Engaging in Community: Reflecting God's Design for Connection
Summary
In our journey as a church, we have been exploring our core values, which are essential to our identity and mission. These values guide us in our pursuit of being disciples of Jesus Christ and in making disciples who make disciples. Today, we focus on the value of being engaged in community, a principle deeply rooted in the very nature of God and His design for humanity.
From the beginning of time, God existed in community within Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This divine community reflects our innate need for connection and fellowship. As beings created in God's image, we are called to live in community, supporting and uplifting one another. This is evident throughout Scripture, from the communal laws given to the Israelites to the New Testament's depiction of the church as a family.
Engaging in community is not just a suggestion; it is a necessity for spiritual growth and discipleship. The Apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of carrying one another's burdens and encouraging each other in faith. The author of Hebrews urges us not to neglect gathering together, as it is vital for provoking love and good works.
In today's world, we face an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, exacerbated by the superficial connections offered by social media. True community requires in-person interaction, where we can genuinely share our lives, support each other, and grow together in faith. This is not only a Christian need but a universal human longing.
As a church, we are called to be a light in our communities, inviting others into the transformative fellowship we experience in Christ. We must actively engage with those around us, serving and loving them as Jesus did. This involves committing to corporate worship, participating in small groups, and serving our local community.
Reflect on your level of engagement in community. Are you actively participating in the life of the church and serving those around you? Let us follow Jesus' example of service and love, building a community that reflects His grace and truth.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Divine Model of Community: God exists in a perfect community within Himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This divine relationship models the importance of community for us, highlighting our need for connection and fellowship as beings created in His image. [06:12]
2. The Necessity of Community for Discipleship: Engaging in community is essential for spiritual growth and discipleship. Scripture calls us to carry one another's burdens and encourage each other, emphasizing that true discipleship cannot occur in isolation. [09:37]
3. The Epidemic of Loneliness: Our modern world faces a crisis of loneliness and isolation, often exacerbated by superficial social media connections. True community requires genuine, in-person interactions that fulfill our deep need for connection and support. [12:35]
4. Being a Light in Our Communities: As followers of Christ, we are called to be a light in our communities, inviting others into the transformative fellowship we experience. This involves actively engaging with and serving those around us, reflecting Jesus' love and grace. [17:22]
5. Commitment to Church and Community: Reflect on your level of engagement in both the church and the broader community. Are you participating in corporate worship, small groups, and service opportunities? Following Jesus' example, we are called to build a community that embodies His truth and love. [26:40]
Youtube Chapters:
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:21] - Introduction to Core Values
[02:05] - Radical Generosity
[03:05] - Authentic Love
[04:54] - Countless Second Chances
[06:12] - Engaged in Community
[07:37] - The Family of God
[08:28] - The Importance of Church Community
[09:37] - Carrying Each Other's Burdens
[11:19] - The Challenge of Community
[12:35] - The Epidemic of Loneliness
[14:45] - The Need for Genuine Connection
[17:22] - Being a Light in Our Communities
[18:11] - Praying for Our Communities
[19:29] - Engaging and Serving Others
[24:17] - The New Covenant Community
[26:40] - Reflecting on Commitment
[36:58] - Invitation to Get Involved
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Engaged in Community
Bible Reading:
1. Galatians 6:2 - "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
2. Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
3. Acts 13:47 - "For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
Observation Questions:
1. How does the sermon describe the nature of God's community within Himself? [06:12]
2. What are some of the challenges mentioned in the sermon that people face when trying to engage in community today? [12:35]
3. According to the sermon, what role does the local church play in a believer's life? [09:37]
4. How does the sermon suggest we can be a light in our communities? [17:22]
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to "carry each other's burdens" in the context of a church community, and why is this important for fulfilling the law of Christ? [09:37]
2. How might the decline in genuine community engagement, as discussed in the sermon, impact spiritual growth and discipleship? [12:35]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that being engaged in community reflects the nature of God? [06:12]
4. How can the church effectively serve as a light to the community, according to the sermon? [17:22]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current level of engagement in your church community. Are there specific areas where you feel you could be more involved? [26:40]
2. The sermon mentions the epidemic of loneliness. How can you personally contribute to creating a more connected and supportive community within your church? [12:35]
3. Think of a time when you felt isolated. What steps can you take to ensure others in your community do not feel the same way? [14:45]
4. How can you actively participate in carrying the burdens of others in your small group or church community? [09:37]
5. Identify one person in your community who might be feeling disconnected. What practical steps can you take this week to reach out and include them? [15:51]
6. The sermon encourages us to be a light in our communities. What is one specific action you can take this week to serve or engage with your local community? [17:22]
7. Consider the balance between online and in-person interactions in your life. How can you prioritize genuine, face-to-face connections in the coming weeks? [13:33]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: The Divine Blueprint of Community
God's existence as a community within Himself—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—serves as a divine model for human relationships. This perfect unity highlights our inherent need for connection and fellowship, as we are created in His image. Throughout Scripture, from the communal laws of the Israelites to the New Testament's depiction of the church as a family, the importance of living in community is emphasized. This divine design calls us to support and uplift one another, reflecting the relational nature of God. [06:12]
Genesis 1:26-27 (ESV): "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
Reflection: Consider how you can mirror the divine community in your relationships. What steps can you take today to foster deeper connections with those around you?
Day 2: Community as a Catalyst for Discipleship
Engaging in community is not merely a suggestion but a necessity for spiritual growth and discipleship. The Apostle Paul and the author of Hebrews both stress the importance of carrying one another's burdens and encouraging each other in faith. True discipleship cannot occur in isolation; it requires the support and accountability found in community. As we gather together, we provoke love and good works, growing in our faith journey collectively. [09:37]
Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: Identify one person in your community who might be struggling. How can you reach out to them this week to offer support and encouragement in their faith journey?
Day 3: Overcoming the Epidemic of Loneliness
In today's world, we face an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, often exacerbated by superficial social media connections. True community requires genuine, in-person interactions that fulfill our deep need for connection and support. This longing for authentic relationships is not only a Christian need but a universal human desire. By engaging in real-life community, we combat the isolation that plagues our modern society and find fulfillment in meaningful connections. [12:35]
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: Reflect on your current social interactions. How can you prioritize face-to-face connections over digital ones this week to foster genuine community?
Day 4: Being a Beacon of Light in Our Communities
As followers of Christ, we are called to be a light in our communities, inviting others into the transformative fellowship we experience. This involves actively engaging with and serving those around us, reflecting Jesus' love and grace. By committing to corporate worship, participating in small groups, and serving our local community, we embody the light of Christ and draw others into His presence. [17:22]
Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Think of one way you can serve your local community this week. How can you be a light to those around you, reflecting Jesus' love and grace?
Day 5: Commitment to Church and Community
Reflecting on our level of engagement in both the church and the broader community is crucial. Are we actively participating in corporate worship, small groups, and service opportunities? Following Jesus' example, we are called to build a community that embodies His truth and love. This commitment not only strengthens our faith but also impacts those around us, drawing them into the transformative fellowship we experience in Christ. [26:40]
Acts 2:42-47 (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. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
Reflection: Evaluate your current involvement in church and community activities. What is one new way you can commit to engaging more deeply in the life of your church and community this month?
Quotes
1. "We are managers of what God has given us. We looked at the story that we see in the gospels of a young man coming to Jesus and saying, hey, what do I need to do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said, to go sell what you have, give it to the poor, and then come follow me. Jesus did not say, go sell what you have and bring the proceeds to enhance my ministry so I can do more ministry, so I can grow my ministry. He wasn't concerned about the money. He just didn't want the money to be this thing that prevented this man from coming and following him. God doesn't care about our possessions and the things and our money. He just doesn't want those things to have us. He wants our hearts." [02:05] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We need community. We need people around us. We are called to be a community together. And we see this all throughout scripture, from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Whenever God gave the laws to his people, the Israelites in the Old Testament, you saw how important community was, how they were to treat each other, how they were to interact with each other, that they were called to be far more than just neighbors that said, hey, how you doing? But they were called to be a community together. In the New Testament, we have some new and different language to put around it. And Paul and other New Testament authors use this idea of a family." [06:12] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And we choose, here in this room, here at Grace, we choose to gather together as family here to worship the one true God. And we need each other. In fact, I can't even count the number of times in my ministry that I've heard someone say something along the lines of, well, you know, I don't need to go to church to be a Christian, right? And I get what they're saying. They're saying, like, I don't need to go to church to pray. I can do that at home. I don't need to go to church to read scripture or know what scripture says. I can do that at home. I can read scripture. I can understand scripture on my own. And I get what you're saying, but it's just wrong. It's just wrong. You cannot be a Christian, a disciple of Jesus, as he calls us to be disciples of him, without engaging in a faith community." [08:28] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We need in person community. And this false, shallow, empty stuff on social media is not doing it. It's giving us just enough of an idea that we have community without it being the real thing. So when we get it just does our soul good. We need to be plugged into a community with like minded brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage each other, to uplift each other, to help each other. And that is a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful thing. Our world is craving this. This is not a uniquely christian thing. This is across all faiths, religions, no religions, right? Our world is craving this." [14:45] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "People who are engaged in their hobbies and they get together on a regular basis. It's not the thing, it's the relationships and the community that's so powerful and so needed. And we deeply believe that we have the truth. And I this place and the best way of doing community, that we are to go into our community and invite people into this community, this community that's grounded in the truth of Jesus Christ, that leads to everlasting life, right? We are to go out and serve people, love people, engage in the community around them, to invite them into this community so that they can get to know Jesus, right?" [15:51] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "I am becoming more and more convinced that there is nothing new under the sun. Everything that we wrestle against and worry about and think is so awful in culture has always existed. It has always existed. It will always exist. I think that one of the reasons that it is so heated, one of the reasons it is so popular, one of the reasons that it is so, it seems so much more today, is because christians keep trying to pull back and back from our communities. We try to form our own groups. We try to form our own christian circles, and then we just launch grenades over there at the community. They're not doing this, they're not doing that. They're not following God rather than actually going and serving people." [19:29] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We have one coming up in a weeks in November, I believe. We've always asked for 3 hours a week from our members, those who are regular attenders here. We've asked for 3 hours a week. We ask for an hour of corporate worship together. This time an hour of a small group. We have life groups here at grace. Some meet on Sunday morning, some throughout the week. We have some people here who are part of a small group, another place. And that's totally fine. It's the idea that that smaller community is so important. And we ask for 1 hour of service a week, 3 hours a week." [21:47] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "And we all have different talents, we all have different gifts, and God has called us all to be radically generous and to use that to serve and engage in the community around us. So how are you doing with that? Are you committing and here on a regular basis for corporate worship, are you committed and engaged in a small group, in a life group, in a smaller community where you can share one another's burdens? Are you engaged in serving the community around us?" [22:49] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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