Living in Community: Trust, Obedience, and Action
Summary
The sermon series focuses on the importance of community, obedience, trust in God, and active participation in His plans. The pastor uses various biblical stories, particularly those of David, to illustrate these themes. The congregation is encouraged to live life together, supporting and caring for one another, much like the New Testament Church in the book of Acts. The pastor emphasizes the significance of obedience to God's commands, even in the face of adversity, using David's life as an example. Trust in God's plans, even when they may not align with personal desires or expectations, is another key theme.
The pastor begins the sermon series by discussing the importance of community within the church. He contrasts the consumer-focused American church service with the communal living of the New Testament Church in the book of Acts. The pastor emphasizes the role of home groups in providing a space for people to share struggles and support one another. He also highlights the example of Barnabas in the book of Acts, who was a source of encouragement and support to others.
The pastor then transitions to discussing the importance of obedience to God's commands. He uses the example of David, who trusted God's sovereignty but also took action by singing, spying, and fighting the battle. Despite the betrayal and hardships he faced, David remained faithful to God's calling. The pastor reminds the listeners that the characters in the Bible were real people with real struggles, just like us, and encourages empathy and understanding towards their experiences.
Trust in God's plans, even when they may not align with personal desires or expectations, is another key theme in the sermon series. The pastor underscores this by discussing David's decision to trust in God's will during his conflict with Absalom. Despite the threat of Absalom taking the throne and potentially exiling or killing him, David chooses to trust in God's decision. He instructs the priests to return the ark to the City of God, believing that God will determine who the rightful king is.
Finally, the pastor encourages active participation in God's plans, rather than passive observance. He highlights the importance of being present for others in times of struggle and suffering, using the example of David and his loyal friend Hashai. The pastor acknowledges that it can be difficult to know what to say or do when someone is going through a tragedy, but encourages the congregation to push against their hesitations and simply be there for their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Key Takeaways:
- The importance of community within the church is emphasized, with the congregation encouraged to live life together, supporting and caring for one another, much like the New Testament Church in the book of Acts.
- Obedience to God's commands, even in the face of adversity, is a key theme. The example of David, who trusted God's sovereignty but also took action by singing, spying, and fighting the battle, is used to illustrate this point.
- Trust in God's plans, even when they may not align with personal desires or expectations, is underscored. David's decision to trust in God's will during his conflict with Absalom, choosing to trust in God's decision rather than taking matters into his own hands, is used as an example.
- Active participation in God's plans, rather than passive observance, is encouraged. The importance of being present for others in times of struggle and suffering is highlighted, using the example of David and his loyal friend Hashai.
- The congregation is warned against trying to make bargains with God and instead encouraged to trust in God's good pleasure and will. The importance of spiritual maturity, which involves valuing God and His kingdom over present circumstances, is emphasized.
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1) Acts 2:42-47 [25:48]
2) James 2:14-26 [39:39]
3) 1 Corinthians 24 [54:26]
Observation Questions:
1) In Acts 2:42-47, what are some of the activities the early church engaged in together?
2) According to James 2:14-26, what is the relationship between faith and works?
3) What does 1 Corinthians 24 say about the role of the church in the life of a believer?
Interpretation Questions:
1) How does the early church's communal living in Acts 2:42-47 contrast with the modern church's approach to community?
2) How does James 2:14-26 challenge our understanding of faith and action?
3) What implications does 1 Corinthians 24 have for our understanding of the church's role in our spiritual growth?
Application Questions:
1) How can you foster a sense of community in your life that mirrors the early church in Acts 2:42-47?
2) Can you identify a specific way your faith could be demonstrated through action this week, as suggested in James 2:14-26?
3) How can you contribute to creating a church environment that encourages spiritual growth, as described in 1 Corinthians 24?
4) Can you think of a specific need in your community that you can meet without asking for permission, as suggested in the sermon?
5) How can you be more present for someone in your life who is going through a difficult time?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Community in the Church
The essence of the church is not just about attending services, but about living life together, supporting and caring for one another, much like the New Testament Church in the book of Acts. This communal living is a stark contrast to the consumer-focused American church service. Home groups play a crucial role in providing a space for people to share struggles and support one another, following the example of Barnabas in the book of Acts, who was a source of encouragement and support to others.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: How can you contribute to fostering a sense of community within your church?
Day 2: Obedience Amidst Adversity
Obedience to God's commands, even in the face of adversity, is a key theme. David's life serves as an example of this, as he trusted God's sovereignty but also took action by singing, spying, and fighting the battle. Despite the betrayal and hardships he faced, David remained faithful to God's calling.
1 Samuel 15:22 - "But Samuel replied: 'Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'"
Reflection: How can you remain obedient to God's commands in the face of adversity?
Day 3: Trusting God's Plans
Trust in God's plans, even when they may not align with personal desires or expectations, is crucial. David's decision to trust in God's will during his conflict with Absalom, choosing to trust in God's decision rather than taking matters into his own hands, serves as an example.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: How can you trust in God's plans when they do not align with your personal desires or expectations?
Day 4: Active Participation in God's Plans
Active participation in God's plans, rather than passive observance, is encouraged. The importance of being present for others in times of struggle and suffering is highlighted, using the example of David and his loyal friend Hashai.
James 2:17 - "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's plans and be present for others in times of struggle and suffering?
Day 5: Valuing God Over Circumstances
The congregation is warned against trying to make bargains with God and instead encouraged to trust in God's good pleasure and will. The importance of spiritual maturity, which involves valuing God and His kingdom over present circumstances, is emphasized.
Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: How can you value God and His kingdom over your present circumstances?
Quotes
1. "He [David] recognizes that a great life might not be God's plan. It might be God's plan for him to stay on the throne, but he understands that true fulfillment and purpose come from aligning with God's will, even if it means sacrificing personal comfort and worldly success." [13:42]
2. "Being present just means being there, it doesn't mean you have to have the words to say. Oftentimes in those moments of tragedy, you're not even hearing anything, you're just looking for a friend to be there with you." [23:58]
3. "This has caused us to produce far more consumers than disciples. When you look at the New Testament Church in the book of Acts, you don't find people showing up to watch something, you find people living life together, studying the Bible together, sharing their struggles together, encouraging each other to follow Christ." [25:48]
4. "As you're in a home group and someone shares, 'We're going through this struggle,' you can rally together to be there, to be present, to be an encourager. In the New Testament, in the book of Acts, it's Barnabas, right? To be one of those guys, that hushai, that Barnabas, to be there and help, love, and care for others." [26:57]
5. "We need to do what he has called us to do, what he has commanded us to do, recognizing that he often uses our obedience as the tool to bring about his plan." [17:42]
6. "David trusts God, but that does not lead to passivity or inactivity. He still strategizes, he still plans, he's still gonna fight for the crown right." [15:41]
7. "An obedient trust in God results oftentimes in aggressive action... we can't come along and say, 'if God wants to do that then he'll just do it, so I don't need to do anything.'" [16:25]
8. "What if this morning what is best for the kingdom of God is a loss for you? What if it's a loss for me? What if God's plan is not what's best for me personally? We always imagine the kingdom advancement and what's best for the kingdom will also be prosperous for us, but what if God's good plan for the kingdom includes me losing my job or me getting cancer or me dealing with a hardship or trial? What if what's best for the kingdom is not necessarily what I think is best for me? Am I willing this morning to suffer loss if that's what's best for the community, if that's what God's plan is?"
9. "Yes, God has a plan for my life, but his plan is bigger than me having a wonderful life, me having a prosperous wealthy life. Yes, he is a good father who loves me and cares for me far more than I could ever imagine, but he does not withhold hard things. We know this, don't we? Think about the Apostle Paul. God's will for Paul's life included a lot of hardships, a lot of difficulties. For Paul's life, loss was often what was best."
10. "Even if it's not what is best for me, David recognizes here he literally prays and says it might not be God's will but I be on the throne, it might be God's plan that Absalom, as wicked and evil as he is, that he is on the throne. This full trust in God today, we so often live in an individualized focused Faith, right? We, it's really focused around us and everything is sort of dictated and driven to just us, and there's a lot of times not a thought, a lot of thought given to the larger Community."
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