Community.

Steve Gentry

[0:00] If you have your Bibles, go ahead and open them up to Ephesians chapter 3. [0:04] Ephesians chapter 3. [0:06] We’re going to be in verses 7 through 10 this morning. [0:08] And if you want to, if you want to get ahead, and it’s a little harder to do that if you’re [0:12] using a phone or a tablet, but you can hold your finger in Ephesians chapter 3 and turn [0:17] over to Acts chapter 2 because we’re going to be there a little bit later in the service.

[0:21] But for the last few weeks, we’ve been going through our core values as a church. [0:25] Really the things that define us as a church, the things that dictate why we do what we [0:34] do, why we believe what we believe. [0:36] And we’re on week 3 of that this morning. [0:38] In the first week, we covered the issue of redemption, the fact that Jesus has come and [0:44] Jesus has through His sacrificial death on the cross and through His resurrection given

[0:49] us the possibility of new life in God, that we are a people who are sinful, who have [0:56] rebelled against God and do not have hope on our own to be saved. [1:01] So what God does is in His grace, He comes and He dies, He takes the penalty for our [1:06] sin onto Himself and He gives us His righteousness so that we can have a new life of worshiping [1:12] Him. [1:13] And then last week we talked about the mission that Jesus has given us.

[1:17] In redemption, He changes us and He changes us for the purpose of living His mission in [1:23] this world. [1:23] And we looked at 2 Corinthians 5 and our identity as people who live to take this good news [1:31] that Jesus has come, that He’s died on the cross, He’s given us this new life, and that [1:35] is news because we’ve not done it for ourselves, He’s done it for us. [1:39] And in Matthew chapter 28, He instructs those who know Him to go and tell others, to go

[1:45] and take this news all over the world because He wants all people for all times to know [1:50] that redemption is available through trusting Him as their Savior. [1:54] And that’s what we live for. [1:56] And today we’re going to talk about the third one and that is community. [2:00] We’re going to talk about the reality of what mission by its very nature will form. [2:06] We are not people who just individually become like the lone ranger who go out to live the

[2:13] mission and we’re telling people here and there and then they’re going out on their [2:17] own and they’re just living, just them and God, them discipling themselves, them learning [2:22] how to follow Jesus by themselves. [2:24] Instead, God has founded His church. [2:27] And it’s through the mission that people are gathered. [2:29] And when Jesus says to make disciples, what that’s going to happen through is you in

[2:35] relationship with other people, teaching them as Jesus said to observe all that He’s commanded [2:41] you. [2:42] We’re going to be discipled by people who are further down the road, who are more mature [2:46] in their faith, as well as people who are right there where we are, walking side by [2:50] side, learning what it is to follow Jesus. [2:53] And what we call that here at Village Church is community.

[2:57] That’s what community exists for. [2:59] But I want to be very honest with you this morning. [3:01] Community is very trendy right now. [3:04] Mostly though for all the wrong reasons. [3:06] I was watching HGTV the other day and they actually had a commercial for an upcoming [3:12] show where they were going to teach you how to renovate your kitchen to promote community

[3:16] within your family. [3:18] And I just immediately thought, you know, if you’ve got to rearrange your furniture [3:22] for that with your kids, you’re probably doing it wrong. [3:25] So the reality this morning is that the world and the world around us is kind of formatted [3:30] in our sin and what we’ll do with that is we’ll form community and what it’s going [3:36] to be is going to be all about us.

[3:38] It’s going to be about people making much of us. [3:41] People making us feel a certain way. [3:44] And we’ll just surround ourselves with people who have everything in common with us to where [3:49] we’re the centerpiece of community. [3:52] And when we’re not made much of, well then the community is clearly not functioning the [3:56] way that it should.

[3:58] But the question that’s begged by that is, is that God’s vision for community? [4:03] Because if it is, then I’m only going to be able to build a community or build a church [4:07] on people that are my age, going through the same stages of life that I am, going through [4:12] the same interests that I am, and it’s going to be so limited that who’s going to be the [4:17] God of that? [4:17] Well, I am.

[4:20] The question is, has God created community to be about something else, something bigger [4:27] than us? [4:29] And I’m going to put forward to you this morning that He has. [4:32] And in this sermon I also want to be very honest that of the core values that we’re [4:36] going to talk about, this one is going to be the most personal for me. [4:40] Not because it’s like I love community, but it’s actually the opposite.

[4:44] This is the thing that in my walk with Christ, in my life, in the local church, I struggle [4:49] with the most. [4:51] And so through our sermon today, what I want to do with you is I actually want to help [4:56] you take the journey that I’ve taken and really build a theology of community this [5:02] morning. [5:02] Build a theology of what community is all about according to the Scripture and take

[5:06] you through the text that really changed my life to see that God has great value and [5:12] receives great glory when we come together for the agenda and purpose of discipleship. [5:20] And we’ll talk about that a little later, but first I want us to kind of go through [5:24] the Scriptures and understand that this church that we’re forming is not this spiritual [5:29] or mystical idea outside of ourselves, but rather it’s something that’s very personal [5:35] that God wants to do in each and every one of our lives this morning.

[5:38] And so join me in Ephesians chapter 3 and I’m going to read verses 7 through 9 and [5:43] then we’re going to pause there and then later on I’ll get to verse 10, but join me in Ephesians [5:47] chapter 3. [5:49] Paul is writing,

[6:15] And I want to break that down in the reality [6:18] that what you’re dealing with in verses 7 through verse 10 is redemption and mission. [6:24] The fact that in verse 7 Paul’s writing and he says, [6:27] Of this gospel I was made a minister according to God’s grace which he has given to me by [6:32] the working of his power. [6:34] Notice whom he’s talking about in the reality of what has changed his life.

[6:37] It’s not that he’s done anything, but rather it’s all the power of God in his life through [6:43] the grace of God that’s made him who he is to live in Christianity. [6:50] What he’s saying is I’ve done nothing instead God has. [6:55] Everything that I am, everything that I’m doing, everything that I’m venturing forward [6:59] in my life is because at point A I was redeemed by the truth of who Jesus is and what Jesus [7:07] has done.

[7:08] And that’s the foundation on top of which he’s building his entire walk with Christ. [7:14] It’s all about Jesus and it’s not about him. [7:17] Then in verse 8 he continues and he says, To me, though I am the very least of the saints, [7:22] this grace was given to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. [7:26] Don’t you love that Paul is the person that we look at and we’re like that is a super [7:30] disciple.

[7:31] Paul is a disciple on steroids.

[7:35] And Paul puts forward the idea, he says, the very least of the saints. [7:42] It’s because of verse 7 that he says that. [7:45] It’s because he knows there’s no good in him, he knows there’s no value in him, he knows [7:49] that everything that is good because of him, all of the redemption that’s been seeded into [7:53] his heart is because of what God has done for him through Jesus. [7:57] It’s because of redemption that he’s been made a minister of God.

[8:01] But note what he does with that redemption. [8:04] He’s saying, I’m taking this gospel to the Gentiles. [8:09] That what was originally just through the nation of Israel that God’s plan for all time [8:14] was ultimately to get to Jesus, that through Israel Jesus would be born because Israel’s [8:19] not sufficient for God’s glory. [8:21] God’s won all people from all nations from all times throughout all of history to know

[8:27] who he is and to be redeemed to worship him. [8:31] That’s his ultimate vision. [8:32] And Paul is saying, this is what the grace has done, that I’m going to live for this [8:37] mission for all time because there’s nothing better.

[8:42] And he caps it off in verse 9 by saying, and to bring to light for everyone what is the [8:50] plan of the mystery hidden for the ages in God who created all things.

[8:59] Have you ever been in a place in your life where you couldn’t really get what God was [9:04] doing? [9:05] You didn’t really understand the journey that God was taking you on. [9:09] I don’t know if it was a tragedy. [9:11] I don’t know if it was just an uncomfortable period. [9:13] I don’t know if something was happening to the people around you or someone hurt you

[9:16] greatly or there was some illness or you lost your job. [9:19] You just went through something and you’re like, I cannot fathom, I cannot grasp what [9:25] God could possibly be trying to do in my life. [9:29] And then maybe somebody brought you one of those promises of God in that moment and [9:32] you just wanted to punch them in the mouth. [9:34] And they’re like, but all things work together for good.

[9:36] And you’re like, okay. [9:39] But I can’t see that.

[9:43] And what Paul is directing us to right here is that no matter if it’s a good thing or [9:49] a bad thing, everything in trusting in Jesus is in light of who he is. [9:55] It all falls under the umbrella. [9:57] So if you want to understand anything that’s going on in your life, the good times, the [10:03] bad times, the in between times, no matter what it is, it’s in Jesus that you’re going [10:08] to grasp that.

[10:09] And he calls it, he says that the mystery for all ages is seen in Jesus. [10:18] So he’s saying is God has been doing something that apart from Jesus, we would have never [10:24] understood that everything that he’s been doing from creation through the fall, through [10:31] Israel, through their captivity, through Jesus coming through them, it’s all been made known [10:36] because we have this great Jesus who died on the cross for our sins, but he didn’t [10:41] stay that way.

[10:42] He rose from the dead. [10:43] And now, wow, we can trust this kind of God because we know a few things. [10:48] Number one, sin is not more powerful than God. [10:52] God’s more powerful than sin. [10:54] How do I know that? [10:54] Well, first, Jesus exchanges our sin for his righteousness on the cross, bringing us forgiveness.

[11:01] But then he goes one step further because he didn’t stay dead. [11:04] He rose showing that he has victory and power over even death.

[11:12] And so what Paul’s saying is no matter what’s going on in your life, no matter what you’re [11:17] enduring through, you’ve never endured to the point of death and what you need is a [11:22] God who can endure through death and then come back to life. [11:27] He says that is what is shown as the climax, the ultimate of all history.

[11:37] And that is the only mission worth living for, is one that is dictated by that. [11:45] Colossians 1.26 reveals that this mystery is known by everyone who knows Jesus. [11:51] Everything we need to know about God can be known in Jesus. [11:55] He’s the mystery for all ages. [11:57] He’s the one whom we were all created to follow and live for and live in his mission. [12:04] But through this, God is building for himself a people.

[12:10] So I want you to join me. [12:10] Point number one this morning, I’m going to spell this out through this text, that the [12:15] mission of Jesus forms a community. [12:20] The mission of Jesus forms a community. [12:22] Because I want you to note what Paul is saying here when he unpacks the fact that this is [12:27] the mystery for all ages.

[12:29] He’s not just talking to us individually, but rather what he’s saying is that he’s [12:34] going out to gather these people and they’re going to be the people of God. [12:39] And here’s how I know that. [12:40] In 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 9, Paul sums up what I think he’s saying in Ephesians [12:46] chapter 3 verses 7 through 9 in just two sentences. [12:49] Here’s what he says.

[12:50] He says, for we are God’s fellow workers. [12:54] All right, I want to stop there and I want to unpack that. [12:56] What’s he saying right there? [12:58] The word for God’s fellow workers, that term fellow workers is literally in the Greek, [13:03] it means synergy. [13:05] It means that Paul is saying that those of us who’ve been redeemed by this, who are being

[13:10] sent out on a mission, we’ve been completely united with God. [13:16] He’s with us, he’s building us, but we’re also united with him in mission. [13:23] So what God’s doing in Jesus is he’s not sending you out by yourself, he’s not sending you [13:27] with your own equipment, he’s not sending you only with your own tools, he’s not sending [13:32] you just with your own strength. [13:33] What Paul’s saying when he says that we’re fellow workers with God, he’s saying we cannot

[13:38] get away from him because we’re completely united with him and the endeavor that we have [13:43] in this mission is one in which he’s with us, equipping us, sending us, and strengthening [13:47] us to live for him. [13:49] That’s what Paul’s taking to the Gentiles. [13:52] That’s the mystery hidden for all ages, that God doesn’t want us away from him, God wants [13:57] us completely united with him.

[13:59] But then note what he says next. [14:01] He says, you, speaking to the church at Corinth, those whom he’s preaching the gospel to, he’s [14:06] saying you are God’s field. [14:08] In other words, I’m taking this mission to you, I’m planting these seeds, but he doesn’t [14:12] stop, he gives one more metaphor, he says God’s building.

[14:17] That term God’s building is what sums up Paul’s mission. [14:22] And the Greek term there is oikodome. [14:27] What I want you to grasp about that term is that the root word there, the very first four [14:33] letters are oiko or oikos, which means economy, values system, but in Greek it’s the term [14:44] that they used for family. [14:47] And so what Paul’s saying is, is that you are, and I am on this mission towards you

[14:53] when the gospel becomes rooted in you, you become what God is placing his value in, what [15:00] God is building his economy for, his family. [15:05] There’s one thing that I know about family this morning, and it is the reality that [15:09] you cannot individually be a family. [15:12] Did you know that? [15:14] You can’t do it by yourself.

[15:16] You’re just you. [15:18] But I have a family and at my house and I’ve got two kids, and there’s one thing I realize [15:23] is I can’t get away from them. [15:26] All right? [15:27] There’s no privacy. [15:29] You think you’re going to get that minute of privacy, you know, when you’ve got to

[15:32] go behind the door and do the stuff, and then what happens, knock, knock, Daddy! [15:37] Can I come in there?

[15:40] Uhhh. [15:42] He’s fine with it, but I feel weird.

[15:48] There’s this thing in family, it’s this synergy. [15:53] It’s you’re connected. [15:54] What your mission is, guess what? [15:57] Kids aren’t going to leave you. [15:59] They’re with you. [16:01] Your wife or husband, they’re with you.

[16:03] You’re connected. [16:04] You’re a family. [16:05] That’s your value system. [16:07] That’s your economy. [16:08] That’s what you pour into. [16:10] And what God is saying about his people, he’s saying that when you’re with his fellow workers,

[16:15] when we’re joined with him on his mission, we’re building God’s family. [16:19] When Jesus in Matthew chapter 16, he makes the first pronouncement about the church, [16:23] he looks to the apostle Peter and he says, I tell you, you’re Peter, and on this rock [16:26] I will build my church. [16:29] And gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [16:31] You know what that term, build is?

[16:32] It’s the same term from 1 Corinthians. [16:34] The root word is oikos, the root word is family, that God is building his church and they will [16:39] be his family.

[16:42] Therefore, I want you to understand this thing of the church, this thing of the mission, [16:48] you cannot, according to what we’re seeing in God’s word, you cannot do it as an individual. [16:53] It is not an individual sport. [16:56] It is by very nature even more than a team sport. [17:00] It’s a family sport. [17:02] That’s why I love it when people say, my church, family.

[17:07] Because when you look through the New Testament, there’s one metaphor that’s used over and [17:11] over and over and over again. [17:13] It’s that the church is God’s family.

[17:18] Secondly, this morning the church is the community that God is building through his [17:23] people. [17:24] What I want to do is now, I just kind of want to go and I want to back up off of these [17:29] pages and I want to go to about 15,000 feet and I want to look at all history for all [17:35] time, what God is doing through his church and then a little bit later we’re going to [17:38] go closer in and we’re going to make it really personal, more personal than I’m comfortable

[17:42] with. [17:44] But I want you to see what God is doing through verse 10. [17:48] Verse 10, this is what the apostle Paul writes.

[17:52] He says, so that, in other words, God is revealing his mystery hidden for all ages, so that [18:01] through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers [18:07] and the authorities in the heavenly places. [18:10] This is the text that changed everything for me as to how I viewed community and me [18:18] inside of it. [18:21] According to this text, you cannot understate the greatness and the value of the church

[18:32] in God’s plan, nor can you understate or undervalue your place in that church, what God is doing. [18:42] What he’s saying is, is that the church, through it, through what God’s doing in redeeming [18:48] people and bringing people to himself and forming a community that is the church of [18:53] Jesus Christ, where people are discipling one another and people are growing, people are [18:57] going out on mission and the church is growing even more. [19:00] He’s saying that is what God is going to use to make his wisdom known to the whole world.

[19:07] How much of his wisdom? [19:08] His manifold wisdom. [19:10] That means every part of his wisdom will be made known through that church. [19:15] But then he doesn’t stop there. [19:16] He doesn’t say it’s to the world.

[19:20] He says it is to even the principalities and the powers of the heavenly places. [19:26] In other words, through what we do in the church, as the church, God is undoing Satan. [19:35] God is undoing his demons. [19:38] God is showing to them through us that they are condemned already and that their power [19:46] is fleeting, their influence is going. [19:49] Through the church they will be undone because of the mission and the message that God has

[19:55] for us to give his good news to all people for all times. [19:59] But then he also says that the heavenly places isn’t limited to that. [20:03] It’s also the angels in heaven whom we see throughout scripture helping God and worshipping [20:08] God have a front row seat to watching what we’re doing right here, right now and that [20:15] his glory is being made known even to them so that they respond and even more worship [20:21] and even more praise to give God even more glory because they’re saying, God, you were

[20:26] not mistaken. [20:27] God, you were completely in control. [20:29] God, you knew exactly what you were doing. [20:31] All praise be to you because in your sovereignty you planned a gospel which seems foolish [20:39] to the average person.

[20:43] But from that 15,000 foot view they’re looking from all time and all places and all things [20:49] and their response is the only possible response. [20:53] What a great God.

[20:57] That through death he can bring life and that life is what is lived in the life of the [21:04] church. [21:06] First Peter chapter 2 verse 5 says, you yourselves the living stones are being built as a spiritual [21:12] house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus [21:18] Christ. [21:18] You see that term spiritual house?

[21:21] That’s Oikos. [21:23] God is building his household, his family, his value, his economy. [21:30] What he’s pouring himself into is the church. [21:34] That is what God is doing in you through you through the church of Jesus Christ. [21:40] Then in 1 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 1 just a few verses down from 1 Corinthians 3.9 he [21:48] says this is how one should regard us.

[21:50] Speaking to the church saying we’re living mission this is how you should see us as we [21:55] live that mission that we are the servants of Christ and stewards of what? [21:59] Stewards of what he said in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 9. [22:03] He says stewards of the mysteries of God. [22:06] Do you know what the root word for stewardship is in the New Testament? [22:12] Oikos.

[22:13] Family. [22:14] That we are not just being the family of God. [22:20] It’s not the static state of I just am the family. [22:24] You’re being the family as you’re being built up but you’re also building the family. [22:30] You’re stewarding the family. [22:32] You’re exerting your own value system to where you’re pouring yourself into that family.

[22:36] That we have been given a divine stewardship from God to show the mysteries of him for [22:44] all ages and all times in Christ to the entire world. [22:49] And so we cannot speak too lowly or too highly of the church of Jesus Christ. [22:56] It’s what we are but it’s also what we’re doing. [23:00] What we’re building. [23:02] Where we’re going.

[23:03] How we’re functioning together as God’s church. [23:09] Because sometimes in our lives when we only look at the gospel at ground level. [23:16] We only see the things that we have to do with it. [23:20] When we get to the church and we see the groups that we have to join. [23:24] The activities that we need to be a part of. [23:26] We can say man I don’t get it.

[23:31] It’s a lot of effort. [23:32] I wish I could understand it a little more. [23:34] That’s what he’s doing here. [23:35] He’s saying step back and see the whole forest. [23:39] See the greatness of God through this. [23:42] See what God is doing.

[23:44] You cannot limit God through this because you are actually taking part in writing the [23:52] history of how God will bring himself ultimate glory. [23:58] That that is the greatness of the heavens for all time and how God will give himself [24:05] glory is through us being and building his family.

[24:13] But then if that’s the level that we stay at. [24:18] Which that’s great for me. [24:20] I love the 15,000 foot view. [24:23] Because then you don’t get down and actually see any imperfections. [24:26] Have you ever been in a plane and you see the greatness of a huge national forest and [24:31] then you kind of get down at the ground level and you start seeing that some of those trees

[24:34] are disgusting looking. [24:36] It’s a different view. [24:37] It’s the same thing. [24:39] Different view. [24:41] But if all we see is that 15,000 foot view we can just turn this into an academic exercise. [24:48] We can just see it determinates on itself.

[24:51] It’s the greatness of God. [24:53] We take glory in it. [24:54] I can sit by myself and I can just wow how amazing is what God is doing. [24:59] But it never makes me actually take part. [25:02] So what I have to do with myself and the way that it has to work out in my life is I have [25:07] to come down and I have to also see the 15 foot view.

[25:12] I have to see the gospel at ground level. [25:14] I have to see the church at ground level for the community that God wants to build inside [25:19] of it. [25:20] To actually see what part I can possibly play.

[25:25] And that’s what we see in Acts chapter 2. [25:29] Whenever we talk about community Acts chapter 2 is probably if you’ve spent any time in [25:33] church and Acts chapter 2 is where you go it’s like oh man that’s how we do church.

[25:40] But sometimes you just look at it and you’re like why?

[25:45] Why? [25:46] That’s odd. [25:48] That’s what the 15,000 foot view exists for. [25:51] So you can see oh I see what God is doing. [25:55] I see what God is ultimately going to make happen and I can have great faith in that. [26:00] But then when we get to Acts 2 we actually come down and we see this very interesting

[26:03] thing that God is not doing this apart from me. [26:08] God is actually doing this through me. [26:12] Through what I’m doing in my life and through my very actions that I do because I believe [26:21] what God says in Acts chapter 3, excuse me in Ephesians chapter 3 verse 10. [26:25] That he is actually using right here, right now with this people to give himself glory [26:38] in the heavenly realms.

[26:41] And that is a different view altogether. [26:46] So look at Acts chapter 2. [26:47] Let’s look at this. [26:49] This is after the day of Pentecost. [26:53] After a few thousand people have come to faith in Jesus we get just the first hand look at [26:58] what the early church did, how the early church grew and this is what we see.

[27:02] And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship and to the breaking [27:07] of bread and the prayers and all came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were [27:12] being done through the apostles and all who believed were together and had all things [27:16] in common and they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds [27:20] to all as any had need and day by day attending the temple together and breaking bread in [27:26] their homes they received their food with glad and generous hearts praising God and

[27:30] having favor with all people and the Lord added to their number day by day those who [27:36] were being saved.

[27:41] And now what I want to do is I want to go through just a few parts of this text and [27:45] help us understand what it is that they were doing with their lives, what it is that they [27:49] were devoting themselves to and how this radically changed their lives. [27:53] But the overarching theme that I want us to see in this text is that forming community [27:59] for the sake of the gospel is repentance. [28:04] It is.

[28:07] And I want to help you understand why for some of us this is going to be the greatest [28:11] of repentance that we are going to experience in our lives. [28:17] But in verse 42 of X2 we see that this shows that the early church trusted enough to seek [28:24] change through discipleship with one another. [28:28] It says that they devoted themselves to what? [28:30] To the apostles teaching, to the fellowship, to the prayers, to the breaking of bread

[28:35] with one another and that these were things that they did to grow as disciples with each [28:40] other. [28:40] So when they saw the mysteries of God for all ages revealed through Jesus, their response [28:46] was we trust this and we want to know more about this. [28:50] So they poured their lives into scripture, in with each other. [28:54] And there were 12 pastors at that point.

[28:56] They were the disciples, those who were the apostles and these were the people that were [28:59] teaching them. [29:00] So they were writing to each individual sect of Christianity at this point and they were [29:05] pouring their lives over that teaching. [29:07] And they were being preached to and they gathered together and they prayed together. [29:12] They came together for meals.

[29:13] They came together for fellowship. [29:15] But this was something that they devoted themselves to. [29:19] This was something that they committed themselves to. [29:23] They did not step out of their normal lives for an hour a week.

[29:33] And get a little bit of it and then just go back to life as usual, come back next [29:39] week, get a little bit, go back to life as usual. [29:42] No. [29:43] It’s not what they did.

[29:46] They formed their lives around discipleship.

[29:54] It is what defined them. [29:58] If you look in the text, it invaded their very homes.

[30:06] What do you think they ate those meals?

[30:09] What do you think they broke that bread?

[30:12] They came together in a lifestyle of discipleship because, look in verse 43. [30:19] In verse 43 he says, and all came upon every one of them. [30:23] If you were here last week, when we looked at 2 Corinthians 5 verses 16 and verse 17, [30:29] the transformation that happens because of the gospel, we said that it was an absolute [30:34] awe of who Jesus was that transformed their lives, that changed everything. [30:41] The scripture says, Paul couldn’t even look at people the same way because they used

[30:46] to look at Jesus like a human being, but now they understand he’s the God of the universe. [30:51] So it’s transformed how they viewed everything in their lives. [30:55] And Paul’s saying it’s because we were in such awe of God. [31:00] We were in such awe of the greatness of what we looked at in Ephesians chapter 3 verses [31:04] 7 through 9.

[31:08] And I tell you, in verse 43 of Acts chapter 2, they were not in awe of how much they had [31:16] in common with each other.

[31:20] They were not in awe of how much they liked each other. [31:26] They were not in awe of how many of them were from the same age group. [31:29] Do you have any Bible studies of people that are 18? [31:31] Because I can only hang out with 18 year olds.

[31:40] They did not say, what life stage are you in? [31:43] Oh well, you don’t have any kids? [31:45] Well, what are we going to talk about?

[31:49] No. [31:51] They were in awe of Jesus. [31:55] And that is what defined their fellowship.

[32:01] That is what gave them great awe. [32:04] That is what they poured their lives into. [32:07] That is what transformed them. [32:09] Because their very economy of what they saw value in was changed completely by the Gospel [32:19] of Jesus Christ because they saw what God was pouring His value system in to build [32:26] His family.

[32:27] And they said, how great is this forgiveness? [32:30] How great is this redemption? [32:31] How great is this transformation? [32:34] Because God places His value there, I will place my value there. [32:39] I am no longer defined by anything but the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

[32:47] The question that we must have this morning is do we have the faith to trust that God [32:51] is working in those things?

[32:56] In verses 45 and 46 we see that they didn’t take breaks from life to get discipleship. [33:02] Discipleship commanded their schedules and their lives.

[33:10] I just want to take a moment here to kind of unpack how this affects us as who we are [33:17] in this time right now and I want to talk to you about me. [33:21] [33:22] Community is something that takes great faith from me. [33:26] It takes great faith because I don’t see the point.

[33:30] I will be honest with you, I don’t. [33:33] I am at my most comfortable, my happiest when I’m off doing my own thing. [33:41] When I’m by myself. [33:44] When I’m alone. [33:46] I love it. [33:47] You have a person that needs me time?

[33:50] Oh yeah.

[33:53] The more the better. [33:56] It’s great. [33:57] Just give me two hours and it’s like I want another one. [34:00] Can I get a bonus round? [34:03] It’s like I just need some me time. [34:05] I just need to be alone.

[34:07] And when people are like, you know, let’s go out and socialize with other people. [34:10] I’m just like, why would I do that? [34:12] I have a house.

[34:16] The fridge is stocked. [34:18] The recliner is comfortable. [34:21] I’m good for like a week. [34:22] We don’t even need to go to the grocery store for a week. [34:24] I’m good. [34:26] I don’t like people.

[34:30] When I watch old sitcoms and I see guys that are always this father figure that just hated everyone. [34:38] He’s like, why would I go and socialize? [34:40] It’s like, I get that guy. [34:43] Get him. [34:44] Because it just doesn’t, it doesn’t feel like anything to me. [34:47] It’s just like, ugh.

[34:50] I just need my own space. [34:52] I need my own time. [34:53] I got boundaries. [34:54] I mean, let’s put an electric fence around it. [34:56] I don’t want people to get too close. [34:58] This is my habitat.

[35:00] Let’s get some Dobermans. [35:01] I don’t even want anybody, people knock on my door. [35:03] I’m like, what?

[35:08] And then when I go to a village group, there’s always that one person. [35:14] Everything feels good to them. [35:16] It’s like, I just love community.

[35:20] I just love that we’re in, we’re communing. [35:24] I’m feeling the community of communism.

[35:31] And I’m just like, what verse did you read this morning? [35:34] Because I’m not feeling that. [35:37] I’m wondering if I set my DVR right. [35:40] I’m wondering if I remembered to let the dog in. [35:44] I need what that person’s got going on, but I’ll be frank with you. [35:48] Usually, most of the time, I don’t have it.

[35:53] So it feels empty a lot when I’m around groups of people. [35:58] And it feels like they’re experiencing an emotional high that I can’t tap into. [36:04] And it gets awkward for me quickly.

[36:09] But here’s the key. [36:11] Here’s the thing about me, and I understand this. [36:13] And that’s why point number three says that community’s repentance. [36:17] Because it takes absolutely zero faith for me to be like that.

[36:26] None. You want to know why I’m like that? [36:28] You want to know what I’ve come to realize about myself in 33 years on earth? [36:33] I’m a sinner.

[36:36] Part of my sin is solitary individualism.

[36:44] It’s my lack of need for you.

[36:49] And I used to think I was the only one. [36:51] So I was like, I just wouldn’t say anything. [36:53] I’ll be like, oh, I feel so good. [36:54] And then I’ll be like, I don’t know. [36:57] I don’t even know what we’re doing right now.

[37:03] But something liberating has happened at a village church is that some of you have been very honest with me. [37:09] And I’m like, I’m not alone? [37:10] Thank goodness. I don’t like you either. [37:13] Fantastic.

[37:16] I was sick of faking, man. [37:19] It’s so awesome that we don’t like each other. [37:21] Let’s not like each other over coffee next week.

[37:25] Is that a lot of us are together in this journey of repentance. [37:31] Of understanding that Ephesians 3, 10 informs me of what God is doing through these activities. [37:39] Of what God is making happen through community. [37:43] And I look at that and I say, if the way I feel doesn’t make that happen, then I need to repent of the way I feel.

[37:52] I need to go against my natural feelings. [37:55] I need to enter into environments of community. [37:58] Because here’s the deal. [37:59] Even when I don’t feel it, the Scripture tells me that the greatness of God is happening around me. [38:08] So that the heavenly realm has a front row seat to God’s glory through His church. [38:14] So when you’ve been in group for like six months, and you’ve just been like manufacturing answers because you went to Sunday school.

[38:21] And you’re like, okay. [38:23] And then you just go through the motions and you’re like, oh honey, I didn’t feel anything this week. [38:27] It’s like, oh man, I just don’t even get group. [38:29] Why do we even do it? [38:31] I’ll tell you. Endure.

[38:34] Endure. [38:36] Keep going back. [38:38] Your feelings do not dictate your need or dis-need for community. [38:43] God does. [38:45] I believe God more than I believe myself.

[38:53] Because that is the reality of what repentance is.

[38:57] It is me saying, I’m wrong, you’re right. [39:01] I will walk in faith after you because I believe that you hold the keys to life and death, God. [39:10] And because of that, I must follow Him into community. [39:16] And I’ll tell you, some amazing things have happened since I’ve realized that about myself and I’ve realized that about others.

[39:25] Is that I’ve been able to take part, and it takes great endurance to see this happen, but I’ve been able to take part in seeing God redeem people through relationships.

[39:36] Of seeing God root redemption into people’s lives because other people gathered around them and preached the truth of the gospel to them. [39:43] It gets uncomfortable. It gets awkward. [39:47] There’s this reality that it’s going to take time for us to get anywhere together. [39:52] There’s going to be tension. [39:55] There’s going to be moments where you feel called out. [39:58] Where you feel called to more obedience than you’re comfortable with.

[40:01] Where you feel called to more commitment than you’re comfortable with. [40:04] But that is what God has defined for His church to do in our lives.

[40:09] And when I take part in conversations where people, these great things happen in people’s lives, and I’m like, I have no idea how God used something that I felt nothing in to change that person’s life. [40:21] But guess what? That’s the power of the Holy Spirit.

[40:26] Even when I’m not feeling it, He’s at work.

[40:31] But then, here’s the correctness.

[40:34] As I get home and I look in the mirror and I see another one whom God is using community to transform. [40:43] Me.

[40:46] People speaking truth into my life. [40:49] Me not being able to hide. [40:51] Me not being able to lie week in and week out about how I feel who I am. [40:56] But rather me being honest. [40:58] Me being open. [41:00] Me being in relationship with other people.

[41:03] That is what the church in Acts was devoting their lives to.

[41:10] Because they wanted to follow Jesus.

[41:13] It wasn’t because they wanted to rearrange the furniture to feel a better sense of community. [41:18] You can rearrange the furniture to where we are literally sitting face to face, and I’m not going to feel it, brother.

[41:27] But I believe it. [41:29] But I have faith that it’s there. [41:32] Because I trust Jesus. [41:34] Because He’s right.

[41:38] Verse 47 writes that day by day, people were being added to the church. [41:47] Their numbers were growing from those who were being saved.

[41:54] The early church was so funny, they didn’t have the most effective evangelism strategy.

[42:01] They just wanted to grow as followers of Jesus. [42:04] And the Holy Spirit made that an extremely effective evangelism strategy.

[42:12] Because they were on display for the whole world to see. [42:15] Because community equips you to live the mission. [42:19] Finally this morning, and then we’ll close, the church is God’s community to help others believe and grow in the gospel. [42:27] You cannot grow as a disciple without building others and being built by others. [42:32] You simply cannot do it. [42:34] And we see that in Acts chapter 2.

[42:36] We see a description of what the church is doing. [42:39] But here’s what’s greater. [42:41] There’s a prescription in the New Testament. [42:43] There are 59 one another’s in the New Testament. [42:48] You know, love one another, encourage one another, build one another up, etc. [42:54] There’s 59 of them.

[42:56] You know what’s interesting? You can’t do that by yourself.

[43:00] You can’t. [43:01] It’s absolutely impossible for you to love one another as an individual. [43:08] You have to be in God’s value system. [43:09] You have to be in God’s economy. [43:11] You have to be in God’s family. [43:12] You have to be involved. You have to be proactive.

[43:14] You have to deny every reason that you would not be a part of it. [43:19] And then you have to enter into it headlong. [43:21] Here’s what Romans chapter 12 verses 4 and 5 says about this. [43:25] It says, For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function. [43:30] So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. [43:36] The reality here this morning is that this clues us in that the reconciliation with God will build us in reconciliation with others in the church.

[43:45] We’ll be members one of another. [43:49] But then look just a few verses down in Romans chapter 12 verse 10. [43:53] Love one another with brotherly affection.

[43:58] And then here comes the big one. [44:01] Outdo one another in showing honor. [44:06] That command blows my mind.

[44:11] Because that means you are no longer an obstacle to lunch for me.

[44:17] You are no longer the person that keeps me from happiness. [44:21] I can no longer look at you as the one who offends me. [44:25] I can no longer look at you as the one that annoys me.

[44:30] Because God in his great wisdom, he says the angels of heaven have a front row seat that you will build people up when you outdo them in showing honor to them. [44:43] That’s going to take a lot of repentance and a lot of time.

[44:48] Because none of us are naturally there. [44:54] But we can be. [44:56] Through the grace that’s available in Jesus Christ. [45:01] Ephesians chapter 4 puts it this way. [45:04] Before in verses 11 and preceding he says that God has given all things to the church to equip the saints for the work of ministry. [45:11] For building up the body of Christ until we all attain to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the son of God to mature manhood to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

[45:22] Acts gives us the reality that when the people of the church seek that kind of life with each other then the church grows because our mission grows in us with each passing day. [45:35] Ephesians 4 furthers it in our hearts that we will develop in maturity in Jesus through our relationships with one another.

[45:48] It’s not because you naturally relate to each other. [45:50] It’s because you believe that Jesus has more for you than what just comes natural.

[45:57] If we believe that Jesus is God then we will seek to intentionally build relationships for the purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ. [46:09] And I’ll tell you I’ll be honest with you this morning each and every one of us are somewhere else.

[46:15] We’re in a different place on this whole scale of community. [46:20] Some of you are all like me and it’s like I’m repenting being here man. [46:26] Don’t expect me to say much. It’s new.

[46:30] Some of you are all in. [46:32] Some of you are going to be able to help others understand, be comfortable, grow. [46:38] Some of you are just being redeemed and you don’t even understand mission. [46:42] And some of you are trying to seek the mission and you don’t understand how to get equipment in community. [46:47] But here’s the key. All of us are on this journey together.

[46:54] With the Holy Spirit as our power. [46:56] So we can be who we are. We can be honest about where we are because grace is available for each and every one of us.

[47:05] All of us.

[47:07] We’re called by God to live a great mission. [47:12] And we’re called by God to help one another in that mission. [47:17] Jesus changes us to live for one another. [47:22] Just as He did for us. [47:26] See that’s what’s the ultimate thing about the reality of where we are this morning. [47:30] As the band comes up I just want to kind of bring it all to a close and help us understand that what we’re doing together as the church is only possible because Jesus has saved us.

[47:44] It’s only possible because we’ve experienced redemption in Jesus. [47:49] It’s only possible because of who Jesus is. [47:52] He does the work, we get the benefits. He does the work, we get the forgiveness. He does the work, we get the community.

[48:01] In living for us He exchanged our sin for His righteousness. [48:06] And we exchange our lives for His life. [48:10] And that’s what you’re living for when you’re living in community with other people. [48:15] It’s not about you. It’s not about me. [48:19] It’s about Jesus. [48:21] That’s why I love the picture that the Lord’s Supper or communion paints for us.

[48:30] It’s this reality that when scripture, when it says that we’re to partake of this, it doesn’t say we do it alone. [48:39] It says when you meet, partake of the Lord’s Supper. [48:44] This is something we do together as a family to signify that we are God’s family and we’re going to build God’s family.

[48:54] It shows us that Jesus shed His blood for us. His body was broken on that cross and bruised on our behalf. [49:02] And the cup and the bread represent the life leaving the Son of God. [49:07] And as we take it into ourselves, it is a metaphor for His life entering into our lives.

[49:14] And we do it together to proclaim to one another that we believe that. [49:22] And we want to build lives on that as His church.

[49:28] If you don’t know Jesus today, if you don’t know Him, you don’t know what the point of what we’re talking about is, [49:34] I want to invite you today to know Him.

[49:39] He wants to save you. Jesus has never looked to anyone who’s called on to Him for salvation and said no.

[49:47] He’ll never do it. [49:49] He’ll save you today. [49:52] And you’ll be a part of what God is doing for all time through His family because you’ll be a part of the family of God. [49:59] If you are a follower of Jesus, there are six stations around this room. [50:03] And I invite you to proclaim the Gospel to each other this morning. [50:07] If you’re not a follower of Jesus, I’d love to talk to you.

[50:10] I’ll be right over there. I’d love to pray with you. There’s some in the foyer outside. [50:14] I’d love to pray with you. [50:17] But if you know Him, and you’re His follower, when you’re ready, come.