing the Messiness of Discipleship and Community
Summary
Good morning, Collective Church. Today, we delve into the concept of "Messy Church," exploring the early church's dynamics as depicted in Acts 2:42-47. The early church was birthed in a moment of divine intervention when the Holy Spirit descended upon 120 believers, leading to the conversion of 3,000 people. This rapid growth presented challenges, yet it also showcased the beauty of a community devoted to the apostles' teachings, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This community was not perfect; it was messy, yet it thrived because of its commitment to living out the teachings of Jesus daily.
The essence of being a disciple is not just about the end result of salvation but understanding the cost of following Jesus. Salvation, while freely given, demands a life of self-denial and daily commitment to Christ's teachings. Many are enamored by the promise of heaven but shy away from the cost of discipleship, which includes living in community and being accountable to one another.
Community is essential for discipleship. It is not merely about attending church on Sundays but engaging in meaningful relationships that encourage spiritual growth. The statistics show a significant gap in active discipleship within the church, highlighting the need for deeper connections beyond Sunday services. True discipleship requires vulnerability, accountability, and a willingness to open our hearts to others, despite the risk of being hurt or rejected.
The early church's success was not due to grand sermons or social media announcements but the daily lives of believers who lived out their faith authentically. This lifestyle attracted others to the faith, demonstrating the power of community and the importance of living out the gospel in everyday life. As we strive to be a community that reflects the love and unity of Christ, we must embrace the messiness of life together, supporting and encouraging one another in our journey of faith.
Key Takeaways:
- The Cost of Discipleship: Salvation is free, but following Jesus requires self-denial and daily commitment. The early church thrived because believers lived out their faith daily, not just on Sundays. This commitment to Christ's teachings is essential for true discipleship. [12:08]
- The Importance of Community: Community is vital for spiritual growth and discipleship. It involves doing life together, supporting, and encouraging one another. Without community, we miss out on the fullness of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. [14:12]
- Vulnerability and Accountability: Opening our hearts to others is crucial for building authentic relationships. Vulnerability allows for healing and growth, while accountability helps us stay true to our faith and overcome struggles. [19:31]
- Living Beyond Sundays: Christianity is not just a Sunday affair. The early church's impact was due to believers living out their faith daily. Our lives should reflect Christ's love and draw others to Him through our actions and relationships. [35:59]
- Embracing the Messiness: Life in community is messy, but it is through this messiness that we grow and reflect the beauty of the Church. Embracing the mess means committing to love and support one another, despite our imperfections. [45:18]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:45] - Introduction to Messy Church
[03:17] - The Birth of the Early Church
[05:13] - Prayer and Preparation
[07:43] - The Cost of Following Jesus
[09:34] - The Reality of Salvation
[12:08] - Understanding Discipleship
[13:31] - The Need for Community
[14:12] - The Role of Fellowship
[16:42] - Statistics on Church Engagement
[18:26] - Community Over Comfort
[19:31] - Vulnerability in Community
[20:27] - Jesus' Prayer for Unity
[22:03] - The Witness of Unity
[23:23] - Overcoming Fear of Rejection
[24:23] - Valid and Invalid Church Hurt
[26:45] - Bearing with One Another
[28:35] - The Importance of Accountability
[30:34] - Commitment in Community
[32:20] - The Challenge of Connect Groups
[33:29] - Trust and Risk in Relationships
[34:29] - The Lifelong Journey of Discipleship
[35:10] - Living a Public Faith
[35:59] - Life Beyond Sundays
[37:37] - Compartmentalized Lives
[39:16] - The Diversity of the Disciples
[40:47] - The Beauty of a Diverse Church
[42:36] - Lessons from Coaching
[45:18] - Embracing the Messiness of Community
[47:42] - Invitation to Follow Jesus
[49:38] - Closing Prayer and Celebration
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Messy Church
Bible Reading:
- Acts 2:42-47
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Observation Questions:
1. What were the key activities that the early church devoted themselves to according to Acts 2:42-47?
2. How did the early church handle their possessions and resources, and what was the result of this behavior? [03:17]
3. What was the impact of the early church's daily lifestyle on those around them? [03:17]
4. How does the sermon describe the growth of the early church, and what factors contributed to it? [03:17]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between salvation and the cost of discipleship? [09:34]
2. How does the concept of community in the early church challenge modern perceptions of church involvement? [14:12]
3. In what ways does vulnerability play a role in building authentic relationships within a church community? [19:31]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the importance of living out one's faith beyond Sunday services? [35:59]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current level of commitment to discipleship. What steps can you take to deepen your daily commitment to Christ's teachings? [12:08]
2. Consider your involvement in your church community. How can you engage more deeply with others to foster spiritual growth and accountability? [14:12]
3. Think about a time when you were vulnerable with someone in your church community. How did it impact your relationship, and what did you learn from the experience? [19:31]
4. Identify one area of your life where you can live out your faith more authentically during the week. What specific actions can you take to reflect Christ's love in that area? [35:59]
5. How do you handle the "messiness" of life in community? What practical steps can you take to embrace and support others despite imperfections? [45:18]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s emphasis on community over comfort. What is one way you can prioritize community in your life, even when it feels uncomfortable? [18:26]
7. How can you open your heart to others in your church community this week? What specific actions will you take to build trust and deepen relationships? [19:31]
Devotional
Day 1: The Cost of True Discipleship
Understanding the cost of discipleship is crucial for anyone who desires to follow Jesus. While salvation is a free gift, the journey of following Christ requires self-denial and a daily commitment to His teachings. The early church exemplified this by living out their faith every day, not just on Sundays. This daily commitment to Christ's teachings is what sustained their community and allowed it to thrive despite the challenges they faced. The call to discipleship is a call to live a life that reflects Jesus in every aspect, embracing the sacrifices and changes that come with it. [12:08]
Luke 14:27-28 (ESV): "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?"
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you need to practice self-denial to follow Jesus more closely today?
Day 2: The Necessity of Community
Community is not just a nice addition to the Christian life; it is essential for spiritual growth and discipleship. The early church thrived because believers were committed to doing life together, supporting and encouraging one another. This kind of community goes beyond attending church on Sundays; it involves building meaningful relationships that foster spiritual growth. Without community, we miss out on the fullness of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Engaging in community requires vulnerability and a willingness to open our hearts to others, even when it feels risky. [14:12]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: Who in your church community can you reach out to this week to encourage and support in their spiritual journey?
Day 3: Embracing Vulnerability and Accountability
Opening our hearts to others is crucial for building authentic relationships within the church. Vulnerability allows for healing and growth, while accountability helps us stay true to our faith and overcome struggles. The early church demonstrated the power of living in community, where believers were accountable to one another and supported each other in their walk with Christ. Embracing vulnerability means being willing to share our struggles and weaknesses, trusting that God can use these moments to strengthen our faith and relationships. [19:31]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to be more vulnerable with others? How can you take a step towards accountability today?
Day 4: Living Out Faith Beyond Sundays
Christianity is not just a Sunday affair; it is a daily commitment to living out our faith in every aspect of our lives. The early church's impact was due to believers who lived out their faith authentically every day. Our lives should reflect Christ's love and draw others to Him through our actions and relationships. This means integrating our faith into our daily routines, interactions, and decisions, allowing the gospel to shape every part of our lives. [35:59]
Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: How can you intentionally live out your faith in your workplace or community today?
Day 5: Embracing the Messiness of Community
Life in community is messy, but it is through this messiness that we grow and reflect the beauty of the Church. The early church was not perfect, yet it thrived because of its commitment to love and support one another despite imperfections. Embracing the mess means committing to walk alongside others in their journey of faith, offering grace and understanding. It is in these messy moments that we experience the true beauty of the Church as a diverse and unified body of believers. [45:18]
Ephesians 4:2-3 (ESV): "With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
Reflection: What is one way you can show grace and support to someone in your church community this week, even if it feels messy or challenging?
Quotes
"Jesus said, wait, you'll be baptized with fire. Wait for the Holy Spirit. They were up in the upper room. They were praying. They were waiting. The Holy Spirit fell. They were filled with the Spirit. Peter came out on the balcony. He preached the gospel message. The Bible says that 3,000 people were added to the faith that day. That means that the church was established. Imagine you're launching a church. You're having a Vision Sunday and 3,000 people show up and accept Jesus. That is a big church. So they had 3,000 people that were added to this new church. The church was birthed and now they had to do church. Now this is a depiction that I'm going to read to you of what that New Testament church looked like after it was birthed on Pentecost. They devoted themselves to what? To the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship and to the breaking of bread and to prayer." [00:02:30] (47 seconds)
"Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed at the apostles. Verse 44 says this. All the believers were together and they had everything. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. And every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and they ate together with what? With glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people." [00:03:17] (26 seconds)
"I think that oftentimes we sell this beautiful depiction of what being a Christian is. And it is every Sunday we say, man, if you would just come to know Jesus, you would have life and life forevermore. And I think as unbelievers, we end up liking this idea that when I die, I can go to heaven. I think even as Christians now that resonates with us, if I say this prayer and if I believe because scripture says by faith and not by works, by grace, if I say this prayer that I get heaven and everything will be fine. And so what we do is we show you this end result, this end product, salvation. It's amazing. Forgiveness of sins. It's amazing. And then we say salvation is free. And I say, but is it?" [00:10:44] (45 seconds)
"Because I don't know about you. If salvation costs. Jesus, his life, how will it not cost us something? He calls us to deny ourselves. He calls us to die to our flesh daily. I don't know about you, but that's the price tag to me. That's the cost of something. It's the cost of following Jesus. And so I think what we have in the majority of our churches today are people that like the end results, the end products, heaven, my mansion streets paved with gold. I don't have to charge my Tesla no more. We love the end results." [00:11:29] (33 seconds)
"Because that's what he calls us to. He calls us to do life in community and discipleship requires it. And so the question is, how do I dive? How does that 60, 70, 80 % of the church, how do we dive into community? Well, first you gotta make the decision that you're going to grow as a disciple. You gotta make the decision, I wanna be a disciple. The thing that they talk about in the Bible over and over and over and over and over and over again, I wanna be a disciple. And then once you say, I wanna be a disciple, you need to consider the cost of intentional community and decide if you're ready to commit." [00:17:44] (37 seconds)
"Jesus could have prayed for anything, but he prays, God, father, I pray that they would be one as you and I are one. You and I who? You, Jesus, God, the father and the Trinity, because the Trinity is a beautiful depiction of community. When you take the Greek orthodoxy, this view of the Trinity, it is circular in motion. It is three people holding hands, going around in a circle to depict the fact that that's how unified they were, that they didn't consider each other better than each other, that there was a harmony, that there was a beauty and there was a flow. That is what he is saying when he says that they may be one as you and I are one. Why do I want their hearts to be one? Because then this godless world would know that you really sent me and that you're real." [00:21:19] (44 seconds)
"Accountability, stop lying to your accountability partner. That's not accountability. That's just called stupidity. We fear accountability. How do I stop sinning? Well, we talked about the scriptures, hide them in your heart that you might not sin against thee. What are some other ways you have accountability? You're struggling with lust. What if you had someone that you can say, hey, can you pray for me? Because I've got, you're struggling with addiction. What if you had a community that helped hold you in? You're struggling with lying. What if you had a community that you could pray for? What if you had a community that helped you? You're struggling with whatever it is. That's what it's, you're being accountable. The reason that we keep faltering." [00:28:35] (34 seconds)
"Christianity is just not a Sunday thing. Discipleship is not just a Sunday thing. They did. Life beyond Sundays. They broke bread in their homes. They invited each other into their homes. They opened their homes to others, to other brothers and other sisters of the faith. The way you should be even leading your connect groups, the way you should live your life is there's always room for one more at our table." [00:36:08] (24 seconds)
"That's what life in community is. It's coming together with other imperfect people, trying to figure this thing out, trying to figure out life, trying to value each other, learn to encourage each other, be there for each other, support each other, be connected to one another in this mess of life to create this beautiful, talented community that is what I call Jamal. known as the Church of Jesus Christ, that a godless world might look at us and say they must, they have to be Christians. There's something different." [00:46:48] (43 seconds)
"So right then and there, all you have to do in your own way, Jesus, I believe that you are the son of God, that you died on the cross, that you rose on the third day for my sins and so I can have life and life forevermore. So Jesus, forgive me of my sins. Jesus, I invite you into my life. I invite you into my heart. I open up my heart and my life to you, Jesus. I might not know what Genesis to Revelation says, but this one thing I do know is that you died for me. Or maybe your prayer is, Jesus, I knew you at one point and I've said yes to you, but I've stepped away. I've fallen away. And Jesus, right now, I'm coming back to you." [00:49:01] (38 seconds)
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