Finding Home in Global Christian Unity and Love

Devotional

Day 1: Unity in Diversity

In a world filled with diverse cultures and traditions, World Communion Sunday serves as a powerful reminder of the unity that binds the global Christian community. This unity is not about erasing differences but celebrating them as expressions of the love and grace of Jesus Christ. As believers partake in the sacrament of communion, they are reminded that they are part of one body, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries. This unity calls for an appreciation of the richness that diversity brings, encouraging believers to embrace and learn from one another. [06:14]

Ephesians 4:4-6 (ESV): "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: Think of a cultural or traditional difference you have encountered within your faith community. How can you embrace and celebrate this difference as a reflection of the unity in Christ?

Day 2: The Search for Home

The spiritual journey is often described as a quest for home, a place where acceptance, love, and belonging are found. This longing is not merely for a physical space but for a relational and spiritual state where individuals are fully known and valued. The biblical narrative is filled with stories of journeys toward freedom and home, reminding believers that their ultimate home is in the presence of God and within the community of believers. In God, one finds a true home, a place of rest and love. [37:41]

Psalm 84:1-2 (ESV): "How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God."

Reflection: Reflect on your current spiritual journey. What steps can you take today to draw closer to finding your true home in God and within your faith community?

Day 3: The Power of Love

Love is the essence of the Christian faith and the glue that holds the community together. Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 challenges believers to live in a way that reflects the unconditional love of Christ. This love is patient, kind, and selfless, transforming gatherings into true homecomings where all are welcomed and cherished. It is through this love that believers are called to live, creating a community that mirrors the love of Christ. [45:14]

1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Reflection: Identify one person in your life who needs to experience the love of Christ through you. What specific action can you take today to demonstrate this love to them?

Day 4: Communion as Homecoming

The act of communion is a sacred homecoming, inviting believers to the table of grace and love. It serves as a reminder of God's promise to be with His people, leading them toward a future filled with hope and redemption. This sacred meal is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, where all are welcomed and cherished. As believers partake in communion, they are reminded of the unity and love that binds them together as one body in Christ. [47:09]

Luke 22:19-20 (ESV): "And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.' And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.'"

Reflection: As you prepare for the next communion service, consider what it means for you to come to the table of grace and love. How can you approach this sacred meal with a heart open to God's promise of hope and redemption?

Day 5: Stewardship and Action

Faith calls believers to action, urging them to be good stewards of the resources and blessings they have received. Offerings, whether in the form of food for local pantries or financial gifts, are tangible expressions of a commitment to live out faith in meaningful ways. These acts of generosity are not just about meeting immediate needs but are a reflection of the love and grace received from God. Believers are called to live out their faith through acts of stewardship, impacting their communities and the world. [24:50]

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV): "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Reflection: Consider the resources and blessings you have received. What is one specific way you can use these resources to serve others and reflect God's love and grace today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we embraced the spirit of World Communion Sunday, a day that reminds us of our connection to the global Christian community. This day is a powerful reminder that we are not isolated in our faith journey but are part of a vast network of believers worldwide. We celebrated this unity through the sacrament of communion, a sacred act that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries, uniting us in the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Our reflections today centered on the theme of "home" and the deep longing within each of us to find a place of acceptance, love, and belonging. This yearning for home is not just about a physical location but a spiritual and relational state where we are embraced and valued. The biblical narrative is rich with stories of journeys toward freedom and home, reminding us that our ultimate home is found in the presence of God and in the community of believers.

We explored the profound message of love as articulated in Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Love, as described by Paul, is the essence of our faith and the glue that holds us together as a community. It is patient, kind, and selfless, and it calls us to live in a way that reflects the unconditional love of Christ. This love is what transforms our gatherings into a true homecoming, where all are welcomed and cherished.

As we partook in communion, we were reminded that this sacred meal is a homecoming of sorts, a moment where we are invited to the table of grace and love. It is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, a reminder of the promise that God is always with us, leading us toward a future filled with hope and redemption.

In our time together, we also acknowledged the importance of stewardship and the call to action that our faith demands. Our offerings, whether in the form of food for local pantries or financial gifts, are tangible expressions of our commitment to live out our faith in meaningful ways. These acts of generosity are not just about meeting immediate needs but are a reflection of the love and grace that we have received from God.

Key Takeaways

1. Unity in Diversity: World Communion Sunday reminds us that we are part of a global Christian community. Despite our diverse cultures and traditions, we are united in the love and grace of Jesus Christ, celebrating the sacrament of communion as one body. This unity calls us to embrace and appreciate the richness of our differences. [06:14]
2. The Search for Home: Our spiritual journey is a quest for home, a place of acceptance, love, and belonging. This longing is not just for a physical space but for a relational and spiritual state where we are embraced and valued. In God, we find our true home, a place where we are fully known and loved. [37:41]
3. The Power of Love: Love is the essence of our faith and the glue that holds us together as a community. Paul's description of love in 1 Corinthians 13 challenges us to live in a way that reflects the unconditional love of Christ. This love is patient, kind, and selfless, transforming our gatherings into true homecomings. [45:14]
4. Communion as Homecoming: The act of communion is a sacred homecoming, a moment where we are invited to the table of grace and love. It is a reminder of God's promise to be with us, leading us toward a future filled with hope and redemption. This meal is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet, where all are welcomed and cherished. [47:09]
5. Stewardship and Action: Our faith calls us to action, to be good stewards of the resources and blessings we have received. Our offerings, whether in the form of food for local pantries or financial gifts, are tangible expressions of our commitment to live out our faith in meaningful ways. These acts of generosity reflect the love and grace that we have received from God. [24:50]
** [24:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:43] - Announcements and Community Activities
[06:14] - World Communion Sunday
[07:47] - Opening Prayer and Hymn
[11:33] - Unison Prayer of Confession
[13:16] - Assurance of Forgiveness
[20:29] - Prayers for the Community
[23:07] - Stewardship and Offering
[26:07] - Blessing of the Gifts
[31:51] - Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 13
[33:42] - Reflection on Love and Home
[37:41] - The Search for Home
[45:14] - Love as the Essence of Faith
[47:09] - Communion as Homecoming
[52:46] - Invitation to Communion
[56:45] - World Communion Sunday Reflections
[59:19] - Communion Liturgy
[62:37] - Sharing the Bread and Cup
[69:12] - Closing Hymn and Benediction

Sermon Clips

1) "When we consider the gifts of God, stewardship of our resources rises among them. The psalmist marveled, what are humans? That you are mindful of them, mortals, that you care for them, yet you have made them a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands. You have put all things under their feet. The sovereign God has given us responsibility and care of our sibling creation. So may we respond to the call to glorify God by the works of our hands, the allocation of our resources and the generosity of our hearts." [23:07] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "Paul knew that people could speak eloquently and then say the worst things about others. You can preach marvelous sermons, sing beautiful ballads, write moving poetry, but if you don't have love, then you're just an old broken screen door flapping in the wind. You can be the deepest intellectual and read all the books by all of the experts, scholars, and best selling authors, and even profess a faith of severe devotion and trust that can move mountains. But if you don't have love, it's nothing. You can donate to the church, to the homeless, to the poor, to the migrant farm laborers, and every good cause that comes down the block. But if you don't have love, you gain nothing." [45:14] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Paul knew that for a church searching for home, filled with people longing for home, that love is what constitutes home, love that is unconditional and accepting. So whenever you're sad and everyone's been wearing you down, come to this homesick restaurant. This is what you've been waiting for. This is what you've been longing for. You may not even have realized it, but this is home. Here, around this table, with Christ, as our hope, and with a new family of those who practice the love that Jesus lived and that Paul wrote about to the church in Corinth." [47:09] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "The biblical search involves a journey from captivity to freedom. The most single important event in Israel's history is the exodus, from slavery in Egypt to freedom in Canaan, the promised land. Exodus is the name for that journey from captivity. Home is the name of that land of freedom. Home is a place without walls that hem in the human spirit. Home is a place where adults and children can grow and flourish. Home is more than the place you hang your hat. It's more than a place home is a relationship. It's to live in a relationship of acceptance and gratitude and love. Home is the place where that relationship is found." [37:41] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Love isn't being rude. It's not self seeking. It's not easily angered. Love means not keeping some internal record keeping of rights and wrongs that have been done. Love doesn't delight in evil or gossip, but rejoices in the truth, because love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." [45:14] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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