Commitment to Scripture and Community in Faith

In a discourse centered on the theme of commitment, the focus is placed on the importance of being devoted to the teachings of the Bible and the value of community within the church. The message begins by highlighting the significance of the Bible in guiding individuals through life's challenges, offering encouragement, and reminding them of God's promises. The accessibility of the Bible is emphasized, with the mention of free Bible apps that provide various translations and plans to help individuals engage with the scriptures regularly.

The narrative then transitions to the example of the Bereans from Acts 17, who are commended for their noble character and open-mindedness. They eagerly received the message of salvation through faith in Christ and diligently examined the scriptures daily to verify the teachings they heard. This example serves as a model for believers to be committed to the scriptures, as it can have an immeasurable effect on one's life.

The discussion continues by addressing the issue of consumerism within the church, where individuals may prioritize personal preferences over the true purpose of the church. The message challenges this mindset, reminding the audience that worship is not for personal satisfaction but for God. The early church is presented as a contrast, where despite discomfort and lack of modern amenities, they experienced miracles and wonders due to their focus on the right priorities.

The importance of knowing and living by the word of God is further emphasized, with references to the teachings of Joshua and Paul. The message warns against the dangers of not being familiar with the scriptures, as it leaves individuals vulnerable to false teachings. The Bible is described as God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, equipping believers for every good work.

The concept of community is explored through the metaphor of redwood trees, which stand tall and withstand storms due to their interconnected roots. This image illustrates the strength found in the closeness and connection among church members. The church is not just a building but a body of believers who are mutually dependent on each other. The message encourages individuals to engage in community, warning against the pitfalls of isolation and the necessity of supporting one another.

Personal anecdotes are shared to illustrate the transformative power of community. Stories of support, protection, and life-changing relationships within the church community are used to convey the message that commitment to one another is essential. The narrative concludes with a call to action, urging individuals to commit to God, to the word, and to the people of God, highlighting the impact such commitment can have on one's life and the lives of others.

Key Takeaways:

- The Bible serves as a foundational guide for life, offering direction, encouragement, and a reminder of God's promises. Its accessibility through various platforms eliminates excuses for not engaging with the scriptures, emphasizing the need for daily commitment to God's word. This commitment is crucial for personal growth and the ability to discern truth from falsehood. [01:09:02 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

- The early church's example of unwavering commitment, even in the face of adversity, sets a standard for modern believers. The steadfast perseverance and devotion to the apostles' teachings highlight the importance of being resolute and dutifully firm in one's faith. This level of commitment is what defines a true believer and is necessary for a life that honors God. [56:47 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

- The strength of a church community is likened to the interlocking roots of redwood trees, which allow them to grow tall and withstand storms. This metaphor underscores the importance of interconnectedness among believers, where the true strength of a church lies not in its material resources but in the shared life and support of its members. [01:16:23 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

- Commitment to community involves more than just attending services; it requires active participation in the lives of fellow believers. The message encourages individuals to move beyond their comfort zones, to reach out, and to build meaningful relationships within the church. This commitment can lead to life-changing experiences and a sense of belonging that extends beyond the walls of the church. [01:33:13 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

- The act of giving, whether it be time, resources, or support, is an expression of commitment to God and His people. The story of a man's obedience in giving, despite personal need, and the subsequent blessing he received, illustrates the principle of sowing and reaping. This principle is a key aspect of living a committed Christian life, where faithfulness in giving can lead to unexpected provision and blessings. [01:37:13 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **Acts 2:40-47 (ESV)**
> "And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, 'Save yourselves from this crooked generation.' So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 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. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."

2. **Joshua 1:8 (ESV)**
> "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

3. **Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)**
> "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

#### Observation Questions
1. What were the early believers in Acts 2:42-47 devoted to, and how did this affect their community? [55:20]
2. According to Joshua 1:8, what are the benefits of meditating on the Book of the Law day and night?
3. How does Hebrews 4:12 describe the word of God, and what does this imply about its impact on our lives?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that the early church in Acts 2:42-47 devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers? How did this shape their community and faith? [55:20]
2. In Joshua 1:8, what does it mean to meditate on the Book of the Law day and night, and how can this practice lead to prosperity and success?
3. Hebrews 4:12 describes the word of God as "living and active." How can this understanding influence a believer's approach to reading and applying the Bible in their daily life?

#### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on Acts 2:42-47, how can you personally commit to the teachings of the Bible and to your church community? What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your engagement? [55:20]
2. Joshua 1:8 emphasizes the importance of meditating on the scriptures. What practical changes can you make in your daily routine to ensure you are consistently engaging with the Bible? [01:00:19]
3. Considering Hebrews 4:12, how can you allow the word of God to "pierce" and transform areas of your life that need change? Identify one area and discuss how you can apply scripture to it.
4. The sermon mentioned the metaphor of redwood trees and their interconnected roots. How can you strengthen your connections within your church community to ensure mutual support and growth? [01:16:23]
5. The pastor shared personal anecdotes about the transformative power of community. Can you recall a time when your church community supported you in a significant way? How can you offer similar support to others? [01:28:15]
6. The sermon challenged the mindset of consumerism in the church. How can you shift your focus from personal preferences to the true purpose of worship and community? What changes in attitude or behavior might this require? [50:01]
7. Reflect on the story of the man who gave despite his personal need and received a blessing in return. How can you practice generosity and trust in God's provision in your own life? [01:37:13]

Day 1: Embracing Scripture's Guiding Light
The Bible is not merely a book but a compass for navigating life's complexities. It offers solace, direction, and a constant reminder of the divine promises awaiting us. Engaging with its teachings daily strengthens one's faith and sharpens discernment, allowing for a life rooted in truth. [01:09:02]

Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Reflection: How can you make reading and reflecting on the Bible a more consistent part of your daily routine?

Day 2: Perseverance in Faithful Devotion
True believers are characterized by their steadfast commitment to their faith, mirroring the early church's dedication despite challenges. This unwavering devotion is essential for a life that truly honors the divine and manifests the fullness of spiritual potential. [56:47]

James 1:22-25 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate a more resolute commitment to your faith in your daily actions?

Day 3: Interconnected Strength in Community
The church thrives on the unity and mutual support of its members, much like the redwood trees that stand tall through their interconnected roots. This shared life and support system is the true foundation of a resilient spiritual community. [01:16:23]

Ephesians 4:15-16 - "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."
Reflection: How can you contribute to strengthening the bonds within your church community this week?

Day 4: Beyond Attendance to Active Engagement
Commitment to the church means more than just being present; it involves active participation and the forging of deep, meaningful relationships within the spiritual family. This engagement is a catalyst for transformation and a deeper sense of belonging. [01:33:13]

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
Reflection: What is one step you can take to move from passive attendance to active engagement in your church community?

Day 5: The Blessing of Giving
Living a committed Christian life includes the act of giving, which is a tangible expression of devotion to God and His people. The principle of sowing and reaping is evident when faithfulness in giving leads to divine provision and blessings. [01:37:13]

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 - "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
Reflection: What can you give this week, whether it be time, resources, or support, to demonstrate your commitment to God and His people?

Again, we thank you, Lord, that we can step on the foundation that never cracks, it never moves. So I can know whatever way I go, I have a solid rock that I stand on, and all other ground is sinking sand. So I choose, I choose the rock every day, regardless if I feel like it, regardless of what's going on around me. I choose the rock.

I thank you, Jesus, for this church, this body, the people that are coming in and might not know you, Lord. I pray that you touch them, God. I pray they feel peace and comfort that they've never felt before. So God, we give you all the glory and all the honor today. We thank you that we have the privilege of worshiping you, the privilege of hearing your word, the privilege of hearing your truth, God, being challenged, and we grow in you. God, we give you all the praise again, all the honor, because all the honor goes to you. In Jesus' name, amen.

Would you give Him one last praise this morning? Amen.

Well, good morning! Good morning! We're so glad that you are here with us. This is such a great day, such a great day. We're so excited that—so excited! We actually are genuinely excited you're here. Like, we just—we're a church that just loves people, and it just brings so much joy. Get it? Joy to the Lord! Joy!

But we just want you to do the Limitless Shuffle, we call it. Turn to those around you, say hi, give them a hug. If they're sick, give them a little wave, pray for them.

Good morning, church! My name is Bianca, and I'm so excited to welcome you to church today. If it is your first time here, I want to personally thank you and welcome you for being here. We have a QR code on the seat pocket in front of you that we would love for you to fill out so we can get to know you and hear your story. Once you fill that card out, we would love to invite you to the Limitless table so we can place a gift in your hand.

We have a few housekeeping rules we would love to go over with you. Number one, we have kids ministry during our 11 a.m. service. Feel free to walk your children over and check them into our amazing kids ministry.

Number two, we would appreciate it if you would silence your cell phone so there are no distractions in our worship center.

And number three, if you would please take your trash with you on your way out, we would so appreciate that so our worship center stays clean and pristine.

If you miss a chance to give, we have an offering bin at both our exits. If you would like to leave a prayer request, we have a prayer bent at our coffee table. We would love to pray for you. Thank you!

Hello, my name is Ella, and these are your Limitless announcements.

Limitless Church, it's time to pray! Not only pray, but it's time to pray and fast. We are having our annual 15 days of prayer and fasting starting tomorrow, so we would love for you to join us as we take this time of consecration. Every day, we will have a prayer focus, and we will post a video talking about that prayer focus and an opportunity to pray. But we would ask you to fast with us and pray with us for what God is going to do in this year. We believe that God has called us to do some amazing things, but none of it happens without prayer and fasting. Would you join us?

Hey, guys! Limitless, I have an important announcement. We are excited to have our very first Limitless Church membership class! That's right! If you've been going to this church for a while and said, "Hey, this is my home. This is the place where I want to establish my family. This is where we're going to be," we’re excited to offer you an opportunity to become a member of Limitless Church.

We have our class, and the class is called Roots and Wings. The roots are really going over the foundations of our church, the foundations of our beliefs here at Limitless Church, and the wings are talking about these opportunities to grow and really be all that God has called you to be here at Limitless Church.

So I want to offer you the opportunity to join us at our first class on the 28th. That is the last Sunday of this month, and it's going to be immediately after service at 1:00. So please sign up at the link in the code or sign up at the Team Limitless table. I want you to be a part of that. This is going to be a wonderful time and a time for you to really be a part of the church.

We also have another opportunity for baptism this month. If you have already said yes to Christ, the next step would be to publicly declare your faith through baptism. This will be on Sunday, January 21st, in our 11 a.m. service. Please sign up at the QR code or at the table in the back. We'd love to partner with you in this, and we cannot wait for this next step in your journey.

Calling all young adults! Yes, you young adults! We have an awesome event coming up. We have our first young adult worship night! Join us January 26, that is Friday night at 6:30 p.m. for our awesome worship. Adriana will be with us in beautiful worship.

And I invite those who know to all come together.

And on February the 4th, in both of our services, we are excited to be having our very first baby dedication. A lot of you have asked about this, and we're honored to have this opportunity for you to commit your child to the Lord. So if you have a child ages zero to three and you would like to join in the celebration where you're saying, "Hey, I am committing to parenting my child in the ways of the Lord, and I'm committing them to the Lord in this ceremony," we would love for you to sign up at the QR code on the seat pocket in front of you or at the Team Limitless table.

And those were your announcements! If you have any questions or want some more information, make sure to check out that QR code or Team Limitless.

Good morning again, church! Good morning!

So just another announcement, and I'm excited to share about it. So today, and I know it was shared about a little bit last week, today is the Martin Luther King celebration service at Trinity Life Center at 5:30 p.m. It's an incredible service. This year is the 30th anniversary of this service being held in Sacramento. So if you're like, "I've never heard of this service," it has been around for 30 years, I promise you.

And I've had the pleasure of being able to go to many of them. It's an amazing time of unity. The music—like, you think the music here is off the hook, which it is—well, the music there is incredible. There's going to be a great word. My father-in-law is actually speaking, so you know, little plug for him.

And I would just like to invite you. If you need a seat, let me know. We'll save you a seat. It's at 5:30 today at Trinity Life Center, which is on Hillsdale Boulevard in Sacramento. So it's going to be a great time. You guys are looking good today! Who wants to come? I need answers now! Little RSVP!

All right, some RSVPs! I got it! All right, Pastor K, I'm going to pass it on to you.

Amen! Thank you, Miss Jamie! Amen! I do encourage you to please be there. This is an awesome time. Mr. Gordon—Lauron Gordon—he's actually giving an award today as well, so please shout him down when he gets up. Give him a standing ovation! Make him feel—help him out! Help him out! Because he’s going to need it at Trinity! Hallelujah!

All right, I'm excited to dive into the word this morning. We had amazing worship this morning, and it has been going since this morning's prayer. So I'm excited to dive into our message.

The other thing that I wanted to bring up is our membership class. I know a lot of you have been asking what that's about, and I'm going to go into more details about it next week. But it's really this opportunity. A lot of you have said, "Hey, we've never done this before." This is something that we felt it was time for us to do—to have this for people who said, "Hey, I'm committed to this church."

It's one thing to say, "Hey, I'm coming," or to be lookers—looky-loos, as they would say—people who just come in and out. But to say, "Hey, I'm committed. This is my house. This is where I'm at. This is where I'm planting. This is my covering."

And so we're going to be going through a lot of the different parts of what we believe, what this church means, what our mission is, and how we plan to fulfill that mission and that vision for the city.

So I would encourage you, if that's you, please sign up at the QR code on the seat pocket in front of you or sign up at the back table. We want you to come to this membership class. I promise I am not going to keep you long, but I think it's important that you know what this church is about and what that means.

So that's the first thing. And then I got a question before service about prayer and fasting. This is something that we do every year, and it's this time that we're setting aside to pray and to fast. That word "fasting" is abstaining from something, so making the decision to abstain from something.

You'll see it different times in the Bible where people fasted; they abstained from food, they abstained from these things. And we want to do that as a church. We believe that God has called us to do some amazing things. We believe that this year is going to be a year like never before, but this happens when we pray and when we fast, when we consecrate ourselves, when we set aside something, and we take that time to pray every day.

There’s going to be a prayer point. We're going to post those videos on social media. We'll actually post them in our app as well so that you can see that schedule and that you can know what's happening from there.

All right, are we ready to dive into this word this morning? All right, let's pray.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your word. God, would you speak to us this morning? Your presence is already here. You're already moving. Speak to us, God. Would you anoint our hearts to receive what you're saying today? That this wouldn't just be a word that would come across, but this would be something that would pierce our hearts and that would enact change.

Let our hearts be like fertile soil, God, in your word—seeds that are planted on this soil that begin to produce a harvest. Anoint our ears so that we can hear what it is that you have to say today, God—not just the words that are coming across the pulpit, but what you're saying individually to us. What would you have us do? Speak through my vocal cords and think through my mind, God—all of you and none of me. In Jesus' name, amen.

All right, so we started last week talking about commitment. We talked about what it means to be committed, and I challenged you in the area of commitment. This week, I want to continue by opening up our series called "Welcome to Church."

Some of you might be new to the faith. You recently accepted Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior, and you're here, you're excited. Some of you maybe have recently recommitted your life to Christ. You say, "Hey, I was a part of the fold. I spent some time away, but now I am making my way back to Jesus." Some of you may have been in the faith for a long time, and you've been walking this road, you've been running this race.

No matter where you find yourself on that spectrum, this series is for you. And so I would encourage you, I would implore you—the Bible says I would beseech you—to be here in this series every week and hear what God is saying.

I'd like to take the next few weeks and welcome you to church. See, unfortunately, over time, church has become about things that it was never meant to be, it was never originally meant to be. And as a result, we've adopted a mindset of consumerism when it comes to our gathering.

It's all about me. I didn't like the music. I didn't like the coffee. I didn't like the lighting. I didn't like the kids' ministry. I didn't like that there wasn't tea. Exactly! We've adopted this mindset of consumerism, and those things will determine whether or not we go to church.

And if we don't like it or we get offended, then we'll just hop around and go to a different church until we find one that suits us. Church was never supposed to be about us. People say, "Oh, I don't come to church during the music because I don't like the worship." The worship isn't for you! I don't know if you know this or not, but actually, we're singing to Him. The songs are for Him!

But we've got this idea that somehow it was about us. I don't like the style. I don't like the drums. I don't like the—it's not for us; it's for Him. We have to get our hearts and our minds back on the things that matter. We have to be reintroduced and welcomed to real church.

The first church had none of the things that we have today. They were way more uncomfortable than we will ever be, yet they saw miracles, signs, and wonders like never before. The question we have to ask ourselves is, what changed? What changed?

See, we've been—H—H—we've got this idea that we have become more comfortable, or we've been focused on being more comfortable at the place that we gather instead of focusing on who we're gathering for and the purpose of why we're here.

Last week, we talked about commitment. We talked about being committed. Today, I'm going to ask you the same question that I asked you last week: Where is your commitment? Where's your commitment?

Over the next several weeks, I want to look at the first body of believers, and I want to look at the things that they committed to because those things allowed them to see multiplication and miracles like never before. And I think it's important that we hone in on those things, take some time, and see what those things are.

Our main text we will find in Acts chapter 2, starting at verse 40 and going to 47. I'm going to read this out of the Amplified Classic version. It says, "Peter solemnly and earnestly witnessed, testified, and admonished and exhorted with much more continuous speaking and warned. He reproved, he advised, he encouraged him, saying, 'Be saved from this crooked, this perverse, wicked, and unjust generation.'

Therefore, those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls. And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and the fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread, including the Lord's Supper, and prayer.

And a sense of awe, a reverential fear, came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles, the special messengers. And all who believed, who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ, were united, and together they had everything in common.

And they sold their possessions, both their landed property and their movable goods, and distributed the price among all according as any had need. And day after day, they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes, they broke bread, including the Lord's Supper. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts, constantly praising God and being in favor and good will with all the people.

And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were being saved from spiritual death."

The verse I want to focus on today, and all of that, because there were a lot of things that they were focused on, and we're going to spend the next couple of weeks going through these things. But today, I want to focus on verse 42. The ESV reads, "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers."

Today, I want to talk about being committed to the word of God and being committed to community—being committed to the word of God and being committed to the people of God. The classic version said, "And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles."

Okay, there are a couple of words in there that I think we need to go over and look at. "Steadfastly"—this word steadfast means resolute or dutifully firm or unwavering.

Okay, "Resolute"—resolved or dutifully firm or unwavering. "Steadfastly persevered"—this word persevered means to continue even in the face of difficulty. To persevere means to continue even in the face of difficulty.

Then the last thing it says is that they were steadfastly persevering, devoting themselves. To devote—this word devote means to give all or a large part of one's resources to. To give all or a large part of one's resources to.

They steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves. They were committed. This is the definition of commitment. This is what it means to be a believer. This is what the church in Acts did. They were unwavering, they continued in the face of difficulty, and they were devoted to the word of God.

This wasn't a book that they put in their house to collect dust. This wasn't something they carried around in case of emergencies. This wasn't just stories that they told their kids just to keep them occupied. The apostles' teaching, the word of Christ, or what we know as the scriptures, was their life. This was their everything.

Every day, they spent time pouring over the scriptures, talking about the scriptures, encouraging one another with the word of God. This is what it looks like to be committed to the word. It's this mindset that says my life is submitted to these words. Every area, every facet of my life is submitted to these words, whether I like it or not, whether I agree with it or not, whether I have the answers right now or not, whether I feel like it or not.

I am committed to the word of God. Every area—everything I'm involved in—my family, my marriage, my relationships, my work, my conversation, my finances, and my plans—all of it is led, dictated, and lived under submission to the word of God. This is what that means.

There is no area of my life that isn't under submission to this. That's what it means to be committed. You say, "Oh, you know, I love Jesus, but I still..." Then that area is not committed. "Well, you know, I love Him. I go to church, but you know, I do a little..." Then that area of your life is not submitted.

It's not a game; it's all or nothing. There is no tiptoeing. There is no in and out. When there is an area of your life that is not submitted to the word of God, then you have two decisions: you submit that area of your life to the word of God or no longer call yourself a Christian. That's what it means.

We are to be committed to the word of God—steadfastly persevering, devoting ourselves to this word. Joshua chapter 1, verse 8 says, "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read and meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful."

He says this book shall not depart from your mouth. He said you always should be talking about it. You always should be thinking about it. You should be mulling it over. You should be evaluating the scriptures. That's what it means to be committed.

And I promise you, if you spent more time talking about the scriptures than the other things that are happening in your life, the results might be a little different.

"But Pastor, you don't understand what's going on in my life." I get it. I understand. I'm with you. I dare you to spend more time in this word.

Colossians chapter 3, verse 16 says, "Let the spoken word of Christ have its home within you, dwelling in your heart and mind, permeating every aspect of your being as you teach spiritual things and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your heart to God."

He says let it dwell. Let it have its home within you. This is where it stays. This is where it be at. This is where it lives. He says let it have its home within you, dwelling, residing, taking up residence in your heart and mind. This is what commitment is.

The Lord spoke to Joshua, and Paul spoke to the church in Colossae, telling them to be committed to the word of God. We cannot continue to call ourselves believers if we don't even know what we believe.

You don't even know what you believe. Kids go to college, and they go to college, and there are people at colleges—and our DCF people can tell you this—they know the word better than we do. They have studied the scripture to find holes and to poke holes in it.

There was a time where I was really into apologetics, which is the defense of the faith, and I would see these people who would go to these college campuses, and they would travel around the world defending the faith. And every time they would counter somebody from a different religion, no matter what it is, they would start off quoting the scripture word for word.

They ain't looking for it. They ain't stumbling over it. They ain't saying, "Uh, uh." They know it like the back of their hand, and they're not even Christians. They don't even believe it, and they know it.

We have to be committed to this word. We have to know what it says for our life. We have to know what it says and what it doesn't say because someone quickly—the Bible tells you that they will come having a form of godliness. They'll come, and it'll sound like the word, but it won't be the word. But the only way you'll know that is if you know the word for yourself.

We don't know how to live. We don't know how to walk by faith. We don't know how to walk through life's obstacles if we haven't committed to the thing that God gave us to show us how to do it.

All He gave us this—all of the answers. Every area of your life can be found in this book. Second Timothy 3 says, "All scripture is God-breathed, given by divine inspiration." Somebody say, "Do you believe the whole Bible?" Yes! "Do you believe that it was written by God?" Yes! "Well, how can you believe that and man wrote it?" Oh, because Second Timothy 3 says, "All scripture is God-breathed, given by divine inspiration, and it is profitable for instruction, for conviction of sin, for correction of error and restoration to obedience, for training in righteousness, for learning to live in conformity to God's will, both publicly and privately, for behaving honorably, personal integrity, moral courage."

Why? So that the man and/or woman of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Somebody say, "Oh, oh!" How can you believe that book and man wrote it? Man writes recipes, and you read them and cook every day. That's a crazy question!

Here, Paul tells Timothy the key to living your life—the key to doing all of the things, any of the things in your life—the key to doing it in a way that pleases God and honors God is by committing to the scripture.

You need instruction; it's in the word of God. Maybe you're a new believer, and you're struggling with some things. You're feeling in your heart that conviction. "How do I know if it's right?" It's in the word of God.

You want to know how to live in agreement or in right standing with God, how to live in righteousness? It's in the word of God. You want to know how to have integrity at your job and in the places that you are? It's in the word of God.

You want to know how to have courage in the face of an immoral world? It's in the word of God. This is not a dead book; this is a book that is alive. It is God-breathed, and it is living, and it is for us today.

"Oh, that book was written over 2,000 years ago, and it's still good today! It's still good, and it's going to be good tomorrow and next year, no matter what we face. It's good!"

Hebrews chapter 4, verse 12 says, "The word of God is living and active and full of power, making it operative, energizing, and effective. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit, the completeness of a person. It says, and both the joints and the marrow, the deepest part of our nature. It exposes and judges the very thoughts and the intentions of the heart."

This is a mirror. This is a mirror that will tell you everything about yourself. If you didn't do the eye shadow right, it's going to tell you. If you forgot to line that beard up right, it's going to tell you. If you've been walking in disobedience, it's going to tell you. If you've not been extending grace, you're walking in unforgiveness, it's going to tell you.

It will tell on you like nobody's business. Why? Because that's what it's there for—exposing to show you the areas that you need to work on, to encourage you in the areas that you need encouragement in, to lift you up, to remind you of the promises of God, to remind you of what God said. That's what the book is for.

"Pastor, you don't understand. I just don't know how to walk through this. I don't know what I'm supposed to do." And I'm going to walk up to you, and I'm going to just hold this in my hand, and I'm just going to say, "Here it is right here."

"Well, Pastor, I don't have—you know, could you get me a Bible?" Yeah, I can get you a Bible, but guess what? The Bible app is free! I know you got your phone. The Bible app is free! And the thing about the Bible app is it has every translation, every language. It has Bible plans. Guess what? After our message on Monday or Tuesday, guess what the message is on the Bible app? So if you didn't come to service, you can go to the—you have access to it!

So there's no excuse why we can't be committed to this word, why we can't be committed to the scriptures, why we can't be committed to what God is saying.

We see that from God to Paul to Timothy. We can even look at the bands and see how their commitment reflects even to this day. Acts chapter 17 says, "The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea."

See, Paul and Silas were doing their thing, and as per usual, they were going to get arrested. People didn't like what they had to say. They were getting thrown out of the city yet again. This was a habit for them.

And we see, and we pick it up in verse 10, "They immediately sent them to Berea, and when they arrived, they entered the Jewish synagogue. Now these people were more noble and open-minded than those in Thessalonica, so they received the message of salvation through faith in Christ with great eagerness."

And look what they did: "Examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so." Examining the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. They didn't examine it only when they went to the temple. They didn't examine it only once a month—what was it? Christmas and New Year's and Easter and Mother's Day. They didn't examine it only on those days.

It said they examined the scriptures daily to see if these things were so. These believers were committed to the scriptures. They're telling us we should live a life that's committed to the scriptures because it can have an effect on our life, and that effect will be immeasurable.

Don't believe me? Go in a hotel right now, pull open that side drawer, and you're going to see a little book there. And if you look in the bottom right-hand corner of that book, you're going to see a little gold writing, and it's going to say "Gideon's Bible."

2,000 years later, committed to the scriptures. Why? Because it's bigger than you! You need to be committed to the scriptures so that it can produce results in your life, so that it can produce results in your family, so that it can produce results in your marriage, so that it can produce results at your job, so that it can produce results in your finances, so that it can produce results in your health, so that it can produce results in your life, and other people will see it, and they will want to know, "How did you get the results?"

You're going to do what? I'm going to do to you! It's here! But you can't keep asking yourself why it isn't happening when you aren't committed. It requires commitment.

I commit every area of my life to the word, whether I want to or not. Why? Because that's what it means to be committed. The word will begin to permeate in every area of your life, and it will produce results.

The Bible says God's word will not go forth without producing what it was sent to do. We have to root ourselves on the firm foundation of the apostles' teaching, of the scriptures, of the word of God.

When trouble comes our way, we have peace. We ain't worried. Why? Because I got the word! When culture begins to change and do stuff that is immoral and crazy, I'm not tripping. The world is going to do what they’re going to do, but guess what? I got this word, though! I got these scriptures that I'm rooted in.

This is what it means to be committed to the word of God. You want to break generational curses? Commit to the word! You want a better marriage? Commit to the word! You want to learn how to defeat the anxiety that is plaguing your life? I dare you to commit to the word!

I dare you! "But Pastor, you think that that's the only answer?" I'm not saying it's the only answer, but it's most of it. Commit to the word of God!

I promise you, if you spend more time focusing on the word than on other things, it will produce a drastic result in your life. And people can call you deep; they can call you whatever they want to call you, but when they start seeing them results, they really gonna call you blessed!

Being committed to the word.

And lastly, committed to community. Committed to the fellowship. The second thing Acts 2, verse 42 said that the church committed themselves to the fellowship—committed to what we call community.

Miss Jamie was gracious enough to take some family pictures a couple months back, and when she took those pictures, we went up to Davis and went to this huge—I think it's arboretum? Arbor? Yeah, that word.

And there was a place in there where they had some redwood trees, and it was beautiful. Now, I'm the type of person when I go to a museum, when I go to a place that has all this stuff, I like to read the placards. I like to know what's happening and what's going on. I'm that person.

My wife and the kids, they run off. They saw it; they gone. Me? I'm like, "Oh, these are wonderful facts! I love this! I never knew this! This is interesting! Hey, guys, did you know this?" They're gone!

Right? The interesting thing about these redwoods that I found out, that I learned from the plaques, is that as big as these trees are—these trees can grow to be upwards of 2,500 years old. They can be up to 300 feet high. But what I learned that I thought was interesting is they have a very shallow root system.

Their roots are not deep. The only way that redwoods are able to stand against the winds and the storms, and they're able to grow so high, is because they grow in groves together. They grow in groves together.

Their shallow roots actually intertwine and interlock with one another, and that allows them to withstand storms and all these things, and it allows them to grow so high. In other words, the strength of the redwoods is found in their closeness and their connection to one another.

The same is true of the church. The strength of a church is not found in the size of its budget. The strength of a church is not found in the grandeur of the building. It's not found in the excellence of preaching or in the abundance of programs.

The thing that makes a church strong and successful—the strength comes from the intertwining and the interlocking of the life in which the members of a church share. The strength of a church is found in its community.

Romans 12:4 says, "Just as in one physical body we have many parts, and these parts don't all have the same function or special use, we who are many nevertheless just one body in Christ, and individually we are parts of one another, mutually dependent on each other."

Mutually dependent on each other. He says that is what we are called to do. The first church enjoyed, and they were committed to community.

Let me tell you something: if you planned on or have been trying to live this life alone, if you've been trying to run this race alone, it will not work. A redwood tree, if it is by itself, will not stand. When the rain comes, when the wind comes, it will fall. Why? Because it's isolated and it's by itself.

If you try to do this race alone, if you try to do this life without community, you are a redwood tree that has been isolated, and when the rain comes, when a storm comes, when an issue of life comes, you will fall because that's not how you were created to be.

We serve a God of community who calls us to be in community. God was in community—always in community. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus, His Son, comes down, and He is in community. He has 12. He has a solid 12, and then He has more closer, but He was in community the entire time.

And you gonna get down here and think you could do this by yourself? It's like when you're a teenager and you thought you could just do anything right. You could jump off a tree; you could jump down a mountain. You say, "I can do anything!" You got older and realized that is not the case.

We are not called to do this life alone. And some of you say, "Well, Pastor, you don't understand. It's just easier if I could just do it on my own." Uh-uh! I just—I'm not sure about other people, and I don't like people in my business.

That's pride! That's pride!

Well, you don't understand. I would just rather, you know, just my family, and that's just my community right there, and I just like to leave it there. Yeah, that's not true. That's fear!

Yeah, I'm G-calling you! I'm G-calling it what it is! It's fear because you dealt with other people, and those other people in those relationships have caused you to want to be isolated, and you figure it's safer that way.

God didn't call you to be safe! He said the disciples were devoted. He said they were committed. He said they persevered. Why? Because people gonna be people!

Let me tell you something: people been peopling, and they gonna continue to be people. There are some people that are going to need some extra grace! Hallelujah! There are some people that are going to require some extra patience! Hallelujah!

But guess what? We need some patience for you too! Okay? We've needed some grace for you too! Amen! Because we act like it's not us sometimes. We are the ones! We are them!

Yes! Because we got attitudes, and we got problems, and sometimes we’re selfish, and sometimes we’re rude. Sometimes we got some issues, but guess what? He still called us to be in community! He called us to be committed!

That's what it means to be committed. That means when you're getting on my nerves and when you're not getting on my nerves, I'm committed to you. When I got to tell you the same thing 51 times, I'm committed to you.

I'm going to continue to do it. I'm gonna be with you when stuff don't get right. I'm gonna be with you when the situation's bad. I'm gonna be with you when the situation's good. I'm gonna come pull you out of whatever you're in. Why? Because I'm committed to you!

That's what community is! That's what God has called us to! He don't call you to do this by yourself!

Ecclesiastes chapter 4 says, "Two are better than one because they have a more satisfying return for their labor. For if either one of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. He says, 'But woe to him who is alone, and when he falls does not have another to lift him up.'"

Galatians 6 says, "Brothers, if any one of you is caught in sin, you who are spiritual—that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit—are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness, not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness."

Y'all hear that? Now, I know y'all thought y'all job was to call them out and make them feel bad, but that's actually not it. It's not in nowhere in the scripture.

And he says, "Those of you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit." So before you go check somebody, Hallelujah, make sure you are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit.

He says, "Keep a watchful eye on yourself so that you are not tempted as well." Here is where we are. He says, "Carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ—that is, the law of Christian love."

This is what he's called us to do. He's called us to carry one another's burdens. The reason that you can't go out here alone is because the weight of life, the things that you are carrying, you were never meant to carry by yourself.

We who are believers are here to carry it with you! Carry one another's burdens! This is why it matters! And he says when we do that, we fulfill the law of love—love your neighbor as yourself!

Church is not a building; it's a body. It is a body of believers brought together by Jesus and His gospel. The health and life of a church is dependent on the health and life of community.

I told this story before, but I think it's worth noting. This is why this idea of community means so much to me.

Okay, I grew up in a single-parent household. My mom did what was necessary to make sure that I had what I needed. I had a roof over my head, but that meant working jobs, that meant working overtime, time and a half—that's what it meant.

But one thing my mom did is my mom made sure I went to church. She said, "You going to church!" Now, I'm the youngest of three, so at this point, everybody's already moved out of the house. My brother's six years, my sister's 12 years older than me. Everybody moved out of the house, so I'm in a house by myself.

So I begin to go to church. When I begin to serve in ministry, I found a family. And I know some of you are like, "Yeah, yeah, yeah." No, no, no, no, no! You don't understand! I was at church every day! I was at church every day!

Sunday, I'm at church. It was an hour and a half from my house to the church by bus. I didn't drive; nobody drove. An hour and a half every day I would take to get to church.

Monday, I'm there helping clean up from Sunday. Tuesday, we have rehearsal for drama and praise team and tech team. Wednesday, youth service. Thursday, rehearsal again. Friday, service. Saturday, corporate prayer, and Sunday, we do it all over again!

I am a child! When services are over, things are done, I'm the last one out! And it began to be more than just a place that I went to; it was where I found my people.

I wanted to be in a place where people who were like me, people who shared the same mission, people who shared the same vision, people who shared the same pursuit for their life—it was everything to me.

And I remember one day, one day I'm at school, and as per usual, my mouth got me writing a check that my behind could not cash, and I'm about to get jumped at school.

And I remember I got a text from my God mom, and she texted me and she asked where I was. My God mom—for those of you who don't know, my God mom was my adult leader in my youth ministry. She was a leader of all of the kids.

She texted me and asked where I was, and I said, "I'm in class." This time I'm in class. She says, "Okay." And it was the last class of the day, and school's about to end.

I go to my locker, and I'm trying to hype myself up. You know, it's fight time. I gotta get myself together, talk to myself, think about what I'm going to do. Chances of success are slim, but hey, I gotta do what I gotta do.

And I never forget, school is over. I'm putting my stuff, and I'm walking out to the bus. And as I walk out to the bus, I see my God mom and two of my God sisters coming down the sidewalk.

And I see them, and they all have bandanas on. They have bandanas on! And my sister Nikki—bless her heart, we still praying for Nikki—Nikki goes on the school bus that I was supposed to go on, and she asks him, "Who going to fight him? Which one of y'all want to fight him? Who is it? Come off the bus right now!"

And my God mom grabs me, and she said, "You don't worry about it. We got this." And I am confused as to what's happening. But what happened is that it moved from a group of people who we just came together to get a service done and to get people saved, and it became more than about getting this done—that they would drive an hour or more to come to my school to make sure that I was well.

They would ask me about my—they would call my teachers and ask about my grades. They would ask me, "Hey, have you eaten today?" Don't even worry about it; don't even lie! I'm—we're going to go get something to eat!

It became more than just about a place where we came together to sing a couple songs, to hear somebody talk, and to walk out and do it again another week. It became a family. It became a community to where even as I got older and I graduated, I was always with my people.

Because I had nobody, and God gave me a community that changed my life. I would have shows in random places, and I would look out in the crowd, and I would see them in the back with signs up. Things would be going on, and I would get a phone call, or my God mom would call me, and she said, "Hey, I just wanted you to know I'm praying for you."

I remember I even tried to go to the club. I tried to go to the club. You know, I turned 18. I think I love Jesus, but I still want to see what this club is all about. Everybody keeps talking about this.

And I go to the club, and one of my God sisters is with me. I'm not going to say which one, but one of my God sisters is with me, and I get a text message from my God mom: "Go home."

And I started to say, "First of all, you ain't my—" and then I was just like, "All right, I'm on my—okay." And my God mom said, "Where we going?" I said, "We got to go." She said, "What happened?" I said, "Mom said we got to go home."

Man, as we're walking out, though! Why? Because they cared enough to be in everything. They cared enough to get in the dirt. They cared enough to get in the muck. They cared enough to find out. They cared enough not to be so engulfed in themselves but to reach out to somebody else who was in need.

They cared enough, and it changed my life. The reason that I stand before you right now is because of that. It is because of the community that I found, the family that I found.

So much so that right before I got married—and I've told this story before—right before I got married, I changed my last name. My name is Keenan Brown. Before I got married, Brown was not my father's name; it was my brother's father's name, and I didn't know that man.

And I said, "Before I get married, I want to carry something into my life that means something to me. I want to carry a legacy into my life. I want to make sure that my name means something. When my kids ask me where my name comes from, I don't want to carry in something I don't know. I want something that means something."

And I changed my last name before I got married to Worrell. And that's why you guys know me as Keenan Worrell. And I've told you, for those of you who may be new, you may not know, but Renardo and Alysa Worrell were my God mom. The one who texted me, told me to go home—that was her.

And I said, "The life that I have seen that has changed my life, the people who poured into me, the people who committed to me being a part of every aspect of their life—that's the name that I want to take into my marriage. That's the community that I want to be a part of."

It means everything! When you take time out of your schedule, because you don't know whose life you may change. Take somebody out to eat. Have a conversation with them. Pray for them. Open your homes—clean them first—but open your homes!

Open your homes to people! It's okay! Nobody has any expectation of you! But this is what it means to be committed to the people of God.

Everybody is in a different place, but we all have this opportunity to pull one another together. That's what that means! But we are called to be people who are committed to the word of God and to the people of God.

God has called us to do amazing things in this city, but it starts when we say, "Okay, God, I'm committing to you. I'm committing to you. Every area, I'm submitting it to the word. I'm going to get out of my introspective and introverted bubble, and I'm going to put my walls down, and I'm going to commit to your people.

Keep me, Lord! Give me the grace, the patience, and everything that I need, but I want to be committed to you."

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your word. I thank you for reminding us to be committed to your word, for reminding us to be committed to your people, and showing us why it means everything.

God, I pray that you would speak to the hearts of every person under the sound of my voice and watching online right now. Show them the areas in where they can upgrade, that they can do better in their commitment to your word. Show them how they can improve on their commitment to people.

God, remove all fears, remove past hurts, remove all of these things. We are believers; we are Christians, close followers of Jesus. We are making a conscious decision to commit to your word and to your people. In Jesus' name, amen.

I'm going to have the offering team come forward at this time, and as they come forward, I'm reminded of a story that I was told last week, and this idea of being committed.

Even though a gentleman said, "Hey, you know, I was short on funds. I had a little bit of resources left, and I wanted to be able to take care of my family during Christmas and buy some Christmas gifts and was asking the Lord for some money."

And I received a check—$200, or $300, I think it was $200. And he said, "I got this check, and I came to church, and I just felt like I needed to give." He said, "I didn't want to, but I did. I felt like I needed to give."

And I prayed, and I sowed that seed. I said, "God, you know my desire. I just want to be able to get some gifts for my kids and for my family for Christmas." And I sowed it anyway.

He said within a short period of time, a young lady—a lady who I knew—she walks up to me and she says, "The Lord won't leave me alone about you."

The Lord won't leave me alone about you! And she handed me a check. She said, "I got home, excuse me," handed me cash. She said, "I got home, and I looked at it, and I called her back."

And she says, "I think you gave me too much." She said, "No." She said, "No, I thought it was actually the wrong thing too. I thought I was supposed to give you $50, and I kept asking the Lord, 'Are you sure it's not 50?' I said, 'I feel that,' but the Lord won't leave me alone about you, and this is what He told me to give you."

And he began to tell her the prayer that he prayed and how even when he got, he chose to be obedient, and now he had the resources—more than the resources that he originally had—to be able to give his family the Christmas that he wanted.

This is the idea of being committed, even in my resources. God, I trust you! I trust you! If you're telling me to give, I trust you! Why? Because I'm committed!

'Cause I know what you’re gonna do! So I challenge you today as we give. A couple ways to give: there’s a QR code in our seat pocket. If you're watching online, you can text the word "give" to 833-879-0161.

But I pray that you would be encouraged. I love this church! I love this church! You're not just hearers of the word, but you're doers of the word as well!

In December, we had the highest giving that we've had since we've been in this building. We took a week off; we didn't have church on the 31st. But because of your faithfulness, because of what you decided to do, we were able to take care of everything that we needed.

Our missionaries were taken care of because you decided to be faithful. We got heat in this building! Hallelujah! Because you chose to be faithful!

We are committed to the word of God. We are committed to the people of God, even in our finances.

Heavenly Father, I pray right now that you would speak to us on what to give. God, we don't want to give out of compulsion, and we don't want to give out of just haphazardness. God, would you speak right now in the name of Jesus? What is it that you would have us to give?

Thank you for speaking, God. Today, we choose to move out of obedience, out of commitment, and out of faith. In Jesus' name, amen.

God bless you as you give! Once that bucket passes you, do me a favor and go ahead and stand, and then I'll come back and close this.

1) "The strength of a church is not found in the size of its budget or the grandeur of the building, but in the intertwining and interlocking of the life in which the members of a church share." [01:17:05 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

2) "We have to root ourselves on the Firm Foundation of the Apostles' teaching, of the scriptures, of the word of God. When trouble comes our way, we are at peace because we got the word." [01:13:19 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

3) "The word will begin to permeate every area of your life and it will produce results. God's word will not go forth without producing what it was sent to do." [01:12:43 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

4) "We are not called to do this life alone... We who are believers are here to carry it with you. Carry one another's burdens; this is why it matters." [01:23:08 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

5) "This is not a dead book; this is a book that is alive. It is God-breathed and it is living and it is for us today... it's still good and it's gonna be good tomorrow and next year no matter what we face." [01:07:04 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

6) "The key to doing all of the things in your life, the key to doing it in a way that pleases God and honors God, is by committing to the scripture." [01:06:30 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

7) "The Bible app is free and it has every translation, every language, it has Bible plans... there's no excuse why we can't be committed to this word, why we can't be committed to the scriptures." [01:09:37 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

8) "The word of God is living and active and full of power, making it operative, energizing, and effective. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit." [01:07:49 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

9) "The church committed themselves to the fellowship... It became more than just about a place where we came together to sing a couple of songs, to hear somebody talk, and to walk out and do it again another week. It became a family." [01:33:13 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]

10) "Being committed to the word and to the people of God is not about convenience; it's about being unwavering, continuing in the face of difficulty, and devoting ourselves to what truly matters." [56:47 <1CLBJ8oUNF8>]