Thriving Together: The Power of Community and Relationships
Summary
In today's reflection, I shared a personal moment about the recent passing of my mother-in-law, Nancy, and how it has brought our family comfort in the promise of eternal life. This personal experience ties into our ongoing discussion about survival and thriving in life. We have been exploring the idea that life is inherently about survival, and through survival, we find a deeper sense of thriving. This week, we delve into the importance of community and relationships in our survival journey.
Life is not meant to be lived in isolation. Just as the TV shows "Survivor" and "Alone" illustrate, alliances and community are crucial for thriving. God designed us to journey together, and this shared journey is essential for our survival. It's not about what happens to us, but who is with us during those times. At the end of our lives, it is the relationships and shared experiences that will be remembered, not the events themselves.
We are called to find our people, to form alliances that help us navigate life's challenges. This shared journey involves knowing, helping, and being present with one another. Awareness of each other's struggles is vital, as it fosters a sense of community and support. We are encouraged to take what we know and put it into action by helping and serving each other. The power of presence, simply being with someone in their time of need, is profound and unexplainable.
The New Testament is filled with teachings about the shared journey, emphasizing our responsibility to one another. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn, carrying each other's burdens and encouraging one another. This shared journey is not always safe or easy, as people are imperfect and relationships can be messy. However, isolation is not the answer. We are designed to be in community, to forgive, and to extend grace to one another.
Ultimately, the shared journey is about focusing on what we can do for others, not what they can do for us. By taking the initiative to know, help, and be present for others, we find our people and fulfill the law of Christ, which is to love as He loved us. This is the essence of thriving in life—being part of a community that supports and uplifts each other.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Power of Community: Life is not meant to be lived in isolation. We thrive through community and shared experiences, as God designed us to journey together. Our relationships and alliances are crucial for navigating life's challenges. [35:58]
2. Awareness and Action: Being aware of each other's struggles fosters a sense of community. It's important to take what we know and put it into action by helping and serving one another. The power of presence, simply being with someone, is profound. [42:33]
3. The Shared Journey in Scripture: The New Testament emphasizes our responsibility to one another. We are called to rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, and carry each other's burdens. This shared journey is essential for our faith and life. [46:07]
4. Embracing Imperfection: Relationships can be messy, and people are imperfect. However, isolation is not the answer. We are designed to be in community, to forgive, and to extend grace to one another, even when it's challenging. [53:07]
5. Focus on Others: The shared journey is about focusing on what we can do for others, not what they can do for us. By taking the initiative to know, help, and be present for others, we find our people and fulfill the law of Christ. [50:40]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Personal Reflection and Family Update
- [03:15] - Introduction to Survival Series
- [05:30] - The Concept of Thriving Through Survival
- [08:00] - Cultural Fascination with Survival
- [10:45] - Importance of Alliances
- [13:30] - God's Design for Community
- [16:00] - Finding Your People
- [18:45] - The Role of Relationships in Life
- [21:30] - Awareness and Action in Community
- [24:00] - The Power of Presence
- [27:15] - Scriptural Insights on Shared Journey
- [30:00] - Embracing Imperfection in Relationships
- [33:00] - Focus on Serving Others
- [36:00] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Romans 12:15 - "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."
2. Galatians 6:2 - "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."
3. John 21:18-22 - The conversation between Jesus and Peter about their individual journeys.
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Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of community in our survival and thriving? [35:58]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of awareness in building a supportive community? [42:33]
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of presence in our relationships? [42:33]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the concept of a shared journey in the New Testament? [46:07]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Romans 12:15 encourage believers to engage with others in their community, and what might this look like in practice? [46:07]
2. In what ways does Galatians 6:2 challenge individuals to take responsibility for others' burdens, and how does this fulfill the law of Christ? [46:07]
3. Reflecting on John 21:18-22, how does Jesus' conversation with Peter highlight the uniqueness of each person's journey, and what can we learn from this about our own paths? [58:09]
4. The sermon mentions that relationships can be messy and imperfect. How does this reality impact our understanding of community and forgiveness? [53:07]
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Application Questions:
1. Think of a time when you felt isolated. How did that experience affect your ability to thrive, and what steps can you take to build stronger community connections now? [35:58]
2. How can you become more aware of the struggles of those around you, and what practical actions can you take to support them? [42:33]
3. Identify a relationship in your life where you can be more present. What specific actions can you take to show your support and presence in that person's life? [42:33]
4. Reflect on a recent situation where you had to carry someone else's burden. How did that experience impact your relationship with them, and what did you learn about yourself? [46:07]
5. Consider a relationship that has been challenging due to imperfections. How can you extend grace and forgiveness in that situation, and what steps can you take to improve the relationship? [53:07]
6. How can you shift your focus from what others can do for you to what you can do for others in your community? What changes might this require in your daily interactions? [50:40]
7. Reflect on your own journey. How can you embrace the uniqueness of your path while supporting others in theirs, even if their experiences differ from yours? [58:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Community as God's Design
Life is not meant to be lived in isolation. We thrive through community and shared experiences, as God designed us to journey together. Our relationships and alliances are crucial for navigating life's challenges. The essence of community is not just about being together but about being there for each other in meaningful ways. In a world that often values independence, the biblical model of community calls us to interdependence, where we support and uplift one another. This shared journey is a reflection of God's intention for humanity, where love and support are central to our existence. [35:58]
"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to today to offer support or encouragement, and how can you make that connection meaningful?
Day 2: Awareness and Action in Community
Being aware of each other's struggles fosters a sense of community. It's important to take what we know and put it into action by helping and serving one another. The power of presence, simply being with someone, is profound. In a world filled with distractions, being present for others is a powerful act of love and service. It requires us to listen, to empathize, and to act in ways that demonstrate genuine care. This awareness and action are not just about grand gestures but about the small, everyday acts of kindness that build strong, supportive communities. [42:33]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one person in your community who is struggling. What is one specific action you can take today to help carry their burden?
Day 3: The Shared Journey in Scripture
The New Testament emphasizes our responsibility to one another. We are called to rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn, and carry each other's burdens. This shared journey is essential for our faith and life. It is through these shared experiences that we grow in empathy and understanding, reflecting the love of Christ in our interactions. The biblical call to community is not just about being physically present but about being emotionally and spiritually engaged with one another. [46:07]
"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another." (Romans 12:15-16a, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent joy or sorrow in your community. How can you actively participate in sharing that experience with others today?
Day 4: Embracing Imperfection in Relationships
Relationships can be messy, and people are imperfect. However, isolation is not the answer. We are designed to be in community, to forgive, and to extend grace to one another, even when it's challenging. Embracing imperfection means recognizing that everyone, including ourselves, is a work in progress. It calls us to practice patience, forgiveness, and grace, understanding that these are the foundations of strong, lasting relationships. [53:07]
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." (Colossians 3:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a relationship in your life that is challenging. What steps can you take to extend grace and forgiveness in that relationship today?
Day 5: Focus on Serving Others
The shared journey is about focusing on what we can do for others, not what they can do for us. By taking the initiative to know, help, and be present for others, we find our people and fulfill the law of Christ. This focus on serving others shifts our perspective from self-centeredness to selflessness, aligning our actions with the teachings of Jesus. It is in serving others that we truly find fulfillment and purpose, as we reflect the love and compassion of Christ in our daily lives. [50:40]
"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Consider one way you can serve someone in your community today without expecting anything in return. How can this act of service reflect the love of Christ?
Quotes
I want to begin with a little bit of a personal moment. And then we'll jump into what we're going to talk about today. Over the last several years, my wife Donna's mother, Nancy, my mother-in-law, has been in declining health. And over the last few days, that accelerated. And early Thursday morning, she passed away. And she is now in the presence of Jesus. And for that, we are greatly comforted and have much hope in the promise of the coming resurrection and eternal life. [00:31:02] (40 seconds)
I wish I could just tell people and show people that they're not alone. Like if I'm in the lobby talking to someone and they're going, I don't understand and I don't get it. I don't know why this is happening. You know what I wish I could do? I wish. I can't do this and I would never do this. But here's what I wish I could do. You see that guy right there? You have no idea what he's going through. [00:38:55] (22 seconds)
And then, the most underrated part of the shared journey is to be. To be. This is about presence. To journey. To be with people is to be present with them. To sit with them. To experience with them. The power of presence is unexplainable. That's why we've developed the cliché. And this cliché that we use, we throw it around, but when you really stop and think about this cliché that we use all the time when we talk about people that have given us their presence. [00:42:07] (44 seconds)
To a group of Christians in Rome, he writes, So in Christ, we, though there's many of us, we form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Belongs. It's a huge statement. We are responsible for, we are responsible even to each other. In Christ and because of Christ, we have an alliance with each other that we need to lean into. [00:44:41] (34 seconds)
God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can be fat and sassy and comfortable and convenient and kick back and relax and enjoy the ride. Nope. He comforts us. Not just so we'd be comfortable, but there's a bigger purpose. It's a comfort. Somebody else. That means. Baked in to the recipe and the DNA of what you're surviving is the intention by your creator that one day somebody else is going to come along and they're going to need to know that you know. [00:46:32] (42 seconds)
What is the law of Christ? Oh, we talk about it all the time. All the time is Jesus's new command that he summarized everything he taught with this. Love as I have loved you. Love each other as I've loved you. That's the law of Christ. And you're loving each other as you've been loved when we carry each other's burdens because we are doing for one another what our Savior, the great burden carrier, does for us. [00:47:45] (29 seconds)
I thought you said, I'm going to find, I got to find my people. You do need to find your people. But the way you find your people is to not focus on, hey, what can they do for me? What can you do for me? Some of you are like, I got to have some people to help me. And I need this. And I need that. And it was the wrong focus, the wrong focus. The Christ-like focus is to say, I need to go be a people for someone else. [00:49:40] (25 seconds)
You want people to know what you're going through? Take an interest in what they're going through. You feel like people need to help you? Don't let that be your focus. Help somebody. Help somebody else. You need people to be with you? Go be with someone. Take the initiative and do for them. Actually, then, the full picture of the shared journey looks like this. To know. To know. And then be known. [00:50:43] (33 seconds)
Now, this is the full picture. I do it and I experience it. I provide it. And I get in on it. That is the point. This. Don't try to survive without this. You were designed for this. Everybody around you was designed for this. This is what finding people is all about. This is why you need each other for this. [00:51:45] (28 seconds)
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