|
"Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord not for men"
-Colossians 3:23 |
Sermon Archive
Choose Community
First of all, the Bible knows nothing of independent Christians – to be a Christian is to be part of the Christian community. An independent Christian makes about as much sense as an independent football player – you can't play football by yourself. Are those who are unconnected really believers? In the biblical sense they are certainly not fully Christian.
Second, the team is working better than many may think. There are over two billion Christians in the world – most clearly connected to a local team.
Harvard University researcher Robert D. Putnam writes, "Faith communities in which people worship together are arguably the single most important repository of social capital in America . . . . As a rough rule of thumb, our evidence shows, nearly half of all associational memberships in America are church related, half of all personal philanthropy is religious in character, and half of all volunteering occurs in a religious context."
"In one survey… it was membership in religious groups that was most closely associated with other forms of civic involvement, like voting, jury service, community projects, talking with neighbors, and giving to charity." [1]
But, I'll add my personal experience that Christians who connect are godlier, happier, and more effective than those who don't. We are Jesus' dream come true!
Jesus set an amazing example. He left heaven to live on earth. The Son of God worked in a carpenter shop. He fed hungry people. He washed his followers' feet. He died on the cross. In other words, he took on some of the hardest assignments for others. That's what his team does.
Conclusion
#5a Choose Community over Independence
How to act like a Christian
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Warning: Do not live life alone!
God doesn't expect or ask us to do life alone. He has created us to be in relationship with other people & other believers.
There can be little doubt what God chooses for Christians. From the beginning God has always seen the followers of Jesus significantly connected to communities.
I. How God sees Christian Community
As soon as Jesus began his public ministry he selected a dozen disciples to be his community. Certainly this was for them but also for him. Jesus didn't want to be alone, work alone or live alone. He knew that his teachings & vision were tied to the connected relationships of his followers.
The vision of Jesus for Christians is clearly spelled out in the N.T.:
• Jesus envisioned his followers as a church
The Greek word for church means "the people who are called out by God."
Do you remember choosing teams in grade school and you were called out to be on the captain's team? Christians are people called out of the world's population to be on Jesus' team.
"Church" in the New Testament always refers to people and never to a building. We should learn to use the word correctly – we wouldn't call our house a family and we shouldn't call a building the church.
• Jesus envisioned the church as his body
Jesus lived on earth in a human body for 33 years between his birth in Bethlehem and his death in Jerusalem. He was God-in-humanity in our world. After his resurrection he ascended to heaven and that's where his human body lives today. However, he provided Body #2 to live on earth and continue God's work in our world. The church is the "Body of Christ." You are not the Body of Christ! I am not the Body of Christ! We (the team; the church; the community) are the Body of Christ. We are God-in-humanity in our world.
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."(1 Cor 12:27)
• Jesus envisioned the body living like him in community
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Cor. 12:12-27)
• Jesus envisioned his followers as a church
The Greek word for church means "the people who are called out by God."
Do you remember choosing teams in grade school and you were called out to be on the captain's team? Christians are people called out of the world's population to be on Jesus' team.
"Church" in the New Testament always refers to people and never to a building. We should learn to use the word correctly – we wouldn't call our house a family and we shouldn't call a building the church.
• Jesus envisioned the church as his body
Jesus lived on earth in a human body for 33 years between his birth in Bethlehem and his death in Jerusalem. He was God-in-humanity in our world. After his resurrection he ascended to heaven and that's where his human body lives today. However, he provided Body #2 to live on earth and continue God's work in our world. The church is the "Body of Christ." You are not the Body of Christ! I am not the Body of Christ! We (the team; the church; the community) are the Body of Christ. We are God-in-humanity in our world.
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."(1 Cor 12:27)
• Jesus envisioned the body living like him in community
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. (1 Cor. 12:12-27)
Jesus had a dream – his "dream team" is called the “Church”. It wouldn't be made up of the best of the best. It wouldn't be an all star team. It would include "no name" team members – a team comprised of the educated and the ignorant, the able bodied and the disabled, really smart and not so smart, young and old, women and men, poor and rich, every race, every language, every background. Every one doing her/his part. The total would be far more than the sum of the parts. All Christians. All connected. All together. All part of the Body of Christ. All in Jesus' name.
It's a dream. Some insist that it is a failed dream. There are millions of Christians who are mostly independent – sort of "Lone Ranger" Christians. There are divisions and denominations. There are Christians who have abandoned the church or are on the farthest fringe of the church community.
How do we explain the discrepancy between God's dream & our reality?
First of all, the Bible knows nothing of independent Christians – to be a Christian is to be part of the Christian community. An independent Christian makes about as much sense as an independent football player – you can't play football by yourself. Are those who are unconnected really believers? In the biblical sense they are certainly not fully Christian.
Second, the team is working better than many may think. There are over two billion Christians in the world – most clearly connected to a local team.
Harvard University researcher Robert D. Putnam writes, "Faith communities in which people worship together are arguably the single most important repository of social capital in America . . . . As a rough rule of thumb, our evidence shows, nearly half of all associational memberships in America are church related, half of all personal philanthropy is religious in character, and half of all volunteering occurs in a religious context."
"In one survey… it was membership in religious groups that was most closely associated with other forms of civic involvement, like voting, jury service, community projects, talking with neighbors, and giving to charity." [1]
But, I'll add my personal experience that Christians who connect are godlier, happier, and more effective than those who don't. We are Jesus' dream come true!
How do we do community? How do we act like Christians in connection with one another?
II. How we do Christian community
It's a lot of work! Community doesn't just happen. It isn't easy. Just like marriage, raising children and everything else that matters – Christian community doesn't just happen. We have to work at it. Any notion that we just show up and community is bliss is a setup for disillusionment.
Team rule #1: Take responsibility. Don't expect the other person to connect to you. Don't expect others to make friends. Don't expect others to create community. Take responsibility as a Christian for your own behavior.
We all have heard the report of those who say, "I visited a church and no one talked to me." "I tried to volunteer and they never called me back." "I gave money and never was thanked."
I'm truly sorry when some Christians don't meet the expectations of other Christians but we must take responsibility for our own behavior rather than choose to be disappointed by the behavior of others.
I'm truly sorry when some Christians don't meet the expectations of other Christians but we must take responsibility for our own behavior rather than choose to be disappointed by the behavior of others.
Example: A family moved to Minnesota and visited Wooddale Church on their first weekend. When I talked with them a month later I discovered that they had met people, signed up for a class, enrolled their children in Sunday School and volunteered to serve. I was amazed at how quickly they connected; it seemed as if they had been around for years.
When I asked for an explanation the husband told me that he is in the military and will probably be transferred in three years. If they wait for others to take the initiative they will use half their time waiting. He said they wanted to establish relationships, grow spiritually and serve God and needed to get started right away. He practiced Team Rule #1: Take responsibility.
Team Rule #2: Connect to the community
There are many ways to connect to the Christian community. Churches are Christian communities but, like all communities, have different ways to connect.
There are many ways to connect to the Christian community. Churches are Christian communities but, like all communities, have different ways to connect.
Most churches are small – half of the churches in the USA average 75 or fewer at weekend worship services. But, most people attend larger churches – about half of the people at worship on a weekend are in the largest 14% of American churches.
In social groupings the average person knows about 60 people on a first name basis. Some know more; some know less – but even in a church of 75 all the people don't know each other. So, the way to connect is not to connect to everybody but to a group within the community.
Different people connect in different ways – large groups; small groups; classes to learn; projects to work; serving others; being served by others. Connection flows both ways – hooking up with others and letting others hook up with you.
Compare to Velcro. Velcro is a fabric with hundreds of little hooks and loops. If there is one small connection it is easy to tear the pieces apart but if there are multiple connections the bond can be amazingly strong. How many connection points do you have to other Christians – pick a number. Team Rule #2: Connect to the community.
Team Rule #3: Commit
Commitment is a sign of belief. When a couple loves each other they commit to marriage. When a shopper decides which car to buy she commits by signing a purchase agreement. It takes commitment to get a tattoo, have an operation, choose a college, vote for a candidate or donate blood. The same is true for Christians and their commitment to the community of Christ.
Commitment is a sign of belief. When a couple loves each other they commit to marriage. When a shopper decides which car to buy she commits by signing a purchase agreement. It takes commitment to get a tattoo, have an operation, choose a college, vote for a candidate or donate blood. The same is true for Christians and their commitment to the community of Christ.
Some people fear commitment. Couples live together instead of getting married in case they don't get along. Employers hire temps because the economy might go down. Tourists stay home because the plane might crash, the weather could get bad or they might become homesick. And, there are Christians who fear commitment to other Christians in the church – because they might be disappointed, might be offended, might not agree, might be expected to do something they don't want to do. Well, that's probably guaranteed – just like marriages, cars, jobs and vacations – stuff goes wrong. The church is the Body of Christ made of people who are sinners just like us.
But, commitment is the right thing to do. Commitment to others is a good thing to do. Commitment fulfills the dream of Jesus for Christians in community.
What does commitment look like? Most churches have church membership as an expression of commitment. Commitment includes prayer – I have people who have been on my daily prayer list for years (even though my prayers for them have not been answered as I have asked, I still pray for them because I am committed to pray for other Christians). Commitment takes time – where we put our time is a powerful expression of our commitment (how much time do you give to other Christians?). Commitment is emotions – where my heart is.
Let me tell you about my emotional commitment. I was born an American and have been an American citizen all my life but my patriotism is far more than a USA passport in a drawer at home. I love America. My heart beats faster and my skin gets bumpy when I hear the national anthem played. I am keenly aware of my country's faults and failures but I defend her and speak well of her. Unlike some, I don't gripe about taxes – I consider it a privilege to support my country. I am committed.
But, I am more committed to the church of Jesus Christ. I love Jesus and I love Jesus' church. My connection to the worldwide church and specifically to Wooddale Church is deeply emotional. I know the faults and failures and problems but I defend the church and Christians and speak well of them. I delight to give money and count it a privilege to support the church of my Savior. I am committed. Team Rule #3: Commit.
But, I am more committed to the church of Jesus Christ. I love Jesus and I love Jesus' church. My connection to the worldwide church and specifically to Wooddale Church is deeply emotional. I know the faults and failures and problems but I defend the church and Christians and speak well of them. I delight to give money and count it a privilege to support the church of my Savior. I am committed. Team Rule #3: Commit.
Team Rule # 4: Serve
When we choose community we choose to serve others. In this we may be counter-cultural because many look for what they can get more than what they can give. But, Christian community is based on the example of Jesus.
When we choose community we choose to serve others. In this we may be counter-cultural because many look for what they can get more than what they can give. But, Christian community is based on the example of Jesus.
Jesus' disciples were learning the team rules for Christian community. Some wanted to be the boss over the others. Jesus compared them to unbelievers and told them, "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mk 10:43-45).
Jesus set an amazing example. He left heaven to live on earth. The Son of God worked in a carpenter shop. He fed hungry people. He washed his followers' feet. He died on the cross. In other words, he took on some of the hardest assignments for others. That's what his team does.
Picture the Christian community with Christians all saying, "You go first." "No, you go first." "No, you go first." "No, you go first." "No, you go first."
At Wooddale Church we have over 2000 volunteers. They are all serving others. They help the poor, build houses in Guatemala, give financial counseling, work in the nursery, teach small groups and serve as ushers, greeters, musicians, Sunday school teachers, phone callers, writers and whatever else needs to be done.
Let's suppose that some anonymous donor offered us $1 billion to hire employees to do everything currently done by volunteers. We would all be served rather than serving others. It would destroy the church. It would offend Jesus. It would be unchristian. To be a Christian is to serve others. To be a Christian is to be on the team. To be a Christian is to be like Jesus.
To paraphrase the words from President John Kennedy's 1961 inauguration speech, "Ask not what other Christians can do for you; ask what you can do for other Christians."
Team rule #4: Serve.
To paraphrase the words from President John Kennedy's 1961 inauguration speech, "Ask not what other Christians can do for you; ask what you can do for other Christians."
Team rule #4: Serve.
Conclusion
What is God saying to you today? Do you need to get involved in more intentional Christian community? Do you need to "be together" with your brothers and sisters in this church? If so, then why not say "Yes, Lord" and jump in.
Do you have an old computer at home? Many have computers they don't know how to get rid of!
The New York Times ran a report in 2003 about supercomputers. They are the biggest and fastest computers in the world, costing hundreds of millions of dollars.
Faculty, students and staff at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute banded together on a project to connect 1,100 Apple Macintosh computers. It took one month and cost $5 million to assemble their makeshift supercomputer. The outcome is a machine capable of computing 7.41 trillion operations per second with a potential for working even faster. Officials of the school say it ranks at least the fourth fastest super computer in the world.
Most of the work was done by volunteers who received free pizzas as their pay. [2]
That's what Christian community is like. We're ordinary people banding together to do something big, something significant, something universal, something eternal in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As Christians we choose community over independence. We take personal responsibility, connect to the Christian community, commit and serve. We make Jesus' dream come true. We are Christians!
9-5-05 Leith Anderson
[1] Robert D. Putnam, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, Simon & Schuster, 2000, pages 66-68.
[2] John Markoff, The New York Times, October 22, 2003.
Probably the #1 reason God wants us to be connected is that God is connected. He is not one but three – Father, Son and Spirit.
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
From the first chapter of the Bible we meet God creating as a team. God exists in community and created us to be like him. We are designed to be together – never alone.
Genesis 2:18 "It is not good for the man to be alone."
We usually quote this line from the creation story in reference to marriage but the broader principle is that it is not good to be a loner. God did not create us to live in isolation; God created us to live in community.
Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
From the first chapter of the Bible we meet God creating as a team. God exists in community and created us to be like him. We are designed to be together – never alone.
Genesis 2:18 "It is not good for the man to be alone."
We usually quote this line from the creation story in reference to marriage but the broader principle is that it is not good to be a loner. God did not create us to live in isolation; God created us to live in community.
God chose the Hebrew people to live together as a nation in community. They farmed together, fought together, worshipped together and lived together. Jews saw themselves as the "Chosen People" not as "Chosen Persons."
If you are like most people, you can’t tell your life story without referencing people who played
significant roles along the way. The same is true of your faith story. In this third installment of Five
Things God Uses to Grow Your Faith, Andy explains the role that providential relationships play in the
development of our faith.
MOVING FORWARD
The promise from Proverbs 13:20 can be read alongside a similar warning from the New Testament: Bad company corrupts good character (1 Cor. 15:33). The Bible makes it clear that certain relationships are pivotal in our spiritual development, while others can lead us in directions we never intended to go.
But we don’t live in a vacuum. We’re surrounded by wisdom and foolishness from all sides. Is it possible to completely ignore the companionship of fools? Should you? How do you balance the relationships in your life that strengthen your faith and the relationships that could inhibit your spiritual growth knowing full well that these relationships could also be the pivotal for others to draw closer to God?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Proverbs 13:20