Embracing Togetherness: The Church's Journey of Growth

Devotional

Day 1: The Pain and Promise of the Church

The church can be a source of deep pain due to scandals and moral failures, yet it remains a vital community for spiritual growth. Jesus believed in the church despite its flaws, and so should we. Our commitment to the church is not about its perfection but about our collective journey towards Christ. The church, with all its imperfections, is a place where we can grow in love, patience, and self-control. Abandoning the church or attempting to follow Jesus in isolation leads to a distorted image of Christ, one that mirrors our own biases and shortcomings. [03:19]

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: Think of a time when you felt disillusioned by the church. How can you begin to see this experience as an opportunity for growth in love and patience?

Day 2: Jesus and Institutionalized Religion

Jesus regularly participated in the institutionalized religion of His day, attending and teaching in synagogues despite their imperfections. This demonstrates that engagement with organized religious communities is essential for spiritual growth and should not be dismissed due to their flaws. Jesus' involvement in the synagogue, teaching, healing, and debating there, sets a pattern for us to follow. His actions show that even within flawed institutions, there is room for spiritual growth and community. [06:47]

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: How can you actively engage with your church community this week, even if you have reservations about its imperfections?

Day 3: The Importance of Intimate Christian Community

Jesus chose a diverse group of disciples, knowing the conflicts and betrayals that would arise. This choice highlights the importance of community in our spiritual development. We grow in virtues like love and patience through our interactions with others, especially those who challenge us. The diversity and challenges within the community are not obstacles but opportunities for growth. [12:09]

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: Think of someone in your church community who challenges you. How can you show them love and patience this week?

Day 4: Commitment to Community Practices

Belonging to a microchurch, gathering on Sundays, serving one another, and practicing generosity are essential commitments for spiritual growth. These practices help us to form a community that reflects Christ's love and mission, shaping us into a family that supports one another. These commitments are not just activities but are transformative practices that mold us into the image of Christ. [16:34]

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: Which of the five commitments (microchurch, Sunday gatherings, serving, generosity) do you find most challenging? What is one step you can take this week to grow in that area?

Day 5: The Transformative Power of Togetherness

While the journey of togetherness is fraught with challenges, it is through these very difficulties that we are transformed. By committing to community practices, we can become a community that not only supports one another but also reveals the kingdom of Jesus in our city. The transformative power of togetherness lies in our willingness to face and overcome challenges together, growing in our faith and love for one another. [34:50]

1 Peter 4:8-10 (ESV): "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced within your church community. How did it help you grow spiritually, and how can you use that experience to support others in your community?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the concept of "together" within our vision statement, "revealing the kingdom of Jesus together in Kansas City." While the idea of togetherness might seem straightforward, it is often fraught with challenges. We began by reflecting on the song "Dragons" by Benjamin Hastings, which speaks to the pain and disillusionment many feel towards the church. This sentiment is not uncommon, especially given the scandals and moral failures that have plagued many religious institutions, including those in our own city.

Despite these challenges, I shared my personal journey of remaining committed to the church. I believe in the church because Jesus believed in it. Jesus participated in both institutionalized religion and intimate Christian community, setting a pattern for us to follow. He regularly attended the synagogue, taught, healed, and debated there, despite its imperfections. Similarly, Jesus chose to surround himself with a diverse group of disciples, knowing full well the conflicts and betrayals that would arise. This choice underscores the importance of community in our spiritual growth.

We explored how spiritual maturity is cultivated through our interactions with others, especially those who challenge us. The church, with all its flaws, is a place where we can grow in love, patience, and self-control. Abandoning the church or attempting to follow Jesus in isolation leads to a distorted image of Christ, one that mirrors our own biases and shortcomings.

To foster this sense of community, we outlined five commitments for our church members: revealing the kingdom of Jesus, belonging to a microchurch, gathering on Sundays, serving one another, and practicing generosity. These commitments are designed to shape us into a family that reflects Christ's love and mission.

In conclusion, while the journey of togetherness is not without its difficulties, it is through these very challenges that we are transformed. By committing to these practices, we can become a community that not only supports one another but also reveals the kingdom of Jesus in our city.

###

Key Takeaways

1. gjK08&t=199s'>[03:19]
2. Jesus and Institutionalized Religion: Jesus regularly participated in the institutionalized religion of His day, attending and teaching in synagogues despite their imperfections. This demonstrates that engagement with organized religious communities is essential for spiritual growth and should not be dismissed due to their flaws.

3. The Importance of Intimate Christian Community: Jesus chose a diverse group of disciples, knowing the conflicts and betrayals that would arise. This choice highlights the importance of community in our spiritual development. We grow in virtues like love and patience through our interactions with others, especially those who challenge us.

4. Commitment to Community Practices: Belonging to a microchurch, gathering on Sundays, serving one another, and practicing generosity are essential commitments for spiritual growth. These practices help us to form a community that reflects Christ's love and mission, shaping us into a family that supports one another.

5. The Transformative Power of Togetherness: While the journey of togetherness is fraught with challenges, it is through these very difficulties that we are transformed. By committing to community practices, we can become a community that not only supports one another but also reveals the kingdom of Jesus in our city.

### [03:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:14] - Introduction to "Together"
[02:24] - Reflection on "Dragons" by Benjamin Hastings
[03:19] - The Pain and Promise of the Church
[04:34] - Personal Journey with the Church
[05:46] - Jesus and Institutionalized Religion
[06:47] - Jesus in the Synagogue
[07:43] - Jesus' Engagement with Religious Leaders
[08:32] - Jesus and Intimate Christian Community
[09:27] - The Diversity of Jesus' Disciples
[10:10] - The Challenges of Community
[11:07] - The Importance of Forgiveness
[12:09] - Spiritual Growth Through Community
[13:03] - The Danger of Isolation
[14:36] - Familial Language in the New Testament
[15:54] - The Complexity of Family
[16:34] - Five Commitments for Church Members
[17:12] - Commitment to Revealing the Kingdom
[18:02] - Belonging to a Microchurch
[19:39] - The Importance of Regular Attendance
[20:15] - The Need for Consistency
[21:08] - Encouragement to Lead a Microchurch
[22:07] - Commitment to Sunday Gatherings
[23:01] - The Value of Sunday Rhythm
[24:06] - Commitment to Service
[25:09] - Serving One Another
[26:10] - Serving the Greater Community
[27:25] - Commitment to Generosity
[28:28] - Practicing Radical Generosity
[29:23] - The Widow's Offering
[30:08] - Shaping Hearts Towards Generosity
[31:04] - The Unintended Consequence of Following Jesus
[31:45] - The Imperfection of Community
[32:26] - The Transformative Power of Commitment
[33:03] - Personal Reflections on Community
[34:18] - Challenging the Idol of Money
[34:50] - Invitation to Join the Community
[35:20] - Re-evaluating Commitment
[36:20] - The Depth of Rich Relationship
[37:22] - Examining Your Commitment
[38:00] - Prayer for Commitment and Unity
[39:24] - Reunion and Family
[39:57] - Challenging the Idol of Self-Service
[40:29] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Jesus mean when he refers to his disciples as his "mother and brothers" in Matthew 12:49-50?
According to Mark 1:15, what are the two actions Jesus calls people to take in response to the kingdom of God being at hand?
In Galatians 5:13-14, what is the primary way Paul says we should use our freedom in Christ?

Interpretation Questions

How does Jesus' statement in Matthew 12:49-50 redefine the concept of family in the context of Christian community? [14:36]
What does it mean to "repent and believe in the gospel" as stated in Mark 1:15, and how does this relate to the idea of revealing the kingdom of Jesus? [17:12]
How can serving one another, as described in Galatians 5:13-14, help us grow in spiritual maturity and reflect Christ's love? [24:06]

Application Questions

Reflecting on the pain and disillusionment many feel towards the church, have you ever felt like giving up on church? How did you navigate that season? [03:19]
Jesus participated in both institutionalized religion and intimate Christian community. How can you balance these two aspects in your own spiritual life? [06:47]
Think of a time when being part of a Christian community challenged you to grow in love, patience, or self-control. How did you respond to that challenge? [12:09]
The sermon outlined five commitments for church members. Which of these commitments do you find most challenging, and why? [16:34]
How can you actively contribute to your microchurch or small group to foster a sense of community and support? [18:02]
Serving one another is a key aspect of Christian community. What is one specific way you can serve someone in your church this week? [24:06]
Generosity is a practice that shapes our hearts towards Christ. What steps can you take to practice radical generosity in your life? [28:28]

Sermon Clips

1. "Let's face it. The church can be a super painful place. And it has been a particularly painful place for many in Kansas City over the last year. There has been no shortage of scandal, moral failure, and church closures. In our own backyard and in our own city. As theology professor Brad East puts it, Understandably, to many it may seem easier to just throw the baby out with the bathwater. To say, I can do this whole Jesus thing, but I'm just not so sure about the church anymore." [03:19] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "I have had every excuse in the book to abandon the institution, to embrace a more private religion, to wage war against the religious machine, or to just... throw up my hands in defeat, discouragement, and resignation. However, despite all of this pain, all of his hurt, the legitimate dysfunction sometimes of the organized church, I still believe in it. I believe in the church because my heart still longs for this kind of community." [04:34] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus was not anti-institutional. He regularly led the disciples and himself into the church of the first century, which was the synagogue and the temple. Jesus immersed himself in the relationships at the temple. He went to the temple for prayer, and he added his own voice to the teachings of that temple. This is not to say the temple or the synagogue, Jesus's day was perfect. In fact, far from it. Jesus and his disciples did not turn a blind eye to the corruption of the religious leaders or to the institution." [06:47] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The fruit of the Spirit, or our spiritual growth, is not grown abstractly, but it's rooted in a people and a place. We grow in love by being in proximity to our enemies, or people who are less than loving to us. We grow in patience by being around people for whom patience is required. We grow in self-control by taming the anger, annoyance, and frustration caused by the people around us. Maturity is born from difference, diversity, and dare I even say, church conflict." [12:09] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The dark side of abandoning the church or trying to do the Jesus stuff alone is this. When you have no one around you that is shaping you towards Christ, Christ ends up looking a whole lot like you. And you know and I know that that is not a Christ that anybody wants to follow. This is why Jesus, without the church, does not exist on the pages of scripture." [13:03] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "But I still believe the church of Jesus Christ is worth fighting for. This thing that has been rooted in history, grounded in the saints, practiced for centuries, the place for miraculous healings, 180s, families being restored, forgiveness extended, communities being transformed, and love existing. I believe it's worth it. And so if you call this church your home, or if you would like to call this church your home, we want you to know what it means to reveal the kingdom of Jesus." [13:54] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "You cannot be shaped by other people. You cannot grow in the fruits of the spirit in spiritual maturity by coming to church 12 to 20 times a year. You cannot become a concert pianist if you only practice 12 times a year. You cannot become a master rock climber if you only climb 12 times a year. You cannot be a good parent. If you rarely see your child. You cannot be a good boss if you only talk to your employees one to two times a month. You cannot experience transformation or be shaped by others if you rarely show up." [20:15] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "I cannot promise that this community will be perfect. In fact, I can actually promise you the opposite. We will be messy. Alex and I will fail you. One of our leaders will fail you. You will experience conflict with others. You will not like everyone. And sometimes you just won't have the energy for it. But I can promise you that if you commit to revealing Jesus' kingdom, to belonging to a microchurch, to gathering on Sunday, serving one another, and the greater Kansas City community, and to generosity, we will shape one another more towards the person of Christ every day." [32:26] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "I want a community that knows the contours of my life because they're close enough to observe it. I want a community that has known suffering and victory with me. I want friendships that feel more like family, that break into my refrigerator, sleep on my couch, and ask me to take them to the airport at 6am. I want a community that challenges me to follow Jesus more wholeheartedly, more sacrificially, and more faithfully than I ever have before. This is the type of community I want." [36:51] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "This teaching is simply my effort at an invitation to examine your commitment to Jesus' church and this family and ask the question, Jesus, what step do I need to take as I reveal your kingdom with other people?" [37:22] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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