Faithfulness and Commitment in a Culture of FOMO
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound significance of commitment and faithfulness in a world that often promotes non-commitment and fear of missing out (FOMO). We began by discussing the concept of church membership as a prophetic declaration against a culture of non-commitment, emphasizing that God grows us as we root ourselves in a community. We then delved into the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian who resisted the Nazi regime by forming a seminary to cultivate a community faithful to Jesus. This story served as a backdrop to our main focus: the book of Daniel.
The book of Daniel is set in a world dominated by empires, where the Israelites are often caught between and conquered by these great powers. Daniel and his friends are taken to Babylon, where they are subjected to a rigorous brainwashing program aimed at turning them into loyal servants of the Babylonian empire. Despite this, Daniel remains faithful to God, even when it means risking his life by refusing the king's food.
We discussed the importance of intentionality in our spiritual formation, emphasizing that if we are not deliberate about living into the story of Israel and the scriptures, the larger cultural context will shape us. Daniel's story teaches us that faithfulness often involves subtraction—removing distractions and comforts to grow spiritually. This is akin to the desert experiences in the Bible, where God leads His people through challenging times to mature them.
We also touched on the concept of a "rule of life," a set of spiritual disciplines that help us align our lives with God's will. This includes areas like relationships, work and rest, money, physical health, and hospitality. By being intentional about these aspects, we can resist the conforming pressures of our culture and live lives that are luminously visible and peculiar because of our allegiance to Jesus.
Finally, we reflected on God's faithfulness. Even in exile, God did not abandon Daniel and his friends. Instead, He used their challenging circumstances to position them as witnesses to His power and sovereignty. This serves as a reminder that God's faithfulness is the foundation upon which we can step up in faith, rather than stepping away or aside.
### Key Takeaways
1. Commitment as a Prophetic Declaration: In a culture dominated by FOMO and non-commitment, church membership serves as a prophetic declaration of our dedication to God and community. Rooting ourselves in a place allows God to grow us, nourishing us through all seasons of life. This commitment is a counter-cultural act that speaks volumes about our faith. [21:55]
2. Faithfulness in Exile: Daniel's story illustrates that faithfulness often involves subtraction—removing distractions and comforts to grow spiritually. Just as God led Israel through the desert to mature them, He uses our challenging circumstances to deepen our faith. This process of growth by subtraction is essential for spiritual maturity. [45:09]
3. Intentional Spiritual Formation: If we are not intentional about our spiritual formation, the larger cultural context will shape us. Daniel's story emphasizes the importance of living into the story of Israel and the scriptures, inhabiting the practices and habits of a disciple of Jesus, and surrounding ourselves with a community of faith. [37:26]
4. Rule of Life: Developing a "rule of life" helps us align our lives with God's will. This includes being intentional about our relationships, work and rest, money, physical health, and hospitality. By doing so, we resist the conforming pressures of our culture and live lives that are luminously visible and peculiar because of our allegiance to Jesus. [50:51]
5. God's Faithfulness: Even in exile, God did not abandon Daniel and his friends. Instead, He used their challenging circumstances to position them as witnesses to His power and sovereignty. This serves as a reminder that God's faithfulness is the foundation upon which we can step up in faith, rather than stepping away or aside. [01:13:20]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [21:55] - Prayer for Commitment
3. [23:17] - Investing in Spiritual Growth
4. [24:29] - Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Resistance
5. [25:17] - The Influence of Empires
6. [26:19] - The Book of Daniel and Empire
7. [27:44] - Babylonian Conquest and Exile
8. [29:15] - Babylon's Strategy for Expansion
9. [30:07] - Daniel's Education in Babylon
10. [31:10] - Living in a Foreign Land
11. [32:14] - Cross-Cultural Experiences
12. [33:02] - The Challenge of Different Cultures
13. [35:03] - Cultural Imperialism in Babylon
14. [36:35] - Intentional Spiritual Formation
15. [37:26] - The Importance of a Rule of Life
16. [45:09] - Growth by Subtraction
17. [50:51] - Six Categories for a Rule of Life
18. [52:19] - Conflict with Cultural Powers
19. [55:27] - The Challenge of Faithfulness
20. [01:00:49] - The Risk of Faithfulness
21. [01:13:20] - God's Faithfulness in Exile
22. [01:15:04] - Formation and Impact
23. [01:18:40] - Trusting in God's Faithfulness
24. [01:20:44] - Closing Prayer and Worship
25. [01:33:06] - Final Blessing and Dismissal
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Daniel 1:3-20 - The story of Daniel and his friends in Babylon.
2. Deuteronomy 8:2-3 - God's provision in the wilderness.
3. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 - God's faithfulness and protection.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the purpose of the Babylonian brainwashing program for Daniel and his friends? (Daniel 1:3-5)
2. How did Daniel and his friends respond to the king's food, and what was the outcome? (Daniel 1:8-16)
3. What does Deuteronomy 8:2-3 teach us about God's provision and testing in the wilderness?
4. How does 2 Thessalonians 3:3 describe God's role in our lives?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Daniel chose to draw the line at the king's food and not other aspects of Babylonian culture? (Daniel 1:8) [52:19]
2. How does the concept of "growth by subtraction" apply to Daniel's experience in Babylon? (Daniel 1:12-16) [45:09]
3. In what ways does Deuteronomy 8:2-3 parallel Daniel's experience in Babylon?
4. How can 2 Thessalonians 3:3 provide comfort and encouragement in times of trial and testing?
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to make a difficult choice to remain faithful to God. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome? [52:19]
2. What are some distractions or comforts in your life that you might need to subtract to grow spiritually? How can you start this process? [45:09]
3. How can you develop a "rule of life" that aligns with God's will in areas like relationships, work and rest, money, physical health, and hospitality? [50:51]
4. In what ways can you be more intentional about your spiritual formation to resist the conforming pressures of our culture? [37:26]
5. How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness during challenging times, similar to how Daniel trusted God in Babylon? [01:13:20]
6. Identify one area in your life where you feel the pressure to conform to cultural norms. How can you take a stand for your faith in that area? [52:19]
7. Think of a specific way you can root yourself more deeply in your church community as a prophetic declaration against a culture of non-commitment. [21:55]
Devotional
### Day 1: Commitment as a Prophetic Declaration
In a world where non-commitment and FOMO (fear of missing out) are prevalent, church membership stands as a prophetic declaration of our dedication to God and community. Rooting ourselves in a place allows God to grow us, nourishing us through all seasons of life. This commitment is a counter-cultural act that speaks volumes about our faith. By committing to a church community, we declare that our allegiance is to God and His people, rather than to the transient and often superficial commitments of the world. This act of commitment is not just about attending services but about investing in relationships, serving others, and allowing ourselves to be held accountable.
[21:55]
Bible Passage:
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)
Reflection:
Think about your current level of commitment to your church community. What steps can you take this week to deepen your involvement and make your commitment more visible and impactful?
### Day 2: Faithfulness in Exile
Daniel's story illustrates that faithfulness often involves subtraction—removing distractions and comforts to grow spiritually. Just as God led Israel through the desert to mature them, He uses our challenging circumstances to deepen our faith. This process of growth by subtraction is essential for spiritual maturity. Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon and subjected to a rigorous brainwashing program aimed at turning them into loyal servants of the Babylonian empire. Despite this, Daniel remained faithful to God, even when it meant risking his life by refusing the king's food. This act of faithfulness in exile serves as a powerful example of how we can remain true to our beliefs even in challenging circumstances.
[45:09]
Bible Passage:
"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself." (Daniel 1:8, ESV)
Reflection:
Identify one distraction or comfort in your life that may be hindering your spiritual growth. How can you begin to remove or reduce this distraction to focus more on your relationship with God?
### Day 3: Intentional Spiritual Formation
If we are not intentional about our spiritual formation, the larger cultural context will shape us. Daniel's story emphasizes the importance of living into the story of Israel and the scriptures, inhabiting the practices and habits of a disciple of Jesus, and surrounding ourselves with a community of faith. Daniel and his friends were intentional about their spiritual practices, even in a foreign land. They prayed regularly, adhered to dietary laws, and sought to live in a way that honored God. This intentionality helped them resist the pressures of the Babylonian culture and remain faithful to their beliefs.
[37:26]
Bible Passage:
"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." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection:
Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are there any areas where you need to be more intentional? How can you incorporate these practices into your daily routine to ensure that your spiritual formation is guided by God's Word rather than cultural influences?
### Day 4: Rule of Life
Developing a "rule of life" helps us align our lives with God's will. This includes being intentional about our relationships, work and rest, money, physical health, and hospitality. By doing so, we resist the conforming pressures of our culture and live lives that are luminously visible and peculiar because of our allegiance to Jesus. A rule of life is a set of spiritual disciplines that guide our daily actions and decisions, helping us to live in a way that reflects our commitment to Christ. It serves as a framework for our spiritual growth, ensuring that every aspect of our lives is aligned with God's purposes.
[50:51]
Bible Passage:
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection:
Consider creating a "rule of life" for yourself. What specific spiritual disciplines can you incorporate into your daily routine to help you align your life with God's will? How can you be more intentional about your relationships, work, rest, money, physical health, and hospitality?
### Day 5: God's Faithfulness
Even in exile, God did not abandon Daniel and his friends. Instead, He used their challenging circumstances to position them as witnesses to His power and sovereignty. This serves as a reminder that God's faithfulness is the foundation upon which we can step up in faith, rather than stepping away or aside. Daniel's unwavering faithfulness, even in the face of life-threatening challenges, demonstrated God's power and sovereignty to the Babylonian empire. This story reminds us that no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, God is always with us, using our trials to strengthen our faith and witness to others.
[01:13:20]
Bible Passage:
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
Reflection:
Reflect on a challenging circumstance you are currently facing. How can you trust in God's faithfulness and use this situation as an opportunity to witness to His power and sovereignty? What steps can you take to demonstrate your faith in God's promises?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We live in a world shaped by FOBO and FOMO, fear of a better offer, fear of missing out, those acronyms. Just see it as a way of saying, all right, God, for whatever season we're here, we believe that you've called us to be a part of this body. And we actually see it as a way of saying in community to ourselves and the world, hey, God grows us as we root ourselves in a place." [21:55] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "One of the reasons we need a rule of life is so that we embody the peculiar way of Jesus in a culture that looks very different. I think one of the first acts of actual bravery, is the willingness to face the fear and anxiety that drive us to be accepted in our cultural moment, and we bring that into the presence of God and say, all right, God, here's this life you have given me. How do you want me to live it?" [01:16:46] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We must live luminously visible lives that appear odd to others because of our allegiance to Jesus. Adopting a life patterned after Jesus. Christians are not distinguished from others by language, food, dress, or convention, but by their peculiar way of life and the strange character of their own citizenship." [01:15:04] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We often think of, in an American context, in our cultural moment, we tend to think of growth by addition, right? I just need to add this thing into my life. One of the things I think actually that the scriptures, and particularly Daniel talked to us about, is growth by subtraction, right? We see this, we saw this before with Josiah, right? This is the formative season of Daniel's life." [45:09] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The primary metaphor for this in the scriptures is the desert, right? Israel grows in the desert as God leads. We'll stay here. The primary metaphor is the desert, right? God leads Israel through the desert to mature them and grow them. Jesus goes into the desert before his ministry. John the Baptist lives in the desert, and what the desert does is it teaches by stripping away." [45:09] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "If you are not intentional about living into the story of Israel and the scriptures, if you are not intentional about inhabiting the practices and habits of a disciple of Jesus, if you are not intentional about the people that surround you, just so you know, there are people out there in a larger cultural context that will shape you. They will shape and form you into their image. If you are not intentional, you will be formed by the culture around us." [37:26] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Daniel and his friends remind us it is better to trust in God to step up than to step away or step aside, to turn our backs on God or compromise with our convictions. But let's be honest for a second. It's not like this moment of faith changes everything for Daniel. He's still in Babylon. He's still in a rigorous brainwashing program. They still don't call him by his actual name. And he doesn't get to eat Michelin star meals every day." [01:11:29] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "One of the things that happens when you inhabit a story shaped by God, you embrace practices that are informed by him, and you live in a community of these people. One of the things that's going to happen if you deeply commit to this is there's going to be moments when that story, those practices, and that community run into conflict with the powers that be. It's going to happen, right? Unless you're stepping aside, and then you're just accommodating. There are going to be moments when there is a conflict." [52:19] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The question, I think, at this point in the story, is whether or not Daniel and his friends' faith will survive. In crisis, I think it's fair to say there's a few different options. One, in the crisis of faith, in this moment of testing, Daniel's friends could step away. They could say, ah, okay. Man, these Babylonians, they got their stuff together. They have an answer for every question. Forget about the Lord. Forget about his kingdom. We're just going to do the Babylonian thing." [41:57] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I think we need to be super clear in our cultural moment that if you are not intentional about living into the story of Israel and the scriptures, if you are not intentional about inhabiting the practices and habits of a disciple of Jesus, if you are not intentional about the people that surround you, just so you know, there are people out there in a larger cultural context that will shape you. They will shape and form you into their image. If you are not intentional, you will be formed by the culture around us." [37:26] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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