From 'Me' to 'We': Embracing Community in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Freedom in Christ Is for Serving Others, Not Self

True freedom in Christ is not a license for self-indulgence, but a calling to sacrificially serve others in love. When we focus on what we can give rather than what we can get, we reflect the heart of Jesus and build up the body of Christ. The world teaches us to ask, "What's in it for me?" but the gospel calls us to ask, "How can I use my freedom to bless others?" This shift transforms Christian community from a consumer experience into a place of mutual giving, where each person is empowered to serve and love as Christ has loved us. [41:30]

Galatians 5:13 (ESV)
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Reflection: In what area of your life have you been tempted to use your freedom for yourself rather than to serve others? How can you intentionally choose to serve someone in your community this week?

Day 2: Bear One Another’s Burdens

God calls every believer to step into the lives of others and help carry their burdens, whether through prayer, presence, or practical support. When we bear one another’s burdens, we fulfill the law of Christ and create a community where no one suffers alone. This requires vulnerability, intentionality, and a willingness to enter into the struggles of others, refusing to let them face their giants by themselves. The church is designed to be a place where the weight of life is shared, and where each person takes responsibility for lifting up their brothers and sisters in need. [51:00]

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Reflection: Who in your life is carrying a heavy burden right now? What is one specific way you can help lighten their load this week—through prayer, encouragement, or practical help?

Day 3: Stir Up One Another’s Faith

Faith is not meant to be lived in isolation; we need each other to keep our spiritual fire burning. The pressures and temptations of life can cause our hearts to grow cold, but God has given us the gift of community to encourage, exhort, and reignite one another’s faith. By intentionally reaching out, speaking life, and offering encouragement, we help prevent spiritual drift and keep each other anchored in Christ’s love and truth. [01:02:30]

Hebrews 3:12-13 (ESV)
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Reflection: Who in your community needs encouragement or a spiritual spark today? How can you reach out to them—through a message, a call, or a prayer—to help stir up their faith?

Day 4: Use Your Spiritual Gifts for the Common Good

Every follower of Jesus has been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit, not for personal gain, but to build up the church and serve others. These gifts are diverse and unique, and each one is essential for the health and growth of the body of Christ. Discovering and using your spiritual gifts requires stepping into community, being willing to serve, and allowing others to affirm and encourage your gifts. When you use your gifts, you become a channel of God’s presence and power in the lives of others. [01:09:36]

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 (ESV)
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

Reflection: What spiritual gift has God given you, or what do others affirm in you? How can you intentionally use that gift to serve someone in your church or community this week?

Day 5: Move from “Me” to “We” in Community

Christian community flourishes when we move from a self-centered mindset to a posture of mutual responsibility and love. Instead of asking, “What’s in it for me?” we are called to ask, “How can I build up others and participate in what God is doing here?” This shift requires courage, especially for those who have been hurt or feel hesitant to engage, but God promises to empower us with His Spirit to press in, trust again, and be used for His purposes. When each person brings their unique gifts and presence, the church becomes a place of healing, strength, and transformation for all. [01:16:50]

Romans 12:4-5 (ESV)
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Reflection: What is one step you can take this week to move from a “me” mindset to a “we” mindset in your church community? Is there a group, relationship, or opportunity where you can show up and contribute to the life of others?

Sermon Summary

In a world that constantly asks, “What’s in it for me?”, it’s easy to let this mindset seep into every area of life—including our approach to Christian community. From our earliest days, culture and advertising have trained us to center our lives around our own preferences, comfort, and happiness. But the way of Jesus calls us to something radically different. Rather than viewing community as a product to consume, we are invited to see it as a place to give ourselves away for the sake of others.

Scripture, especially in Galatians 5, reminds us that our freedom in Christ is not a license for self-indulgence, but a launching pad for loving and serving others. True Christian community is not just about what we receive, but about what we contribute. We are called to use our freedom to serve, to bear one another’s burdens, to encourage and ignite faith in each other, and to use our spiritual gifts for the common good.

Bearing burdens means stepping into the pain and struggles of others, refusing to let anyone face their giants alone. This is not just the job of pastors or leaders, but the calling of every believer. When we share the weight of life’s challenges, we fulfill the law of Christ and embody the love of Jesus in tangible ways.

We are also called to “set someone else on fire”—to stir up faith, hope, and love in those whose spiritual embers are growing dim. The world is relentless in its attempts to cool our passion for God, but through daily encouragement and presence, we can help reignite each other’s faith. Just as coals burn brighter together, so our faith is strengthened in community.

Finally, every follower of Jesus has been given spiritual gifts, not for personal benefit, but to build up the body. These gifts are discovered and affirmed in the context of real relationships, where we can both give and receive, complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The church becomes a beautiful tapestry of interdependence, where each person’s contribution matters.

The invitation is clear: move from a “me” mentality to a “we” mentality. Step into community not just to receive, but to give. Allow God to use you to bear burdens, ignite faith, and build up the body. In doing so, we experience the fullness of what it means to be the people of God together.

Key Takeaways

1. Freedom in Christ is a Call to Serve Our freedom is not meant to be a base camp for self-indulgence, but a launching pad for sacrificial love. Christ frees us not from others, but for others, so that we can give our lives away in service. This shift from “what’s in it for me?” to “what can I give?” is the heart of true Christian community. [38:02]
2. Bearing One Another’s Burdens is Everyone’s Responsibility Carrying the weight of another’s struggles is not reserved for pastors or leaders; it is the priestly calling of every believer. When we step into someone’s pain—through prayer, presence, or practical help—we fulfill the law of Christ and make the invisible love of God visible. Who’s burden are you lifting right now? [51:30]
3. Faith is Rekindled in Community Our spiritual fire is vulnerable to the pressures and temptations of life, and isolation only accelerates the cooling of our faith. God’s design is that we would “stir one another up” daily, speaking life and encouragement so that no one’s heart grows cold. The simple act of showing up and exhorting others can reignite hope and passion for God. [62:30]
4. Spiritual Gifts are Discovered and Deployed Together Every believer has been given a spiritual gift by the Holy Spirit, meant for the common good. These gifts are best discovered, affirmed, and put to use in the context of real relationships, where others can see and confirm God’s work in us. The church flourishes when each person brings their unique gift to the table. [72:42]
5. Community Requires Courage and Vulnerability Stepping into community, especially after being hurt or feeling inadequate, takes boldness. The Holy Spirit offers the courage to press in, to trust again, and to allow ourselves to be used—even when it feels risky. Healing, growth, and the fullness of God’s design for us are found on the other side of that step of faith. [85:28]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[08:12] - Announcements and Upcoming Events
[10:19] - Senior Saints Cookout and Fall Activities
[32:09] - Worship: Exalting the King
[35:06] - The “Me First” Mentality in Culture and Church
[38:02] - Freedom in Christ: Not for Self, but for Service
[51:30] - Bearing One Another’s Burdens
[56:30] - Rekindling Faith in Community
[59:39] - The Danger of Isolation and the Power of Encouragement
[62:30] - Stirring Up One Another to Love and Good Works
[65:13] - Using Your Spiritual Gifts for the Common Good
[69:36] - The Beauty of Interdependence in the Body
[72:42] - Discovering and Affirming Gifts in Community
[75:40] - Moving from “Me” to “We”
[76:50] - Responding: Reflection and Obedience
[85:28] - Prayer for Boldness and Healing
[92:33] - Final Blessing and Dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV) — > For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 6:2 (ESV) — > Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

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.

Observation Questions

In Galatians 5:13, what does Paul say our freedom in Christ is for? How does he contrast the use of freedom for self versus for others?
According to Galatians 6:2, what does it mean to “bear one another’s burdens”? What is the result of doing this?
In Hebrews 10:24-25, what are believers encouraged to do for one another, and why is meeting together so important?
The sermon described how a “me first” mentality can affect our approach to church and community. What are some examples given of this mindset showing up in Christian community? [[38:02]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul warns against using our freedom as “an opportunity for the flesh”? How might this warning apply to the way we approach church or small groups? [[38:02]]
The sermon said that bearing burdens is not just for pastors or leaders, but for every believer. What does this say about the role of each person in the church? [[51:30]]
Hebrews 10:24-25 talks about “stirring up” one another to love and good works. What might this look like in real life, especially when someone’s faith is growing cold? [[01:02:30]]
The sermon mentioned that spiritual gifts are discovered and affirmed in community. Why is it important to use our gifts with others, rather than just for ourselves? [[01:12:42]]

Application Questions

When you think about your involvement in church or small group, is your first thought “What’s in it for me?” or “What can I give?” What would it look like to shift your mindset this week? [[38:02]]
Is there someone in your life or group right now whose burden you could help carry—through prayer, encouragement, or practical help? What is one step you could take this week to support them? [[51:30]]
Have you ever felt your faith growing cold or distant? Who has helped “stir up” your faith in the past? Is there someone you know who needs encouragement right now? How could you reach out to them? [[01:02:30]]
Do you know what your spiritual gifts are? If not, what is one way you could begin to discover or use your gifts in community? If you do know, how are you currently using them to build up others? [[01:12:42]]
The sermon talked about the courage and vulnerability it takes to step into community, especially if you’ve been hurt before. Are there any fears or past wounds holding you back from deeper involvement? What would it look like to take a small step of faith toward community this week? [[01:25:28]]
The idea of “bearing one another’s burdens” can feel overwhelming. How can you set healthy boundaries while still being available to help others? What does it look like to share the load without burning out?
Think about your week ahead. What is one specific way you can move from a “me” mentality to a “we” mentality in your family, workplace, or church community? [[01:15:40]]

Sermon Clips

Community is not just what you get, it's actually about what you can give. And Jesus didn't save you so that you can think about what's in it for you. He actually saved you so that you could serve other people in the church. [00:43:29] (18 seconds) #ServeNotTake

You need to be in community not just because of what you will get from it. You need to be in community because of what you can give. Christ didn't free you from others, he freed you for others. He freed you so that your life could be given away on behalf of the church and on behalf of the lost. [00:46:30] (25 seconds) #GiveLifeNotGet

When your faith rubs against someone else's faith, suddenly, where they were growing cold, where things were getting stifled by the weight of the world, now they begin to burn brighter because they're rubbing against the Spirit's life and power in you. You begin to stir them up. [01:02:13] (18 seconds) #FaithNeedsCommunity

It's your responsibility in the Christian community to find someone in the gathering whose spiritual ember is barely glowing. And through the Holy Spirit, you begin to stoke them. You begin to encourage them. You begin to ignite them and their faith back into flame. [01:02:37] (16 seconds) #IgniteTheEmber

When Jesus was on earth in his ministry, he was a life-giver everywhere he went. He was rarely a taker. He would walk into community and he would restore someone or he would speak life into someone or he would challenge and strengthen someone. And if Jesus is our model for community, what should our pathway be? We should be givers of life everywhere we go. [01:03:06] (19 seconds) #LifeGiversPath

Every follower of Jesus has a spiritual gift. You, if you are in Christ, have been given the power and filling of the Holy Spirit, and the spirit has ignited in your life at least one spiritual gift. Why? Paul says here, for the common good. But God has given you the spiritual gift for this reason, so that you can give it away. [01:06:48] (35 seconds) #CallingToIgnite

We need you in community because God wants to use you there for all the reasons we talked about. To bear burdens, to stir faith, to use your gifts in that space, and to build the church, and to build the body of believers. And when you do that, it moves you, it moves us from a me community to a we community. We stop asking that question, what's in it for me? And we start asking, what can I give to this place to build up what God is doing here? [01:15:51] (24 seconds) #FromMeToWe

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