James McLean
[0:00] My name is James and I am one of the pastors here. [0:03] And we are right now in the middle of a series called CORE based on our core values as a [0:08] church. [0:09] We’ve been through redemption, mission. [0:11] Last week we talked a little bit about community and this week we’re going to talk a little [0:15] bit more about community.
[0:18] One of the big things that Steve covered last week that’s primary to where we’re going [0:23] today is that redemption and mission are what community exists for. [0:30] That both of those should be lived out through community. [0:34] The church was designed to be a place where we’re saturated by the gospel and we are equipped [0:39] to live the mission. [0:42] Jesus died for a community called the church.
[0:45] And in the gospel of John chapter 17, Jesus prayed that we would be one and that we would [0:50] experience the community that Jesus experienced through the trinity of Father, Son, and Holy [0:56] Spirit. [0:57] So we want to model that in our lives and in our church. [1:01] Jesus modeled that for us. [1:02] He showed us that through scripture.
[1:04] So God in his wisdom has created us to grow by being around other people who can encourage, [1:10] support us, and challenge us. [1:13] Village groups exist so that you can know others and be known by others. [1:18] We’re not a church with groups. [1:20] We are a church of groups. [1:22] So groups are not just a program, something that is on the side, just another way for
[1:27] you to be a part of the church. [1:29] They are literally the way that Jesus wants to change our lives, to show us our identity, [1:35] and to grow us in Christ. [1:37] We need other people to grow in relationship with Jesus. [1:41] And we were never intended to do this alone. [1:45] So let’s get into our first point this morning, which is community sets the stage for intentional
[1:51] discipleship.
[1:54] As we flesh out discipleship in groups, I want to go over a few defining characteristics [1:59] that I believe our groups should be known for. [2:02] The first thing is that village groups are gospel encouraging. [2:06] This means that the primary aim of us gathering together is to get the gospel in our lives, [2:11] to encourage us to live that out. [2:15] God calls us to choose the community that we live in based on the message and the mission
[2:20] that they are about. [2:22] I think it’s kind of interesting that most of us choose our community first, and then [2:27] we look to see, okay, what’s the message that’s going on here in the mission? [2:31] That can be kind of confusing because we know so many different people, whether it’s family [2:37] or friends we grew up with or coworkers, and each one of those people has a message [2:42] that they’re trying to communicate with their lives and a mission that they’re aiming for.
[2:46] And so which one should we line up with? [2:49] I believe that we should clarify our message through the gospel. [2:54] We should look to the scriptures for our mission, and then we should find a community that [2:59] can help us live those things out.
[3:02] So, in Romans 1, 16, Paul says this, [3:07] For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone [3:12] who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [3:17] And then further in 1 Corinthians 1, 18, Paul says, [3:20] For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being [3:25] saved it is the power of God.
[3:28] So it’s the gospel that saves us, and it’s the gospel that empowers our community. [3:33] We want our community to be based around something that is the power of God. [3:38] So we trust the scriptures when it says that the gospel is what we should be about.
[3:45] You know, I lead a village group, I attend a village group, I have since this church [3:50] started, and I don’t do that because I need something else to do or I’ve been reading [3:55] the Bible and I think I know everything that it says about everything, and I’m going to [3:59] tell these people in my living room what I’ve learned. [4:02] I’m a part of a group because I know that I need it in my life, because I struggle sometimes [4:08] to remember the gospel and to keep it central in my life.
[4:12] And so, you know, the reason that I engage in biblical community through groups is because [4:18] it’s a necessity in my life. [4:20] It’s something that keeps me grounded in Christ.
[4:25] Oftentimes, we can, you know, come together because of different commonalities, things [4:30] that are natural, you know, whether it’s a music group that we like or, you know, a [4:36] certain kind of food that we like to eat together. [4:40] And I think all those things are okay. [4:41] They’re okay things to start with, for sure. [4:44] And you know, maybe you can think of a friend that you’ve built a relationship with based
[4:49] on the silliest thing. [4:51] But I think God uses our commonalities to bring us together, but it’s the gospel that’s [4:57] going to keep us together. [4:58] The gospel is eternal. [5:00] It’s not temporary, and it’s something that can last for a lifetime. [5:06] So God uses those things that may bring us together at first, but He preserves us ultimately
[5:12] by getting the gospel into our lives and putting ourselves around people that can help that. [5:18] Another important aspect of groups is that they are pastorally caring.
[5:26] You know, one of the responsibilities of the church is to shepherd the people in the church. [5:31] We have four elders in this church, and we have a couple hundred people that come here [5:36] on Sunday morning. [5:37] It’s not very realistic to think that each one of those people can shepherd each of you [5:42] individually as much as we might try. [5:45] And so we found the best way to steward that responsibility is by creating these groups
[5:51] of people where leaders can come in and be a part of shepherding your lives and help [5:56] create spiritual care in your lives. [5:59] And it’s not just the leaders, it’s the people in the group. [6:01] We learn to help each other, to care for each other.
[6:11] So, you know, we need to learn to ask for help from others. [6:15] We need to learn to become a help to others. [6:18] As we go through life, God allows us to see that we are weak and we are needy people. [6:24] We don’t like to admit that to others, but it’s true. [6:28] It’s true about us. [6:29] And the closer we come to Christ, the more we realize that we need Him.
[6:34] We need the gospel and we need the church. [6:38] God created a spiritual support family that’s called the church, and we can find help and encouragement. [6:44] We need others to care for us and we need environments where we can care for others. [6:49] So in Galatians 5.13, Paul has this to say, [6:54] For you were called to freedom, brothers, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity [6:59] for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
[7:04] So Paul’s saying here that we are free in Christ, but we’re not free just to pursue [7:10] our own endeavors. [7:11] We’re free in Christ so that we can love each other as a church body, and we show that [7:17] by serving one another. [7:19] We can’t serve one another if we don’t know each other, if we’re not around each other [7:23] in community.
[7:25] So we want to live out the one another’s of Scripture through biblical community, through [7:30] these groups. [7:30] And then later in Galatians 6.10, Paul says this, [7:36] So then as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those [7:42] who are of the household of faith. [7:44] So is Paul saying here that we should neglect every other relationship in our life and
[7:49] only focus on the church? [7:51] Not necessarily, but what he’s trying to say is that if we’re not doing good to each other [7:56] here in the church, how can we expect the world to want to be a part of what’s going [8:01] on here? [8:02] So Paul understands that the model here needs to start at home. [8:07] We need to take care of each other, love each other as believers in Christ and as a church.
[8:12] And I think in that we show the testimony to the world that this is something different. [8:18] This is something supernatural. [8:20] A lot of times we hear people say, where is God? [8:23] I can’t see him. [8:25] He is alive and well, and he is living in the lives of those people who are following [8:31] him in his church.
[8:32] And so we have the opportunity to represent Christ and to show God’s love through the [8:38] way that we love each other as a church. [8:41] I love what Mark Dever says here in his book Discipling. [8:45] He says, supernatural depth and breadth of community make the glory of an invisible God [8:51] to be visible. [8:52] You know, we don’t in our everyday lives see God as visible.
[8:57] I don’t know about you, but I don’t, physically. [9:01] But we can show that he is present and active and working through our community, through [9:07] the church. [9:08] And that’s what the Bible intended for our biblical community to be.
[9:14] So moving along, community aids us to live the mission every day. [9:19] And when you’re living a mission, you need three main things, right? [9:23] You need an objective, you need tools, and you need support. [9:29] And I believe that God has given us all of those things here on earth. [9:34] He’s given us His word, which clearly tells us what our objective is. [9:39] He’s given us His Spirit, which empowers us with gifts.
[9:43] And He’s also given us support through the church community that we have. [9:48] You’ve probably heard this verse many times before, but let me just remind you of the [9:53] mission that Jesus gave His followers. [9:57] Matthew 28, 19 says this, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them [10:04] in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. [10:08] That’s what Christians are to be about.
[10:10] That was the last words that Jesus gave us before He ascended to heaven. [10:15] And so if you are a Christian, you are a disciple and you’re called to make disciples.
[10:22] You know, this seems like a really overwhelming task because in that verse, He says, [10:28] make disciples of all nations. [10:31] There’s 190 nations, countries, roughly. [10:35] That’s a lot of people. [10:37] I had the privilege a couple of years ago of traveling to China and being a part of [10:42] a of a missions trip there.
[10:43] And if you think that it’s populated here in the U.S., you should go over there. [10:49] Their cities are probably five New York cities in one city. [10:54] And you could drive and drive and drive for a long time and still be in the city. [10:59] So there are tons of people, millions of people around the world who we still need to [11:06] reach. So where do we start? [11:08] Should we sit back and just say, well, since I don’t really know how to do this, I’ll
[11:13] just kind of sit back and pray and wait for a lightning bolt to hit and make things [11:19] obvious to me. [11:20] I think that’s where we are sometimes in our life. [11:23] But I have found the simplest answer to that question is to start right where you are. [11:29] There are tons of opportunities, even within this church, to make disciples. [11:33] There are people who want to grow in Christ.
[11:36] And there are many of you who have the abilities and the gifts to help others grow in [11:40] Christ. [11:42] So each of us has to take advantage of the opportunities that come our way. [11:45] We each have to take personal responsibility for being a disciple of Jesus and for making [11:51] disciples of Jesus. [11:54] So village groups are mission oriented because we know that it’s easy to drift away from
[11:58] the mission.
[12:02] Groups can easily become inward focused and clicky.
[12:08] So the other day, my wife sent me to Wal-Mart, my favorite, favorite store ever. [12:15] Not really.
[12:18] And this was a Saturday afternoon. [12:19] So you imagine it’s pretty busy there around this time of day. [12:22] And I had a list. [12:23] It wasn’t a very long list, just a few things that needed to be picked up. [12:27] And so I’m doing good. [12:28] I got my list, walking through the aisle.
[12:31] You know, I know right where to go to get those things. [12:33] And then all of a sudden I’m walking and I see, wow, that’s a 55 inch TV for only that [12:39] much money. [12:40] That is amazing. [12:41] That’s pretty cool. [12:42] And then I keep walking and I’m like, I think I’m going to go over to sporting goods,
[12:45] kind of see what’s going on over here. [12:47] Maybe they have something on sale. [12:49] You know, look at that. [12:50] And then I’m back over in the groceries and, you know, I’m picking up a box of Captain [12:55] Crunch with Crunch Berries. [12:56] It’s a good one.
[12:59] You know, and before long, my cart is full of all these things, except for the things [13:04] that are on the list. [13:06] So eventually I did get the things on the list. [13:09] I also came home with a slingshot that shoots water balloons. [13:14] So that’s not a joke. [13:15] I actually did bring that home.
[13:17] So I think it’s going to be a good time. [13:19] Me and my son will do that. [13:21] But, you know, that’s just an example of what happens in our life. [13:27] Right. [13:27] I mean, we know what it is we’re supposed to do. [13:31] And, you know, we’ve been given every opportunity and every tool to do it with.
[13:36] But we drift, we drift from the mission so often. [13:39] And we need people around us. [13:41] We need a community that will remind us what the mission is, how to live the mission, [13:47] and that are actually living the mission so that we can receive encouragement. [13:51] You know, there are seasons in our life because there’s so many different messages and things [13:56] in the world telling us, you need to follow this, or if you just do this,
[14:00] you’ll be on the right path, or, you know, go this way. [14:04] I mean, everything from billboards to commercials to, you know, [14:08] everything you could think of, social media, and all these different messages are trying [14:12] to pull us in different directions. [14:14] But we have to remember what it is that Jesus has called us to, and that is to make disciples.
[14:21] So groups exist to drive the mission into our lives. [14:27] You know, a lot of times when we get together with people, like I said earlier, [14:30] we all have different things that we’re living for, right, even within the church. [14:36] And it can be confusing because if we’re listening to each other [14:41] in all our different perspectives and purposes, we’re going in 15 different directions. [14:47] So how do we stop that?
[14:49] We’ve got to submit to the Word of God. [14:51] We’ve got to look at what it says, what it’s telling us to do. [14:54] We’ve got to submit to the Holy Spirit, and we’ve got to submit to each other as a church.
[15:01] So village groups are almost like, in some ways, a missional hub where we can gather together [15:07] and strategize and figure out what’s the best way to do this? [15:10] How can I pray for my neighbor? [15:13] You know, maybe there’ll be somebody in that group that they’ve had a similar situation [15:17] and they can tell you, you know, of somebody that they reached with a certain word. [15:24] And so we receive encouragement from each other to live the mission.
[15:29] We receive prayer and support. [15:32] It can be frustrating sometimes when you’ve been trying to reach out to somebody for years [15:36] and nothing happens. [15:38] And it’s awesome to have that community that can really support you and pray for you [15:44] and continue to push you along in the mission.
[15:48] So village groups are also gift equipping. [15:52] All of us have been given spiritual gifts. [15:56] And did you know that there are people in this church who have gifts that can encourage [16:00] and edify you, and there are gifts that God has given you to build someone up in Christ.
[16:08] In 1 Peter 4, 8 through 11, we see this. [16:13] Peter says, above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. [16:20] Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. [16:23] As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. [16:30] Whoever speaks as one who speaks oracles of God, whoever serves as one who serves by the strength that God supplies, [16:37] in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
[16:42] To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. [16:46] Amen. [16:48] So we know that God has gifted us with spiritual gifts, things that he’s put inside of us. [16:53] You know, by myself, there’s only so much impact that I can make on the lives of others. [16:59] There are gifts that God has given you that he hasn’t given me. [17:02] And so we complete the church.
[17:04] We bring everything together when we submit to each other and when we look for ways to use our gifts to help one another. [17:13] So don’t keep your gifts to yourself. [17:15] Don’t deprive your community of the opportunity to to be receiving that gift that God has given you.
[17:25] There are many gifts also that I’ve grown in personally in this church just by being around other people who were gifted in that. [17:32] So maybe there was there was an area that I was weak in, but because I spent time in relationships with that person, I was able to grow in that gift. [17:39] I think that’s possible. [17:41] I think it happens all the time.
[17:44] Finally, village groups are relationally connected.
[17:48] Relationships matter to all of us, right? [17:50] We are we are virtually in some ways a product of our relationships for good or for bad. [17:56] And so, you know, they mean so much to us. [17:59] I love what C.S. Lewis, and you may have heard this quote before, he says, friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, what you to I thought that no one but myself. [18:12] And then you kind of finish the sentence with whatever it is that you might have in common with that person. [18:19] So, you know, it’s natural, it’s normal for us to seek out other people who have things in common with us and to grow with those people.
[18:26] It changes our identity. [18:27] It changes who we are. [18:29] All of us have become different people because of the relationships that we have in our life. [18:35] And those relationships can either help or hinder our growth in Christ.
[18:40] Isn’t it amazing when we combine the influence of relationships with the power of the gospel? [18:46] We bring those things together and God knows that those both of those were created to change our lives, to make an impact on our lives. [18:56] So in relationships, we learn to be authentic. [18:58] We learn to be vulnerable with other people, which opens the door for the gospel to really change us in a deep way.
[19:07] You know, the cross unites us to people who we wouldn’t normally hang around with. [19:12] And I think this glorifies God. [19:15] A lot of times, you know, in the church, I mean, even just look around you right now, there’s people of so many different backgrounds, of ages and ethnicities. [19:24] It doesn’t make sense that you are in this building right now except for the power of God and what he’s done in your life, what he wants to do in your life. [19:35] So to me, you know, I believe that the world looks at that and they’re baffled by it. [19:40] But we can explain it in the sense that we look at the gospel and the gospel unites us together.
[19:45] It doesn’t divide us.
[19:48] So I think building these relationships takes faith. [19:52] You know, a lot of times you might get into a group or or meet somebody and you’re like, man, I just don’t I don’t think this can really go anywhere. [19:59] This guy, he’s got a beard or, you know, they have he has tattoos or this person’s too old or this person’s whatever.
[20:10] You know, God has changed our our mindset, our view if we are in Christ and we’re not to view people according to the flesh any longer, but as souls that Jesus wants to work in. [20:21] So, you know, it does take faith for us to pursue those relationships, to see people differently than we normally see them. [20:28] But God can God can give us that faith and he can do that in us.
[20:34] So, you know, you may meet people that you have things in common with, and that’s normal and that’s natural. [20:39] I think the deepest relationships that I’ve had in my life are the ones that we have seen God’s grace transform each other. [20:47] And we’re on mission together. [20:49] Those are people that have been with me through the highs and the lows of life. [20:54] The people that have prayed, prayed with me, that have cried with me, that have encouraged me. [20:59] And the church exists for relationships like that.
[21:04] And these are relationships that are eternal, that are glorifying to God.
[21:10] So finally, a community gives us a path forward in following Jesus. [21:16] A lot of people might be asking, OK, you’ve laid out, you know, what groups look like. [21:23] You’ve kind of showed us how how this could work. [21:26] But why? What’s what’s the motivation to be a part of something that could potentially be awkward and vulnerable? [21:34] None of us wants to wants to go towards that naturally.
[21:39] The reason why we need to continue to pursue community is because God is not done with us yet. [21:44] God is still working in us and through us to change us. [21:50] I think the most amazing miracle of all, you know, we see all these things in scriptures. [21:54] You know, Jesus turned the water into wine and he, you know, made the blind man see it. [22:00] All these great things. And those are amazing things that he did. [22:03] And I believe he still can continue to work miracles in our life.
[22:07] But I think the biggest miracle of all is that he can transform our lives. [22:13] And if you watch all throughout scripture, it’s filled with stories of people whose lives have been transformed by the gospel. [22:22] You look at Paul, who was who was persecuting and killing Christians. [22:26] And he met Jesus and and totally turned his life around and became their leader. [22:33] You see Peter, who denied Jesus publicly and and yet God allowed him to be one of the early leaders of the church. [22:42] So, you know, transformation can happen.
[22:45] God has that as his goal in your life. [22:49] But he wants to use other people to do that.
[22:53] I love what Matt Chandler says in this quote, and you may have heard this. [22:59] He says, it’s OK to not be OK, but it’s not OK to stay there. [23:04] I think we love the first part of that. [23:06] You know, it’s OK not be OK. [23:07] Yeah, that’s good. There’s lots of grace there. [23:09] I’m feeling good in this.
[23:11] You know, and then we kind of move on and it’s not OK to stay there. [23:13] And we’re like, what? No, I do want to stay there.
[23:18] You know, Jesus, the grace of Jesus doesn’t just meet us where we are and leave us there. [23:25] He loves us so much that he transforms our life. [23:28] He he takes us from sinful and broken people to restored and hopeful people. [23:34] Anything less than that would be unloving. [23:37] And so he knows he created us. [23:39] He knows what’s best for us.
[23:40] He knows what we need the most. [23:43] And he has given us his church to grow us.
[23:48] In Colossians one, twenty seven through twenty eight, it says this.
[23:54] To them, God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles [23:58] are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, [24:02] the hope of glory, him we proclaim, [24:05] warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom [24:09] that we may present everyone mature in Christ. [24:14] So I love I love that verse because it gives me hope.
[24:18] It gives me hope that I can change. [24:19] It gives me hope that you can change because it’s not based on you. [24:22] It’s based on Christ in you. [24:25] And that’s our hope, the hope of glory.
[24:29] Our our goal as a church, as a church body, is to present everyone mature in Christ. [24:34] So the reason we need to continue to pursue community [24:37] is because God isn’t finished with us yet. [24:40] We haven’t reached full maturity in Christ.
[24:46] In Romans eight, twenty nine through thirty. [24:49] Paul says this, for those whom he foreknew, [24:53] he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son [24:57] in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. [25:01] And those whom he predestined, he also called. [25:03] Those whom he called, he also justified.
[25:06] Those whom he justified, he also glorified. [25:10] So I think if we ever get lost on the track of, OK, [25:13] what what did God intend for me when he created me? [25:17] Well, he intended that he would save you. [25:19] OK, what’s going on next after that? [25:22] That he would justify you before before the father through Jesus.
[25:26] And then finally, that he would glorify us. [25:29] None of us are in that place where we’ve been glorified yet. [25:32] And so we still have a ways to go. [25:35] And our hope in this life is that Jesus will continue to change us [25:38] through the gospel and that one day he will take us to heaven [25:43] where sin won’t exist anymore, where suffering will be no more.
[25:47] We will finally be just like Jesus. [25:49] We will be glorified. [25:52] That’s our endgame. [25:53] That’s what we want for ourselves. [25:55] And that’s what we want for other people. [25:59] So finally, this morning, God wants to do a work through you
[26:03] as he does a work in you. [26:05] God has put you in places and around people that he wants to save. [26:10] We don’t always know who that is, but he reveals it to us as we go.
[26:17] Our mission statement as a church is that we exist to worship God [26:21] by by helping as many people as possible, [26:24] become fully devoted followers of Jesus. [26:28] There are a lot of people out there who are still unreached. [26:31] So we have a lot of work to do. [26:34] There’s a lot of people who don’t know the joy
[26:37] that can be found in Christ, who don’t have a loving and supportive [26:41] community that you experience. [26:43] They don’t know the truth of the gospel that can transform their life. [26:48] So one thing I love about Jesus is that he was about others. [26:52] He was not about himself. [26:54] And as we grow more and more like Jesus,
[26:57] he makes us to be like that. [26:59] He gives us a passion to see other people know God and worship God. [27:03] So we must be outward focused, looking for others who need the gospel. [27:08] God did not wait for us to come to him. [27:10] He sent Jesus, his only son, to die for us so that we could know him. [27:15] He initiated things.
[27:17] He came down to us. [27:20] So we’ve been left on this earth for a reason. [27:22] That’s one of the things I always wonder is, you know, if [27:25] why didn’t God just save me and to take me up to glory [27:29] so I can experience all that right away? [27:31] I think that’d be kind of cool.
[27:32] I’d like that. [27:35] But he still has a plan. [27:37] He’s left us here for a reason. [27:39] And that reason is to reach the nations, to make disciples of all people.
[27:49] Jesus is transforming us so that we can show others [27:52] who he is and what he’s done.
[27:56] So in Matthew five, 14 through 16, [28:00] it says this, you are the light of the world. [28:04] A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, [28:06] nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand. [28:10] And it gives light to all in the house. [28:13] In the same way, let your light shine before others
[28:16] so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father who is in heaven. [28:21] A lot of times we read this verse and we’re like, [28:24] I mean, that’s kind of a that’s kind of a tall order, the light of the world. [28:28] I don’t really feel like I live up to that. [28:30] I don’t really want that responsibility.
[28:34] But it’s true. [28:35] If the gospel is in us and it’s changing us, even the smallest amount [28:39] is still light and the world is a dark place that needs light. [28:45] So we’re called as Jesus is changing us [28:48] to shine that light out for other people to see and hold out hope for them [28:53] just as much as we have hope for ourselves.
[28:57] We need to shine our light in this community. [28:59] And we do that by making disciples, [29:03] by planting new groups and by planting new churches. [29:07] We want to give opportunity for as many people as possible [29:10] to be changed by the power of the gospel. [29:13] This is what community exists for.
[29:16] We’ve been redeemed. [29:18] We’ve been called out for Jesus mission. [29:21] And so now we come together as a people who have been redeemed [29:24] and we offer redemption for everyone around us in our community. [29:30] So as the band comes up, we want to take some time now [29:34] just to to thank Jesus for all he has done
[29:38] for us to remember the sacrifice that he made for us. [29:44] The cup represents Jesus blood.
[29:50] And the bread represents his body that was broken for us.
[29:55] So let’s just take some time over the next couple of minutes [29:58] and just reflect on. [30:02] The mission that Jesus was given to save all of us, [30:06] to change our lives, to transform us. [30:09] And then as we as we continue this morning, [30:12] as we go out of this place, let’s go out shining our light in the culture
[30:17] so that they can know the hope that we have. [30:20] When you’re ready, come.