Full_Sermon_Oct_12_2025.docx

Devotional

Day 1: Remembering Who We Are Before What We Do

In times of transition, it is easy to become preoccupied with plans, strategies, and the urgent need to “do something.” Yet, Scripture reminds us that our truest foundation is not in our activity, but in our identity as God’s beloved people. Before we act, we are called to remember who we are: named, redeemed, and held in covenant by God. This identity is not earned by our achievements or lost in our failures; it is a gift that anchors us through every season, especially when the way forward is unclear.

When we root ourselves in God’s love and calling, we find clarity and courage for whatever lies ahead. Our sense of purpose and mission flows from this deep well of belonging. In liminal times, let us pause to listen for God’s voice naming us as His own, and allow that truth to shape every step we take.

“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.’” (Isaiah 43:1, ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to define yourself by what you do, rather than who you are in Christ? How might you pause today to listen for God’s voice naming you as His beloved?

Day 2: Belonging Is a Gift That Calls Us Deeper

Belonging to the Body of Christ is not something we achieve through effort or status; it is a gift we receive through God’s gracious love. This belonging is both a comfort and a calling. It assures us that we are never alone, that we are part of a people who share in each other’s joys and burdens. Yet, it also invites us to live out our identity in community, to show up for one another, and to carry the responsibilities that come with being God’s people.

True thankfulness grows when we recognize both the privilege and the responsibility of belonging. We are invited to move beyond mere attendance or surface-level connection, and to embrace the deeper call to love, serve, and support one another as Christ has loved us.

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:27, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your church community might need encouragement or support today? What is one concrete way you can express the gift of belonging to someone else this week?

Day 3: Embodying Connection Through Shared Practices

The Church’s connection to Christ and to one another is not just a spiritual idea—it is something we live out in tangible ways. Just as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, our faith is meant to take on flesh through acts of fellowship, worship, and service. The sacraments and shared practices of the Church are not empty rituals, but living reminders that God’s presence is found in community.

When we gather, pray, serve, and break bread together, we are participating in the incarnational life of Christ. These embodied connections are essential, not optional. They remind us that faith is not a solitary journey, but a shared life where God meets us in the midst of our relationships and daily acts of love.

“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.” (Acts 2:42-43, ESV)

Reflection: What is one shared practice—such as prayer, a meal, or an act of service—you can participate in this week to embody your connection to Christ and others?

Day 4: Letting Mission Flow Naturally from Identity

The mission of the Church is not an extra task added onto our lives; it is the natural outflow of who we are in Christ. As those who are named, redeemed, and sent by God, we are invited to participate in God’s ongoing work of reconciliation in the world. Our actions—big or small—become expressions of our identity as Christ’s people.

When we remember that we are a people sent by Christ, our mission is not driven by pressure or obligation, but by the joy of living out who we truly are. We move outward in love, trusting that God is already at work and inviting us to join Him in bringing hope and healing to others.

“As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20:21, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you sense God inviting you to participate in His reconciling work today? What is one step you can take to let your actions flow from your identity in Christ?

Day 5: Embracing Uncertainty as a Space for God’s New Work

Periods of uncertainty and transition—what some call “liminal times”—can feel unsettling or even threatening. Yet, these seasons are also opportunities for discernment, renewal, and creative faithfulness. The Church is called to let go of nostalgia and the need for control, and to open itself to the Spirit’s new work. In doing so, we honor the God who calls us by name and sends us forward into His future.

Embracing liminality means trusting that God is present and active, even when the path is unclear. It is an invitation to practice hope, to listen for God’s leading, and to step forward with courage and openness. Our purpose is found not in clinging to the past, but in being a community rooted in identity, connected in love, and oriented toward God’s unfolding story.

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of uncertainty or change in your life or church where you sense God inviting you to trust Him for something new? How can you practice creative faithfulness in that space today?

Sermon Summary

This sermon explores what it means to be the Church in times of transition and uncertainty—what the preacher calls “liminal times.” Welcoming new members is not just a formality, but a profound act of claiming our identity as the Body of Christ and expressing gratitude for belonging. Drawing from Isaiah’s words to exiled Israel and John’s vision of the incarnate Word, the sermon emphasizes that the Church’s identity is rooted in God’s calling and relationship, not in buildings, programs, or past achievements. Through sacraments like baptism and the practices of fellowship, worship, and service, the Church continually renews its sense of belonging and purpose. Ultimately, the Church’s mission flows from its identity: as a people named, redeemed, and sent by God, we are called to embody Christ’s reconciling love in the world, especially in seasons of change.

Key Takeaways

1. Identity Before Activity In liminal seasons, the Church is tempted to focus on strategies and survival, but Scripture calls us to remember who we are before deciding what to do. Our identity as God’s beloved, named, and redeemed people is the foundation from which all purpose and mission flow. When we root ourselves in this covenantal relationship, we find clarity and courage for whatever lies ahead.
2. Belonging as a Gift and Calling Belonging to the Body of Christ is not a status we achieve, but a gift we receive through God’s naming and redeeming love. This belonging is both comforting and demanding: it assures us that we are never alone, but it also calls us to live out our identity in community, sharing in each other’s joys and burdens. True thankfulness arises when we recognize both the privilege and the responsibility of being part of God’s people.
3. Connection is Incarnational The Church’s connection to Christ and to one another is not abstract or optional—it is embodied and essential. Just as the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, so too must our faith take concrete form in acts of fellowship, worship, and service. Our sacraments and shared practices are not mere rituals, but living reminders that God’s presence is found in community.
4. Mission Flows from Identity The Church’s mission is not an external task added onto its life, but the natural outflow of its identity in Christ. As those who are sent, we participate in God’s ongoing work of reconciliation, moving outward in love to the world. When we remember that we are a people sent by Christ, our actions become expressions of who we are, not just what we do.
5. Embracing Liminality with Creative Faithfulness Periods of uncertainty are not to be feared or avoided, but embraced as opportunities for discernment and renewal. The Church is called to practice creative faithfulness—letting go of nostalgia and control, and opening itself to the Spirit’s new work. In doing so, we honor the God who calls us by name and sends us forward, trusting that our purpose is found in being a community rooted in identity, connected in love, and oriented toward God’s future.

Bible Study Guide

**Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Living Church in Liminal Times**

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### Bible Reading

- **Isaiah 43:1-2**
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

- **John 1:1, 12, 14**
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God... And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”

- **Romans 6:4**
“We have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

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### Observation Questions

In Isaiah 43:1, what does God say to Israel about their identity and relationship with Him?
According to John 1, what does it mean for the Word to become flesh and for us to become “children of God”?
How does Paul describe the meaning of baptism in Romans 6:4?
In the sermon, what are some ways the church expresses its identity and belonging during times of transition?

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does God remind Israel, “I have called you by name, you are mine,” especially during a time of exile and uncertainty?
What does it mean for the church’s identity to be rooted in God’s calling and relationship, rather than in buildings, programs, or past achievements?
How does the idea of “belonging as a gift and calling” challenge the way people usually think about joining a church or being part of a community?
The sermon says that mission flows from identity. How might a church’s sense of purpose change if it starts with “who we are” instead of “what we do”?

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### Application Questions

The sermon talks about “liminal times”—seasons of transition and uncertainty. Can you think of a time when you or our church felt “in between” or unsure of the future? How did that affect your sense of belonging or purpose?
Isaiah’s words, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine,” are spoken to people in crisis. Is there an area of your life right now where you need to hear and trust these words? What would it look like to live from that secure identity this week?
The sermon says that belonging to the Body of Christ is both a comfort and a responsibility. In what ways do you experience the comfort of belonging here? Are there ways you feel challenged or called to deeper responsibility in our community?
The church’s connection is described as “incarnational”—not just an idea, but something lived out in real relationships and actions. What is one concrete way you could embody Christ’s love in our church or neighborhood this month?
Baptism and shared practices are described as “living reminders” of God’s presence. Are there any church practices or traditions that help you feel connected to God and others? How could you participate in or renew these practices?
The sermon encourages us to let go of nostalgia and control, and to open ourselves to the Spirit’s new work. Is there something from the past you find hard to let go of? What might it look like to practice “creative faithfulness” in this season?
If our mission flows from our identity as God’s beloved and sent people, what is one step you could take this week to live out that mission—either in the church or in your daily life?

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Sermon Quotes

We are making a strong claim to being connected to the Body of Christ and identifying ourselves as disciples of Christ—THAT is what makes us different from every other voluntary group, charity, business, or any other form of human community.

Every generation of the Church faces liminal moments—thresholds between what has been and what will be. To rediscover purpose, the Church must recover its identity as the people formed, redeemed, and sent by God.

The Church’s essence is not its building, membership rolls, or past successes but its divine calling. In liminal seasons, the task of the church is to remember who it is before it decides what it will do.

Purpose flows from being—identity precedes strategy. Renewal begins not with programs but with re-connection—with Word, table, and neighbor.

Connection is not an optional feature of congregational life; it is the life of the congregation. The Church’s task is not to preserve itself but to embody the relational nature of God in concrete acts of fellowship, worship, and service.

Baptism makes the Church a people of belonging before it becomes a people of doing. Our purpose flows naturally from connection—with God and with one another.

Mission is not a task imposed on the Church but the very expression of its identity. When a congregation remembers who it is—beloved, named, and sent—it discovers what it is to do.

For congregations today, embracing liminality means practicing discernment rather than fear, courage rather than control. It means seeing purpose not as a return to former glory but as openness to the Spirit’s new creation.

The Church discovers purpose precisely by becoming a community of pilgrims—rooted in identity, connected in love, and oriented toward God’s future.

For a congregation wrestling with change, the challenge is not merely institutional survival but spiritual authenticity. It is to hear again God’s words: “Do not fear… you are mine.” And from that secure identity, to live out the incarnational call of Christ.

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