Faith in Action: Celebrating Our Journey Together
Summary
In reflecting on the journey of our church, it's clear that God has been at work in extraordinary ways. From our humble beginnings during the height of the COVID pandemic, we have witnessed the power of faith and community in action. Our first mission was a testament to this, as we responded to a call for Bibles at the U.S.-Mexico border, providing spiritual nourishment to those in need. This act of service set the tone for our church's mission: to be a beacon of hope and love, reaching out to those who are often overlooked.
Our journey has been marked by a commitment to serve diverse communities, including Afghan refugees and others from around the world who have found a new home in Fredericksburg. This has been a reminder that the call to serve transcends borders and cultures, and that the gospel is a message of hope for all people. Our partnerships with other churches and organizations have been crucial in this mission, allowing us to extend our reach and impact.
As we celebrate three years of Impact Church, we are reminded that our story is not about us, but about God's work through us. It's a story of ordinary people coming together with a shared passion for Jesus, willing to step out in faith and trust in His plan. Our growth from a small group to a thriving community is a testament to the power of the gospel and the presence of God among us.
Looking ahead, we are committed to continuing this mission, to celebrate without becoming complacent. We recognize that while we have much to celebrate, there is still much work to be done. Our focus remains on making disciples, starting community groups, and planting churches, all while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- The Imago Dei, the image of God in every person, calls us to see beyond political and social issues to the heart of humanity. Our mission is to protect and honor this image by meeting both physical and spiritual needs, as demonstrated by our response to the need for Bibles at the border. [30:12]
- True celebration in the church is rooted in recognizing God's ongoing work among us. It's not about what we do for God, but about what He has done for us. This perspective keeps us from complacency and fuels our passion for His mission. [48:45]
- The story of our church is a testament to the power of ordinary people united by a passion for Jesus. God uses the nameless and the ordinary to accomplish extraordinary things, reminding us that it's not about our names, but about His. [01:10:11]
- Preaching the gospel is central to our mission. It's not just about words, but about living out the truth that Jesus came, lived, died, and rose again. This message transforms lives and communities, and it's the foundation of our growth and impact. [01:19:31]
- Remaining faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose is key to overcoming complacency. Our faithfulness is a response to God's faithfulness, and it requires daily recommitment to His calling and mission in our lives. [01:43:14]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[30:12] - First Mission: Bibles at the Border
[34:45] - Serving Afghan Refugees
[36:50] - Church Multiplication Vision
[37:40] - Celebrating Generosity
[45:54] - Introduction and Reflection
[48:45] - Celebration vs. Complacency
[52:57] - Sabbatical Insights
[56:06] - The Beginning of Impact Church
[57:32] - Church Multiplication in Pandemic
[01:00:11] - Three Years of Impact
[01:01:18] - Acts 11: The Church in Antioch
[01:04:15] - The Power of Persecution
[01:10:11] - The Nameless and Ordinary
[01:19:31] - Preaching the Gospel
[01:43:14] - Battling Complacency
[01:47:32] - Response and Celebration
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Acts 11:19-26
Observation Questions:
1. What was the initial reaction of the church in Jerusalem when they heard about the new believers in Antioch? How did they respond? [01:05:35]
2. What role did Barnabas play when he arrived in Antioch, and what was his primary message to the believers there? [01:05:35]
3. How did the church in Antioch differ from the church in Jerusalem in terms of its composition and mission? [01:10:11]
4. What were the two main reasons given in the sermon for the growth of the church in Antioch? [01:19:31]
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why do you think the persecution of the early church led to the spread of the gospel rather than its suppression? [01:04:15]
2. How does the story of the church in Antioch illustrate the idea that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things? [01:10:11]
3. What does it mean to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, as Barnabas encouraged the believers in Antioch? [01:05:35]
4. How does the concept of "preaching the Lord Jesus" extend beyond words to include actions and lifestyle? [01:19:31]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the idea of being a "nameless and ordinary" person used by God. How can you embrace this role in your own life and community? [01:10:11]
2. The sermon emphasized the importance of not becoming complacent in our faith. What are some areas in your spiritual life where you might have grown complacent, and how can you address this? [01:43:14]
3. How can you actively participate in your church's mission to serve diverse communities, as Impact Church has done with Afghan refugees and others? [34:45]
4. Consider the importance of celebrating God's work in your life and community. How can you incorporate regular celebrations of God's faithfulness into your personal or family life? [48:45]
5. The sermon highlighted the need to protect and honor the Imago Dei in every person. How can you practically live out this calling in your interactions with others, especially those who are often overlooked? [30:12]
6. How can you ensure that your celebration of God's work does not lead to complacency but instead fuels further passion for His mission? [48:45]
7. Identify one specific way you can preach the gospel through your actions this week. What steps will you take to make this a reality? [01:19:31]
Devotional
I'm ready to create the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Seeing the Imago Dei in Everyone
The Imago Dei, or the image of God, is present in every person, calling us to look beyond political and social issues to the heart of humanity. This understanding compels us to protect and honor this image by meeting both physical and spiritual needs. The church's response to the need for Bibles at the U.S.-Mexico border exemplifies this mission, as it provided spiritual nourishment to those often overlooked. This act of service is a reminder that our mission is to see and honor the divine image in every individual, regardless of their circumstances. [30:12]
Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
Reflection: Who in your life do you find difficult to see as made in the image of God? How can you begin to honor the Imago Dei in them today?
Day 2: Celebrating God's Work Among Us
True celebration in the church is rooted in recognizing God's ongoing work among us. It's not about what we do for God, but about what He has done for us. This perspective keeps us from complacency and fuels our passion for His mission. As we celebrate milestones, we must remember that our story is about God's work through us, not our achievements. This mindset helps us remain humble and focused on the greater mission of spreading hope and love. [48:45]
Psalm 126:3: "The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad."
Reflection: What recent event in your life can you celebrate as a work of God? How can you share this celebration with others to inspire faith and gratitude?
Day 3: The Power of the Nameless and Ordinary
The story of the church is a testament to the power of ordinary people united by a passion for Jesus. God uses the nameless and the ordinary to accomplish extraordinary things, reminding us that it's not about our names, but about His. This truth encourages us to step out in faith, trusting that God can use our seemingly small actions to make a significant impact. Our growth from a small group to a thriving community is a testament to this power. [01:10:11]
1 Corinthians 1:27-28: "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel ordinary or insignificant? How can you offer this to God and trust Him to use it for His glory?
Day 4: Living Out the Gospel
Preaching the gospel is central to the church's mission. It's not just about words, but about living out the truth that Jesus came, lived, died, and rose again. This message transforms lives and communities, and it's the foundation of the church's growth and impact. By embodying the gospel in our daily lives, we become living testimonies of God's love and grace, drawing others to Him through our actions and words. [01:19:31]
Colossians 3:16-17: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 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 the gospel in your interactions today? What specific action can you take to demonstrate Christ's love to someone in your community?
Day 5: Remaining Faithful with Steadfast Purpose
Remaining faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose is key to overcoming complacency. Our faithfulness is a response to God's faithfulness, and it requires daily recommitment to His calling and mission in our lives. By keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can continue to grow and serve, recognizing that there is always more work to be done in His kingdom. This commitment helps us stay focused and motivated, even when challenges arise. [01:43:14]
Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel tempted to become complacent? How can you renew your commitment to God's purpose in this area today?
Quotes
Sorry, I'm just going to interject a few times. This is pretty amazing because I see so many of us, we weren't here like at the very beginning. And I'll talk about that a little bit more later today, but what's amazing is like the first thing we ever did as a church is we looked around and this was like the height of COVID, but things that the Mexican, U .S. border were just kind of crazy. And you hear about it a lot from a political standpoint, but these are real human lives that are made in Imago Dei. They're made in God's image. [00:28:37] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And so we have a responsibility as church to protect Imago Dei, God's image in people. And so I got a phone call. This is a crazy story. I got a phone call from a guy at the first church we started at Impact Nova who worked for a government agency. [00:29:12] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And as he's down there, he's like away from his family, he's away from everything. And he calls me one day and he's crying. And he says, Pastor, I just they don't have Bibles. And I was like, yeah, but do they have food? Do they have clothes? Do they have? And he's like, yes, yes, Pastor, like many people are taking care of their physical needs, but they don't have Bibles. [00:29:33] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And I would say that it is an amazing feat that in three years, even though we still have partners giving to us to help us start this church, that we are using those and stewarding. We are using those funds to now give them a way to advance the mission of God in our neighborhoods, Northern Virginia and the nations. And that's almost, that's about $30 ,000 a year that this church gives away. It's gone. It comes and it goes. [00:37:58] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And we just want to praise God for that. Absolutely. And I want to thank you for your generosity, for your faithfulness, for your big hearts. Like Wes talked about, big hearted living. And last week, I want to praise God for that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Why don't you pray for us? And this is going to be a prayer of thanksgiving. Okay? We are going to praise God and we are going to thank him for what he's done and how he has used us, unlikely people, to advance the most amazing good news message on the face of the planet, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how he's used the most unlikely people to do that. Frankie, would you just voice a prayer of thanksgiving? Absolutely. Absolutely. [00:38:29] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And so we want to celebrate what God has done because we don't want to forget his faithfulness, but we don't want to grow complacent in the celebration. So we want to celebrate what God has done because we don't want to forget his celebration of what God has done. So man, I want to just say this, and I wrote some things down that I wanted to share with you since I've been on sabbatical. Listen, I've been thinking a lot about you, about God, about our church, what we're doing here, the mission God has called us to. [00:51:57] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And so this church, you see, that's our wedding. With having the Great Commission read over us at our wedding. I don't often, and we were getting ready to go start a church. We didn't know the name of this church. We didn't know where this church was going to be. We didn't know how God was going to do it. And I had never even read a blog about church planting. Nothing. [00:56:06] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And in that moment, we stood up and we announced to our church that not only was our church going to multiply, but we were going to send out the family who had started the church to multiply the church in the middle of a pandemic. [01:00:11] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
God was on the move. And in the middle of a pandemic, he was getting ready to pursue people's hearts and lives with the best news on the planet. That though we may die here on earth, Jesus lives forever. And anyone who trusts in him can live forever with him in the presence of God. [01:01:18] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
And I'm excited, and I want to encourage you, Impact, with, as we kind of begin our response time, with what Barnabas told the church at Antioch in verse 24. He said, remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. It's okay. All right. [01:43:14] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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