Transforming Through Community: The Joy of Connection
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we are diving into Acts 2:42 as we kick off our new series, "The Other Half of Church." This series is inspired by the book by Jim Wilder and Michael Hendricks, which combines neuroscience and scripture to explore how we can truly become more like Jesus. Often, the things we don't want are the things we need, and this series aims to uncover what we need to grow spiritually.
We began by discussing how simply learning about Jesus isn't enough to transform us. Knowledge alone can puff us up, but it doesn't build us up. True transformation involves both the left and right sides of our brain. While the left side deals with facts and logic, the right side is relational and instinctual. To grow like Jesus, we need to engage both sides, and this is where community comes in.
Community is essential for spiritual growth. Neuroscience shows that the right side of the brain, which governs our instincts and relational behaviors, is activated through relationships. Therefore, to become more like Jesus, we need to be part of a community that follows Him. This is why groups are so vital at Compass Christian Church. They provide the relational connections that fuel our spiritual transformation.
Joy is a crucial element in this transformation. Joy is what we feel when someone is genuinely glad to see us. It’s a powerful force that can help us overcome life's challenges and grow spiritually. The early church in Acts was filled with joy because they were devoted to each other and to the core practices of community: the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
At Compass, we are committed to creating joy-filled communities through various groups. Whether it's an activity group, a life group, or a growth group, we want to ensure that everyone has a place to connect and grow. We believe that by being devoted to these core practices, we can build a community that not only feels like church but truly is the church.
### Key Takeaways
1. Transformation Requires More Than Knowledge: Simply learning about Jesus isn't enough to transform us. Knowledge can puff us up, but it doesn't build us up. True transformation involves engaging both the left and right sides of our brain. The left side deals with facts and logic, while the right side is relational and instinctual. To grow like Jesus, we need to engage both sides. [49:21]
2. Community is Essential for Spiritual Growth: Neuroscience shows that the right side of the brain, which governs our instincts and relational behaviors, is activated through relationships. Therefore, to become more like Jesus, we need to be part of a community that follows Him. This is why groups are so vital at Compass Christian Church. They provide the relational connections that fuel our spiritual transformation. [53:29]
3. Joy is Crucial for Overcoming Life's Challenges: Joy is what we feel when someone is genuinely glad to see us. It’s a powerful force that can help us overcome life's challenges and grow spiritually. The early church in Acts was filled with joy because they were devoted to each other and to the core practices of community: the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. [01:00:21]
4. Devotion to Core Practices Builds Community: The early church was devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These core practices created a community filled with joy and spiritual growth. At Compass, we are committed to these same practices to build a community that not only feels like church but truly is the church. [01:10:45]
5. Groups Provide the Relational Connections We Need: At Compass, we offer various groups to match different seasons of life. Whether it's an activity group, a life group, or a growth group, these groups provide the relational connections that are essential for spiritual growth. By being part of a group, we can experience the joy and community that fuel our transformation into Christ-likeness. [01:20:57]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[40:04] - Introduction to Marlena and Community
[40:27] - Growth at Casa Grande Campus
[40:52] - Prayer and Introduction to Acts 2:42
[41:13] - The Importance of Community
[41:40] - Story of Italian Family Dinner
[44:56] - The Thing You Need
[45:14] - Introduction to "The Other Half of Church"
[47:23] - Learning About Jesus Isn't Enough
[49:21] - Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up
[50:22] - Engaging Both Sides of the Brain
[53:29] - Community and the Right Side of the Brain
[54:21] - The Importance of Joy
[01:00:21] - Joy in the Bible
[01:10:45] - Devotion to Core Practices
[01:20:57] - Groups at Compass Christian Church
[01:22:48] - Communion and Reflection
[01:28:41] - Closing and Prayer Partners
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Acts 2:42 (NIV): "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
- 1 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV): "We know that 'We all possess knowledge.' But knowledge puffs up while love builds up."
- Psalm 16:11 (NIV): "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
### Observation Questions
1. What were the four core practices that the early church devoted themselves to according to Acts 2:42?
2. How does 1 Corinthians 8:1 differentiate between knowledge and love? [49:21]
3. According to Psalm 16:11, where does joy come from?
4. What role does community play in activating the right side of the brain, as discussed in the sermon? [53:29]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to engage both the left and right sides of the brain in our spiritual growth? [50:22]
2. How does being part of a community help us become more like Jesus, according to the sermon? [53:29]
3. What does the sermon suggest is the relationship between joy and overcoming life's challenges? [01:00:21]
4. How can the core practices of the early church (apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer) contribute to building a joyful community today? [01:10:45]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are you engaging both the left (logical) and right (relational) sides of your brain? How can you incorporate more relational activities into your spiritual life? [50:22]
2. Think about your involvement in the church community. Are you actively participating in a group? If not, what steps can you take to join one? [01:20:57]
3. Joy is described as a powerful force for spiritual growth. Can you recall a time when someone's joy in seeing you made a significant impact on your day or life? How can you be that source of joy for someone else? [01:00:21]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being devoted to core practices like the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Which of these practices do you feel most drawn to, and how can you deepen your commitment to it? [01:10:45]
5. The sermon mentioned various types of groups at Compass Christian Church, such as activity groups, life groups, and growth groups. Which type of group do you think would best suit your current season of life, and why? [01:20:57]
6. How can you create an environment of joy and welcome in your own small group or community? What practical steps can you take to ensure that everyone feels genuinely glad to be there? [01:00:21]
7. Reflect on the story of the Italian family dinner shared in the sermon. How can you apply the lesson that "the thing you didn't want is the thing you need" to your spiritual journey? [44:56]
Devotional
Day 1: Transformation Requires More Than Knowledge
True transformation in Christ involves more than just acquiring knowledge about Him. While the left side of our brain processes facts and logic, the right side governs our instincts and relational behaviors. To grow spiritually, we must engage both sides of our brain. This means that intellectual understanding must be paired with relational experiences and emotional connections. Simply knowing about Jesus can lead to pride, but true transformation comes from integrating this knowledge into our lives through relationships and community. [49:21]
1 Corinthians 8:1-2 (ESV): "Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that 'all of us possess knowledge.' This 'knowledge' puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know."
Reflection: Think about an area in your life where you rely solely on knowledge. How can you incorporate relational and emotional experiences to deepen your spiritual growth in this area?
Day 2: Community is Essential for Spiritual Growth
Neuroscience reveals that the right side of the brain, which controls our instincts and relational behaviors, is activated through relationships. To become more like Jesus, we need to be part of a community that follows Him. This is why groups are so vital at Compass Christian Church. They provide the relational connections that fuel our spiritual transformation. Being in a community helps us to practice love, patience, and other Christ-like qualities, which are essential for our spiritual growth. [53:29]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Identify a group or community you are part of. How can you contribute to making it a place where spiritual growth is nurtured through relationships?
Day 3: Joy is Crucial for Overcoming Life's Challenges
Joy is a powerful force that helps us overcome life's challenges and grow spiritually. It is what we feel when someone is genuinely glad to see us. The early church in Acts was filled with joy because they were devoted to each other and to the core practices of community: the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. Joy strengthens our resilience and helps us to face difficulties with a positive spirit. [01:00:21]
Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV): "Then he said to them, 'Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced. How did the presence or absence of joy affect your ability to overcome it? How can you cultivate joy in your daily life?
Day 4: Devotion to Core Practices Builds Community
The early church was devoted to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. These core practices created a community filled with joy and spiritual growth. At Compass, we are committed to these same practices to build a community that not only feels like church but truly is the church. By being devoted to these practices, we can create a supportive and nurturing environment that fosters spiritual growth and joy. [01:10:45]
Acts 2:42-47 (ESV): "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. And all who believed were together and had all things in common."
Reflection: Reflect on your current spiritual practices. How can you be more devoted to the core practices of teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer to build a stronger community?
Day 5: Groups Provide the Relational Connections We Need
At Compass, we offer various groups to match different seasons of life. Whether it's an activity group, a life group, or a growth group, these groups provide the relational connections that are essential for spiritual growth. By being part of a group, we can experience the joy and community that fuel our transformation into Christ-likeness. These groups help us to build meaningful relationships and provide a support system that encourages us in our spiritual journey. [01:20:57]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "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!"
Reflection: Consider joining or starting a group that aligns with your current season of life. How can you contribute to making it a place where relational connections and spiritual growth are prioritized?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Very often, the thing that you didn't want is the thing that you need. Recently my wife's grandfather was in town and he was telling me a story. This is a true story. And one thing you got to know is my wife's side of the family is they're Italian. I know there's already a theme that has been established this morning. My wife's side of the family is Italian. What you need to know about Italian families is that they think about food in a much different way from other families." [41:40] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We live in a world that is afflicted with loneliness. More and more, we are becoming isolated from each other. Like when my family first moved to Arizona, I remember one person at the Casa Grande campus put it this way. She said, 'Here's how it works. We stay in our air conditioners, in our air-conditioned homes, and we drive in our air-conditioned cars to air-conditioned grocery stores, and we don't have to talk to anybody if we don't want to.'" [58:03] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The world needs joy more than ever. Our city needs a place where they can come and where people are actually excited to see them. They need a place where they can leave the terrors and the despairs of their lives behind and find brothers and sisters who love them, who are interested in them, and who are devoted to them. The world needs a place of genuine compassion and radical acceptance." [01:13:34] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Joy is when we receive, joy is what we receive when somebody else is excited to see us. It's when you see somebody else's eyes light up the moment that they see you. It's when you walk into a restaurant and everybody yells Opa. That's joy. And it's what we receive when someone is glad to see us. In fact, we see this through the entire Bible. The idea of joy is all throughout the Bible and it's actually connected to faces." [01:00:46] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We need joy if we want to be more like Jesus. Now how do we define joy exactly? Well, we get this from the book that we're going through, 'The Other Half of Church.' Here's their definition of joy: Joy is when we receive, joy is what we receive when somebody else is excited to see us. It's when you see somebody else's eyes light up the moment that they see you. It's when you walk into a restaurant and everybody yells Opa. That's joy." [01:00:46] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "We do not become more like Jesus simply by learning more about him. Now I may have told this story before, but when I was seven years old, I had just finished Sunday school on a Sunday afternoon. And at Sunday school that day, we had learned the story of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee in the boat where there was a storm and Jesus put his hands out and he said, 'Peace be still,' and the wind and the waves died down." [47:23] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If we want to become more like Jesus, then we need to be connected to a community who follows Jesus. Because what we discover from the world of neuroscience is that the right side of the brain is relational. It interprets body language. It senses whether people are happy or frustrated. It gives you a gut feeling about who's the real leader in the room. It's that guy over there." [53:29] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We need a church family full of people who are devoted. There's a philosopher out there who honestly, I don't love reading his stuff because he challenges me. Like he's a conservative communist, if that even makes sense. I don't think that makes sense. But his name is Slavoj Žižek. Maybe you've heard of him. And he wrote something so profound, about the existence of decaffeinated coffee." [01:12:13] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We need to be devoted to the same things that the first church was devoted to, to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And so at Compass, here's what we sought to do. We sought to distill those essential truths of those four practices into four cores to ensure that whatever we're doing, whatever group experience that you are stepping into at Compass, that you are experiencing joy-producing community." [01:15:21] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The world needs a church that doesn't just have groups. They need a church that is formed of groups, of small communities who ask each other questions, who listen to each other's stories, and who allow each other to figure it out as we all go along. The world needs a church that has been impacted by the truth that 2,000 years ago Jesus died on the cross and three days later he rose from the tomb alive forevermore." [01:13:34] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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