Staying Connected: Faith, Community, and Readiness

Summary

Welcome to Lexington Park Baptist Church. Today, we gather in the spirit of worship and gratitude, acknowledging the unique times we live in and the opportunities they present for spiritual growth and community engagement. As we navigate through these challenging times, we are reminded of the importance of staying connected, both with each other and with God. Our digital worship services and community groups continue to provide a platform for fellowship and spiritual nourishment, even as we adapt to new routines.

We are called to be the hands and feet of Christ, spreading the gospel and serving our community. Our ongoing programs, such as the food pantry and digital discipleship groups, are vital in maintaining our mission. Special events like the Grills for Glory and the upcoming prayer rally emphasize unity and love, transcending racial and cultural divides. These gatherings are not just social events but spiritual endeavors to bring us closer to God and each other.

Reflecting on the story of Noah, we are reminded of the importance of obedience and faithfulness. Noah's act of building an altar and offering sacrifices to God serves as a model for us to create spaces of worship and gratitude in our lives. As we give generously, may our offerings be a pleasing aroma to God, reflecting our commitment to His kingdom.

In these times of uncertainty, we are called to repentance and renewal. Like the days of Noah, our world is filled with distractions and challenges that can lead us away from God. Yet, we are urged to remain vigilant, prepared for the return of Christ. The parable of the thief in the night serves as a powerful reminder to stay alert and ready, for we do not know the hour of His coming.

As we conclude, let us commit to being a light in the darkness, sharing the gospel with those around us. May we be found ready and alert, living lives that honor God and reflect His love to the world.

Key Takeaways:

1. Community and Connection: In times of isolation, maintaining spiritual and communal connections is crucial. Our digital worship and community groups provide a space for fellowship and growth, reminding us that the church is not confined to a building but is a living body of believers. [13:11]

2. Unity and Love: Our gatherings, such as the prayer rally, emphasize the importance of unity and love across racial and cultural lines. These events are not just social but spiritual, aiming to bring us closer to God and each other, reflecting the church's prophetic voice in society. [24:48]

3. Generosity and Worship: Like Noah, we are called to create spaces of worship and gratitude. Our offerings should be a pleasing aroma to God, reflecting our commitment to His kingdom and our willingness to give generously, even in challenging times. [43:44]

4. Repentance and Renewal: In a world filled with distractions, we are called to repentance and renewal. The story of Noah reminds us of the importance of obedience and faithfulness, urging us to remain vigilant and prepared for Christ's return. [49:50]

5. Alertness and Readiness: The parable of the thief in the night serves as a reminder to stay alert and ready for Christ's return. We are encouraged to live lives that honor God, sharing the gospel and being a light in the darkness, ensuring we are not caught off guard. [01:20:07]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [02:40] - Opening Prayer
- [05:55] - Greeting and Announcements
- [08:59] - Weekly Activities Overview
- [13:11] - Community Engagement
- [24:48] - Special Events and Unity
- [43:44] - Generosity and Worship
- [49:50] - Call to Repentance
- [52:01] - Prayer for the Nation
- [53:34] - Preparedness for Christ's Return
- [54:41] - The Days of Noah
- [57:06] - The Unknown Hour
- [01:00:17] - Human Limitations
- [01:02:08] - The Role of Angels
- [01:04:39] - Cultural Reflections
- [01:06:33] - The Ark and the Cross
- [01:09:47] - The Rapture and Readiness
- [01:12:11] - The Urgency of the Gospel
- [01:20:07] - The Thief in the Night
- [01:25:13] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 8:20-22
2. Matthew 24:36-44

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Observation Questions:

1. What actions did Noah take after leaving the ark, and how did God respond to them? (Genesis 8:20-22)
2. According to Matthew 24:36-44, who knows the day and hour of the Son of Man's return?
3. What were the people doing in the days of Noah, and how does this relate to the return of Christ? [54:41]
4. How does the parable of the thief in the night illustrate the need for readiness? [01:20:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Noah's obedience and faithfulness serve as a model for creating spaces of worship and gratitude in our lives? [43:44]
2. In what ways does the parable of the thief in the night challenge believers to live with a sense of urgency and preparedness? [01:20:07]
3. How can the church maintain its prophetic voice in society while emphasizing unity and love across cultural and racial lines? [24:48]
4. What does it mean to be the "hands and feet of Christ" in the context of community engagement and digital discipleship? [13:11]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current spiritual and communal connections. How can you strengthen these connections in times of isolation? [13:11]
2. Consider the unity and love emphasized in the sermon. How can you actively promote these values in your community, especially across cultural and racial divides? [24:48]
3. Like Noah, how can you create a space of worship and gratitude in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to make your offerings a "pleasing aroma" to God? [43:44]
4. In what areas of your life do you need to seek repentance and renewal? How can you remain vigilant and prepared for Christ's return amidst distractions? [49:50]
5. How can you be a light in the darkness, sharing the gospel with those around you? Identify one person you can reach out to this week with the message of hope. [01:20:07]
6. What steps can you take to ensure you are living a life that honors God and reflects His love to the world? [01:20:44]
7. How can you stay alert and ready for Christ's return in your daily routine? What changes might you need to make to avoid being caught off guard? [01:20:07]

Devotional

Day 1: The Church Beyond Walls
In times of isolation, maintaining spiritual and communal connections is crucial. The church is not confined to a building but is a living body of believers. Digital worship services and community groups provide a space for fellowship and growth, reminding us of the importance of staying connected with each other and with God. These platforms offer spiritual nourishment and a sense of belonging, even as we adapt to new routines. By engaging in these digital spaces, we continue to be the hands and feet of Christ, spreading the gospel and serving our community. [13:11]

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 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 10:23-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in your church's digital community this week to foster connection and growth?

Day 2: Unity in Diversity
Our gatherings, such as the prayer rally, emphasize the importance of unity and love across racial and cultural lines. These events are not just social but spiritual, aiming to bring us closer to God and each other. They reflect the church's prophetic voice in society, calling us to transcend divisions and embrace diversity. By participating in these gatherings, we demonstrate the love of Christ and work towards a more unified and loving community. [24:48]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to build bridges and promote unity within your community, especially with those who are different from you?

Day 3: Sacrificial Worship
Like Noah, we are called to create spaces of worship and gratitude. Our offerings should be a pleasing aroma to God, reflecting our commitment to His kingdom and our willingness to give generously, even in challenging times. By giving of our time, resources, and talents, we honor God and participate in His work on earth. This act of worship is not just about what we give, but the heart with which we give it. [43:44]

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." (Hebrews 13:15-16, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you offer a "pleasing aroma" to God through your generosity and acts of service this week?

Day 4: Vigilant Faithfulness
In a world filled with distractions, we are called to repentance and renewal. The story of Noah reminds us of the importance of obedience and faithfulness, urging us to remain vigilant and prepared for Christ's return. As we navigate through life's challenges, we must keep our focus on God, seeking His guidance and strength to remain faithful. This vigilance requires intentionality and a commitment to living a life that honors God. [49:50]

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1:13, ESV)

Reflection: What distractions in your life are pulling you away from God, and how can you refocus your attention on Him today?

Day 5: Living in Readiness
The parable of the thief in the night serves as a reminder to stay alert and ready for Christ's return. We are encouraged to live lives that honor God, sharing the gospel and being a light in the darkness. This readiness involves a daily commitment to spiritual growth and a willingness to be used by God in His mission. By living in readiness, we ensure that we are not caught off guard and are prepared to meet our Savior. [01:20:07]

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into." (Matthew 24:42-43, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a lifestyle of readiness and alertness for Christ's return in your daily routine?

Quotes

1) "We are still to go into the world and spread the gospel. We're still to be about your business. So God, as we continue to do this, Lord, we continue to ask you to bless our church, bless our efforts, give the church leadership your wisdom, give us your guidance, and God you direct our steps. So Lord, I thank you for each family that's joining us here today for worship. Pray a special blessing upon each home. God be with us as we move into the summer months now and Lord God we just pray that you'll be with us in this worship service in Jesus name amen." [13:11] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "It is really important in this season that the church has a prophetic voice and can speak to what's going on in our culture. So it's our way of bringing red, yellow, black, and white together to pray for unity, to pray for love, and to pray for freedom. Now listen, this is not a protest. This is a prayer, rally, and walk. This is really important from your pastor. We don't want to be like the world. We're not like the world. Let's show the world how you come together. Let's come together in unity. Let's come together in love. And let's come together for the cause of freedom. We can do this. Jesus is the way." [24:48] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "What an awesome time it is to give unto the Lord. I want to thank you for being cheerful, generous, and faithful givers. Once again, it is so awesome to stand before you as your pastor during this season and what we've gone through and to say that we're at 98% of our budget giving. Man, go ahead. Praise the Lord. Write it in there. Amen. Praise the Lord. Give yourself a pat on the back. Give yourself a virtual fist bump from your pastor. Good job, family of God. I mean, it is awesome. It is amazing." [43:44] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "Prepared today. Listen, what are we prepared for? No one knows the hour in which Jesus will come again. We need to prepare ourselves because we can't know the actual hour that he'll return. He can return at any time. So how can we deal with that? We must be alert, we must be prepared, and we must be aware. If we're doing those things and if Jesus comes at any time, we can say, Maranatha, come Lord Jesus, come quickly. And when he's here, we know he's here. And we can look at him and say, that's my Lord. He's cracked the sky for me. He's taken me home." [53:34] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "The parousia, the coming of the Lord. Not like the advent, the first advent, but the second coming. The second coming of the Lord. It is unknown to us the actual day and hour that he will come. So the disciples, if you go all the way back to the beginning of 24. The disciples are asking Jesus, when will we know these things have happened? How will we know? So they wanted to know when it would happen and what the signs would be. So up to this point, Jesus has given us, you know, he's told us what would happen. He's told us the signs that would happen." [54:41] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "We have limitations. Listen, as human beings, we like to know. We think we're so smart. We think we have all the answers. I mean, look around again in the culture in which we live today. We have all these problems. We're not seeking the God who created us. We're not seeking the God of the universe, the God that's all-knowing, the God that knows everything, the God that's all-powerful. No, we seek human solutions. We seek, you know, to do protest or to have mobocracy where mobs are ruling the day now. Or we choose violence or we choose our own human intellect." [01:00:17] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "The Bible describes that day as corrupt. The Bible describes that day as wicked, as evil. People that would choose to follow their own selfish inclinations. People that will just be about their own business. And Jesus describes the days of Noah with these type of terms. There will be people that are eating and drinking and marrying and given in marriage. And even later he would say there would be people working in fields and there would be women grinding mill in the grind mills and they would be working, just going about their business." [01:06:33] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "The ark is the cross. Those who know Jesus Christ, we know will be raptured. We know we'll be in that ark, just like Noah's family. God looked at Noah, and he saw his righteousness, the righteousness that God had put upon him, the righteousness that Christ puts upon us. We're clothed in Christ's righteousness. Those of us that belong to Christ will be in the ark of the cross, just like that day. Just like that day is today. Could we be in the end days? We could be. Sure does seem like the days of Noah." [01:09:47] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "Millions of people will be left behind. Millions of people, because they did not bow their knee to Jesus as Lord and Savior, they'll miss it. They'll miss the rapture. They'll be left behind. Please let no one that's hearing my voice be in that category. May everyone be right now aware and be prepared that we may be living in the days of Noah, and we need to have our hearts ready for the Lord. We need to be sharing the gospel, with our family and friends and coworkers and community, and engaging the world with the gospel." [01:12:11] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10) "He is coming. We don't want to be left behind. Are you ready? If you are ready, again, every week, this is your altar call. This would be like you coming forward during service right now. Continue to do this. Right down there in the thread, just say, I am ready and alert. I'm ready and alert. I know you're prepared. I hope this sermon series is getting you motivated. I hope you have questions. I hope you're studying. You want to know more about the Lord's return. You want to know more about the Lord. You want to be right with the Lord." [01:21:55] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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