Strengthening Faith Through Community Engagement

Devotional

Day 1: Community as a Source of Strength

Engaging in a community of faith transforms intimidating situations into opportunities for support and strength. Just as attending a sports game with friends can change the experience from daunting to enjoyable, being part of a faith community provides encouragement and safety. Community is vital for everyone, offering a sense of belonging and support, regardless of whether one is extroverted or introverted. In a world where individualism often prevails, the power of community lies in its ability to uplift and sustain us through life's challenges. [13:29]

"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." (Matthew 18:20, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed. How might being part of a supportive community have changed your experience?

Day 2: Noah's Faith and Community

The story of Noah highlights the importance of faith and community. Despite the challenges and ridicule he faced, Noah's faith in God's plan and the support of his family enabled him to build the ark. This narrative emphasizes the need for a faith that works through us, supported by a community that encourages and uplifts. Noah's journey was not one of isolation but of collaboration with those closest to him, demonstrating that faith is often a communal endeavor. [19:49]

"By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith." (Hebrews 11:7, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a time when you faced a daunting task. Who in your community supported you, and how did their support impact your faith journey?

Day 3: Counter-Cultural Community

In a culture that values individualism, the concept of community can be challenging. However, the early church thrived through communal living, sharing resources, and supporting one another. This counter-cultural approach allowed believers to grow stronger together, creating a foundation of mutual support and shared faith. Our church aims to create similar spaces of safety and encouragement, where faith can grow and thrive collectively, challenging the norms of individualism and fostering a spirit of unity. [23:16]

"And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." (Acts 2:44-45, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you prioritize individualism. How might embracing a more communal approach enhance your spiritual growth?

Day 4: Modern-Day Arks of Safety

Our church offers various ministries as modern-day arks of safety, providing spaces for fellowship, worship, and prayer. These opportunities allow us to experience a faith that works for us collectively, strengthening both our individual faith and our community. Just as Noah's ark was a place of refuge, these ministries serve as safe havens where we can grow in faith and find encouragement amidst life's storms. [31:29]

"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: Identify a ministry or group within your church that you haven't engaged with yet. What steps can you take this week to become involved and find your modern-day ark of safety?

Day 5: Taking the Step into Community

Overcoming past hurts or fears of vulnerability is essential to engaging in community. Whether through attending services, joining small groups, or participating in prayer meetings, there are opportunities to find support and encouragement. Our faith is strengthened in community, and our community is strengthened by our faith. The challenge is to take the step to get on board and experience a faith that works for us collectively, despite any reservations or past experiences. [36:32]

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

Reflection: What past experiences or fears are holding you back from fully engaging in your faith community? How can you begin to overcome these barriers this week?

Sermon Summary

In our journey to cultivate a faith that works, we begin by nurturing a personal relationship with Jesus, which then extends to our community. This week, we focus on the communal aspect of faith, exploring how being part of a community strengthens and supports us. Just as attending a sports game with friends can transform an intimidating experience into a joyful one, engaging in a faith community provides us with strength and encouragement. Community is essential for everyone, whether extroverted or introverted, as it offers safety and support.

The story of Noah illustrates the power of community and faith. Despite the wickedness surrounding him, Noah found favor with God and was instructed to build an ark for the safety of his family and creation. Noah's faith, though it seemed illogical, was rooted in trust in God's plan. His community, his family, played a crucial role in supporting him through this daunting task. This narrative underscores the importance of having a faith that works through us, not just in us, and how community is integral to this process.

In our modern, individualistic culture, the idea of community can be counter-cultural. Yet, the early church thrived because of its communal nature, as seen in the book of Acts. The believers shared everything, supported one another, and grew stronger together. Our church aims to create similar spaces of safety and encouragement through various ministries like Coffee Hour, worship services, prayer meetings, and small groups, or "huddles." These are our modern-day arks of safety, where we can experience a faith that works for us collectively.

The challenge is to step into this community, overcoming past hurts or fears of vulnerability. Whether through attending a service, joining a huddle, or participating in a prayer meeting, there are opportunities to engage and find support. Our faith is strengthened in community, and our community is strengthened by our faith. The question remains: will you take the step to get on board and experience a faith that works for us?

Key Takeaways

1. Cultural Community:** In a culture that values individualism, the concept of community can be challenging. However, the early church thrived through communal living, sharing resources, and supporting one another. Our church aims to create similar spaces of safety and encouragement, where faith can grow and thrive collectively. [23:16]
4. Modern-Day Arks of Safety: Our church offers various ministries as modern-day arks of safety, providing spaces for fellowship, worship, and prayer. These opportunities allow us to experience a faith that works for us collectively, strengthening both our individual faith and our community.

5. Taking the Step into Community: Overcoming past hurts or fears of vulnerability is essential to engaging in community. Whether through attending services, joining small groups, or participating in prayer meetings, there are opportunities to find support and encouragement. Our faith is strengthened in community, and our community is strengthened by our faith.

** [23:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - Introduction to Faith That Works
[03:45] - The Road to One: Internal Faith
[06:10] - The Power of Community
[09:00] - Personal Story: Football Game Experience
[13:29] - Importance of Community
[15:40] - Noah's Story: Faith and Community
[19:49] - Noah's Faith in Action
[21:43] - Building Faith Through Community
[23:16] - Counter-Cultural Community
[25:15] - The Early Church's Communal Strength
[27:45] - Modern-Day Arks of Safety
[31:29] - Opportunities for Community Engagement
[33:14] - Embracing Community at One Church
[36:32] - Taking the Step into Community
[39:36] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the state of humanity during Noah's time, and how did God respond to it? (Genesis 6:5-8)
How did Noah's faith manifest in his actions, and what role did his community play in this? [19:49]
What were some characteristics of the early church community as described in Acts 2:42-47?
How does the pastor describe the feeling of being in a potentially intimidating situation with and without community support? [13:29]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Noah have been considered a "preacher of righteousness," and how did his community support him in his mission? [19:49]
How does the communal aspect of the early church in Acts 2:42-47 contrast with modern individualistic culture? [23:16]
What are some reasons people might hesitate to engage in community, according to the sermon? [36:32]
How does the pastor suggest that community can transform intimidating situations into opportunities for strength and support? [13:29]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt alone in a challenging situation. How might having a supportive community have changed your experience? [13:29]
Noah's faith led him to take action despite ridicule. Is there an area in your life where you feel called to act in faith, even if it seems illogical to others? [19:49]
The early church shared everything and supported one another. How can you contribute to creating a similar sense of community in your church or small group? [23:16]
What past experiences or fears might be holding you back from fully engaging in a faith community? How can you begin to overcome these barriers? [36:32]
Consider the various ministries mentioned in the sermon, such as Coffee Hour or huddles. Which one could you participate in to strengthen your faith and community ties? [31:29]
How can you be a source of encouragement and support to someone in your community who might be hesitant to engage? [33:14]
The pastor mentioned the importance of having a "wingman" in intimidating situations. Who in your life can you rely on for support, and how can you be that person for someone else? [13:29]

Sermon Clips

"A theme that we're calling a faith that works, right? A faith that works, where our goal is to nurture a stronger, more active, and visible faith. And we saw last week that having a faith that works, it actually begins inside, right? It begins in our own hearts. It starts with the internal, right? And we're calling the process of developing this kind of faith, we're calling it the road to one. And what's that? What's the road to one? Well, like I said, it starts with the internal. It starts with having a faith that is in us. It's in our hearts where we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior. It's where we invest in our personal relationship with him, right? Reading God's word in prayer, right? Meditating on his word. But then we look to the communal, right? Where we see that faith works for us, right? It's not just for me. It's not just personal. It's actually for all of us in community." [00:08:20] (56 seconds)

"Community matters because when we build relationships, we actually build safety. But sometimes it takes faith. To engage in community, right? Like sometimes you've got to have a layer, a level of faith in order to engage in community. In fact, sometimes it takes a faith that works in you to move you into a space where you realize that faith is actually working for us, right? Like sometimes you've got to have that faith in you first before you can even realize that faith, a faith that works is actually for all of us. It's for community." [00:13:45] (38 seconds)

"But in 2 Peter, Peter refers to Noah as a preacher of righteousness. It simply means that Noah preached a message of repentance and following God with your life. But the people rejected it, right? So Noah's got this word from God, this instruction from God, that this thing is going to happen. But we know that Noah was a preacher of righteousness, and we know that the people rejected it. Like, they had an opportunity. God gave them an opportunity. They had an opportunity through Noah to repent, to move back towards God. But they didn't. They rejected it. And we don't know why. We have no idea why they didn't accept this message of repentance, right? We just know that the Bible refers to them as evil, right? They were corrupt." [00:19:26] (45 seconds)

"Noah had extreme faith to build the ark. Why? For the safety of his family and for the rest of creation. He had his community and he trusted in God's protection for them and knew that they needed one another in order to get through. In order to get where God was calling them to go, he knew that he needed his community around him. Right? Like, you want to talk about loneliness and isolation. Imagine what this whole scene would have been like if Noah was alone. Like, if it was just Noah, he didn't have his wife and his kids and their wives, right? If he didn't have his community around him, what would that have been like?" [00:20:53] (41 seconds)

"When it's not off by itself alone, when it actually is surrounded by others who are in the same boat. Who are doing the same things, who can encourage one another and lift one another up. And listen, this is not easy to do, right? Like in our modern culture, this is not an easy thing that I'm talking about here. Like being, the idea of community and like needing others, like how counter-cultural is that, right? Our whole culture is designed about individualistic, you know, nature, right? Be like, I can do this, just do it. I just move forward, power through, that kind of thing, right? Even famous preachers. I've preached this narrative that our faith is all about me. It's all about, it's all about praying a prayer of salvation, yeah? About being born again." [00:22:25] (46 seconds)

"And then the last thing is we have our huddles, right? These are our small groups where people gather outside of church. We're going to gather outside of church. We're going to Sunday into small group communities. Why? To lift one another up, to encourage one another, to pray with one another, to literally do life with one another. We get to experience all the joys and the triumphs as well as all the troubles and the tribulations as well. We do it all together and we gather in small groups to encourage one another. Huddles are a program where we take six to 12 people, generally speaking, and it could be singles, it could be marrieds, it could be men, it could be women, it could be young adults, it could be anything, right? Any group of people, any group of six to 12 people gathering together to lift one another up, to have community together." [00:31:29] (48 seconds)

"God Almighty, I thank you, Lord. I thank you, God, just for the church. Lord, I thank you that the church, as imperfect as it's been in the past, as imperfect as we are even right now to this day, I thank you, God, that the design, your design, for the church at large, God, is to be a place of community, a place of encouragement, a place where one person lifts somebody else up and prays for them and encourages them, Lord. And so, God, I pray for our church here at One Church. I pray that we would continue to move forward in faith, Lord, to become something that looks more like what you're wanting us to be, God. I pray just for health for us, Lord. I pray, God, that we would be a place of transparency and authenticity where we can be a place of faith, Lord, where we can be who we are, Lord, and explore who you are together, Lord." [00:39:48] (49 seconds)

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?