Community - Acts 2:42-47

MEMBER INSTALLATION Do you affirm once again, that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, that the Bible is God’s Word revealing Christ and his redemption, and that the teachings of this church reflect this revelation? [Your response: We/I do.]

Do you promise to join with us, sharing your gifts, in our worship and fellowship, and in the mission God has given us in the world? [Your response: We/I do.]

[Asking the congregation to raise a hand towards the new member(s):]

Do you promise to receive [name/s] in love as your brothers and sisters in Christ, support them with your fellowship and prayers, and, recognizing their gifts, invite them into the life and mission of our congregation? [Congregation response: We/I do.]

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INTRO

Connect Cards - community

In our world loneliness abounds.

In 2016 and 2017, sociologists started noticing Americans were dying younger

The Research showed that the decline in our life expectancy isn't rooted in the expected culprits like pandemics or cancer.

The true causes are more somber and, tragically, more within our control.

This is young people taking their own lives, the grip of drug addictions, the sorrow drowned in alcohol, and other such diseases that stem from choices leading to poor health.

These have been defined as "deaths of despair," a phrase that has woven its way into the fabric of American discourse.

But why is this happening?

The answer hinges on something as foundational and simple as friendship and community, which has the power to shape the course of our lives.

Around this time, findings began to surface, highlighting that chronic loneliness poses a greater threat to our health than smoking a whopping fifteen cigarettes a day.

This has turned the spotlight on what experts are calling an epidemic of loneliness.

It's a stark realization: it's not merely our physical bodies at risk here.

It's the loneliness within our souls that's wreaking havoc on our physical well-being.

Today we come to our final value: community

Mission:

Living on mission for Christ's Kingdom.

Vision:

To see Morganton, Burke County, and beyond transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

MISSION/VISION/VALUES CHART

What happens often is our strategy goes all over the place without values, without a sense of why do we do what we do, this can take us far away from our vision.

Today we are looking at Community

Community: Through Jesus, we're intricately woven together, hand in hand, creating a tapestry of faith, support, and shared mission.

This week as I worked on this sermon I felt pulled in a different direction than we have been going.

We have been looking at this from a simple teaching stand point of the church gathered and scattered.

I feel compelled to really explore this through the scriptures and challenge us.

Because if we get this wrong not only does it affect the culture of our church, but as I have already stated this could deeply impact your well-being.

Not only that…but dear brothers and sisters I know you.

I know that many of us long for this and struggle with this.

Loneliness and isolation plague us.

A book I read at the start of this year that deeply impacted and influenced my thoughts on this sermon is Justin Earley’s helpful book “Made For People.”

He defines loneliness as the feeling of being a person who use to have friends. (Repeat)

Loneliness shows up in many forms.

It happens when we lose someone we love, or when we move to a new place.

It's there when we change churches, or when a group we're part of falls apart.

Loneliness can come from feeling left out, from the end of a relationship, or the pain of a divorce.

It's the hurt from being betrayed.

Interestingly, loneliness can also be felt when we're around lots of people but don't feel truly known by any of them.

It's that longing for something we used to have, something hard to name.

It's like a relationship that faded away quietly, and we wake up feeling lost in a world that doesn't make sense anymore.

Loneliness kills us body and soul because it isn’t what we were made for.

You were not made to be alone.

Our text this mourning is Acts 2.

We will get there but in order to understand this we have to start at the beginning so let’s see first what we were made for.

1. What We Are Made For

In Genesis 1-2 we get this grand creation poem.

Our God speaking the cosmos into existence.

Can you imagine hearing his voice saying Good over the Appalachian mountains, across the oceans.

He makes this world and says good, good, good.

In the midst of all of this we are halted by chapter 2 v.18

Genesis 2:18 (ESV)

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone…

"Not good"?

These words in the scripture jump out like a dark spot on a blank page.

It's like everything comes to a sudden stop, as if a sentence is left unfinished.

If we consider the Bible as God's Word, then this must be intentional.

But why? It's meant to make us pause and pay attention.

So let's take this in once more, because it might just be the most important message God is sending us: "It is not good for you to be alone."

Embrace a profound truth: we are intricately designed for community. (BY COMMUNITY - TRIUNE GOD)

This divine design explains the depths of our emotions.

Why, do we have so much joy in the company of friends?

It's because there's a deep rightness in fellowship.

Why does our soul ache when friendships are strained, lost, or broken?

It's because our lives are not meant to be solitary journeys of just 'you and God.'

Pause for a moment and consider this seemingly radical idea: you can feel loneliness, even in the presence of God.

Reflect on the story of Adam in Eden.

He was in communion with the Almighty, no sin, and yet, there was something missing.

This is not a shortfall of God, but rather a manifestation of His immeasurable generosity.

God, in His infinite wisdom, created us with a need for others.

We can't fully embrace God's presence without sharing our lives with our brothers and sisters

God is indispensable, yes, but He designed us for a life richer than solitary communion with Him.

He is our comfort in loneliness, but He does not intend for us to dwell in that state.

We are sculpted for greater things than solitary spiritual existence.

Our fullest spiritual life, our highest calling, unfolds only within the embrace of community.

The crux of our existence, the peak of our spiritual journey, is realized not in isolation, but in walking hand in hand with others.

To become the true embodiment of God's vision, we need friends…we need gospel community.

And let me be clear we need Friends…not just companions, not just buddies

Deep soul-friendships. David and Jonathan type brotherhood.

We are made to be fully known and fully loved over the long haul. _Justin Whitmel Earley

But why do we often struggle with friendship, even though it seems to be part of our very nature?

Why do we avoid it, hide from it, or run away?

In the Bible, the story of Eden and its ideal of friendship quickly falls apart, and the reason is sin.

But let's look closely at how this unfolds: Adam and Eve, in their purest form, are vulnerable, without shame, and in the essence of friendship – fully known and loved.

Then comes the fall, the moment that introduces a shadow over everything, including friendship.

Genesis 3:1–5 (ESV)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Eve is tempted, not because of an inherent flaw or rebellion, but by a deceitful question posed to her in solitude: “Did God really say…?”

Also notice that she hears this voice when she is alone.

The route of the enemy is always to pull you aside and tell you lies about who you are and who God is.

Because you are most vulnerable when you are alone.

Eve gives in to the temptation, followed by Adam, and the world starts to unravel, and begins to drifts into loneliness.

We move from the fall right into more brokenness in the story of cain.

We all know the story of Cain, and it's easy to pass judgment on the world's first murderer.

But let's take a moment to dive deeper into the relational turmoil here.

In Gen 4 we see the story unfold

Two brothers offer gifts to God. God accepts Ables and rejects Cain’s.

A seed of Jealousy gives birth to sin.

Cain's jealousy over Abel is not just about offerings.

Our jealousies often don't make sense when we try to articulate them.

The crux of the matter is Cain's jealousy leads him to withdraw from his brother and from God, a clear sign of isolation taking hold.

Yet, in this moment of jealousy, shame, and rage, notice how God reaches out to Cain.

Genesis 4:6–7 (ESV)

The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”

In our darkest times, God doesn't abandon us; He comes to us.

Like a compassionate Father, He gently confronts Cain with a profound grace.

Picture God lifting Cain's face, saying, “Sin is at your door, but you can master it.”

The Hebrew word used symbolizies grace and possibility.

God is showing Cain that there's another way, a path away from the engulfing current of loneliness.

Grace is the beacon that things don’t have to remain as they are.

However, Cain chooses differently.

He becomes the first murderer, and evil triumphs.

The progression from hiding to shame to isolation, and finally to violence, begins.

This pattern, unfortunately, is all too familiar in our world – all we have to do is look at the violence around us and know, we are all in some way descendants of Cain, inheriting the consequences of his sin.

Following the murder, God seeks Cain again, emphasizing that while our reaction to sin is to hide, God's reaction is always to seek and find.

God confronts Cain with the reality of his brother's blood crying out from the ground.

Cain stands before God, receiving his sentence as a restless wanderer, a verdict he understands as a death sentence.

Cain's realization is profound: to be alone, cut off from others, is both a spiritual and physical death.

The story of Gen 3 ends with Adam and Eve expelled from Eden and in Gen 4 - Cain is isolated from his community.

These moments shine a light on our current condition.

We are created for community but find ourselves cursed with restless wandering.

This curse manifests in both the cause and consequence of our sin – isolation.

Loneliness feeds into more loneliness, creating a relentless, destructive cycle.

CURRENT - When I was a kid my Dad would always get onto us because we would be pulled by currents.

We’d be boogie boarding and swimming laughing and look up to see our Dad on the shore coming towards us waving us back to our spot.

How do we find ourselves drifting into loneliness?

The paths are as numerous.

We often relocate for jobs rather than for relationships.

Our home design choices – back decks, garages – subtly pull us away from community, unlike front porches and sidewalks that encourage interaction.

We think that connection is found through things like social media.

The social clubs and community groups that once knitted people together have largely vanished.

We opt for the solitary glow of screens over the communal warmth of a fireside.

These trends aren’t just observations; entire books have been written about them.

Maybe you recognize some of these patterns in your own life.

But the real revelation comes when you see them combined: they create a powerful current.

Doing nothing in this context is a significant choice.

The current of modern life is to become busier, wealthier people who used to have friends. _Justin Whitmel Earley

The tragedy is that this happens so subtly, you hardly notice it, especially when everyone around you is caught in the same flow.

Choosing to pursue a life rich in friendships is to swim against this current, a choice that can feel awkward and out of place.

Loneliness isn't something we choose; it's something that chooses us.

It's not a lack of desire for friendship that leaves us friendless.

Everyone yearns for deep connections.

Yet, there's a striking disconnect in our lives.

While we all acknowledge that friendship is essential for a fulfilling life, we often find ourselves drifting into loneliness.

Why is this?

Because we live in the world of Cain – made for relationships but cursed with restless wandering.

We long for friendships, yet struggle to maintain what we're inherently designed for.

And as research shows, this disconnect is detrimental not just to our emotional well-being, it is literally killing us.

Who will rescue us from the body of death?

2. What Community Can Be

In his last moments with his disciples, Jesus framed his act of salvation as an act of ultimate friendship.

He said, "Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for friends. You are not servants, but friends, because I've shared with you everything from my Father."

These words might sound familiar, but let's see them in a new light.

In Eden, we were created to be fully known and loved.

The fall disrupted this, leaving us unknown, unloved, and hiding in loneliness.

The Old Testament is essentially a story of restless wanderers in collision, longing for someone to restore what was lost.

Then comes Jesus.

Though he was in perfect community with the Father, he chose loneliness for our sake.

He wandered the earth, bearing the curse of our isolation, countering every lie of the Serpent with God's truth.

Where Eve faltered, Jesus stood firm.

Where Adam succumbed, Jesus resisted.

Where Cain failed, Jesus embraced the choice to do differently.

He became the brother we needed, dying alone so we could be brought back into community, back into the presence of God.

The story doesn't end with Jesus' death.

His resurrection is a promise of our future unity with each other and with God.

The Holy Spirit is sent as our constant companion in the midst of loneliness.

Jesus' framing of salvation in terms of friendship is astonishing and comforting.

He invites us into the eternal celebration of the Trinity – a divine community

This is why Jesus describes his salvation work as friendship.

The gospel is more than just reflective of friendship; it is friendship.

Jesus knows us completely – our flaws, our fears, our failures – and chooses to stick with us.

He sees past our defenses, our insecurities, and says, "I know you, I understand you, and I love you anyway."

That's what a true friend does – knows you at your worst and loves you regardless.

"A friend is someone who knows you fully and loves you anyway." _Justin Whitmel Earley

And that's who Jesus is.

He's not just a figure of friendship; He embodies it.

Jesus is friendship incarnate.

He is gospel community.

He established his church to be a beacon of this covenant friendship.

Christ died to save us from sin and isolation.

We have been saved to the kingdom, God’s family.

Look around.

This is what you’ve been saved to…the family of God.

So dear church, we must pursue community.

Christ died to bind us together in him.

Too often people make church a lower and lower priority

ILLUSTRATION

Three pastors got together for coffee one day and found all their churches had bat-infestation problems. "I got so mad," said one, "I took a shotgun and fired at them.

It made holes in the ceiling, but did nothing to the bats."

"I tried trapping them alive," said the second. "Then I drove 50 miles before releasing them, but they beat me back to the church."

"I haven't had any more problems," said the third. "What did you do?" asked the others, amazed.

"I simply baptized them and made them members," he replied.

"I haven't seen them since."

This isn't how it should be.

Now, It’s taken us a long time to get here but I want to briefly look at the first church.

Some context:

Jesus had resurrected

Prayed and waited in upper room for power

Peter preaches

Peter understood this concept we were made for community.

He had recently experience the sting of isolation.

He sat by a coal fire denying Jesus.

Once the rooster crowed the third time Peter wept.

I wonder if the words of Jesus rang in his head: John 15:15

John 15:15 (ESV)

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

We know the story.

Jesus died for Peter.

Jesus rose and pursued Peter.

Jesus restored Peter on the shore in front of his friends.

Now Peter preaches an epic gospel sermon.

The response is the birthday of the church.

Then we get one of the most beloved passages on church community in the Bible.

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Now before we idealize this scene remember not even this church was perfect. It’s only a couple chapters before people start literally dying from lying to God.

I don’t want to be an idealist.

Talking about church in the abstract is dangerous.

As Bonhoeffer said, “Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest, and sacrificial.” _Dietrich Bonhoeffer

He called this the “wish dream” of an ideal church.

No actual church can ever live up to the wish dream of an ideal church.

Now that being said…don’t you read Acts 2 and long for this?

What do we see?

We see a people devoted to the word. The apostles teaching.

A community formed around the reality that Jesus has not only reconciled us to God but to each other.

A people devoted to one another.

Not just companions.

Friends.

Not just buddies. Brothers. Sisters.

These are 2AM people.

Devoted to breaking bread - both communion and meals together.

Devoted to prayer.

What does all this devotion lead to?

Radical generosity.

Constant interaction with one another.

Gathering together in large groups - Sunday Morning

Gathering in smaller groups - Community Groups.

There is a spirit of awe of gladness and praise to God.

This love for one another. This community is so compelling so many are coming to know Jesus.

What a compelling picture.

A people who understand their brokenness and isolation but understand that Jesus entered into our brokenness.

Are you trying to live your life outside of Community?

You can’t follow Jesus alone. Not “shouldn’t”; can’t. It’s not even an option. Jesus didn’t have a disciple; he had disciples, plural. He called people to apprentice under him in community.

_John Mark Comer

We could make this an entire sermon series.

Let me try and make this as practical as possible:

Commit to a church

I hope you could find a home here with us. (AT MISSION CHURCH)

But regardless the church is the body of Christ and whether it is here or elsewhere Find a Bible-believing church with pastors who faithfully preach the Word and join it.

Then invest in it.

Invite People Over for Dinner (In every season of life)

I know this may seem like a repeat from our sermon on hospitality.

But share a meal, or just a dessert and coffee.

No matter what season of life you are in.

You can also volunteer to take a meal to someone else’s home if you have more flexibility than they do.

We have some friends who as a married couple without children often asked families with children if they could bring pizza over for dinner so that everyone could more easily enjoy the fellowship.

Serve

Serving is one of the most meaningful ways you can build community.

The ministries of Mission Church rely on volunteers giving their time and energy.

Nothing bonds people together like managing a 2 year old during snack time.

There are plenty of other ways to serve.

Sign up to take a meal to a family in need. Become a greeter. Join the worship team. Whatever your interests or gifts, there is somewhere for you to serve the church.

Introduce yourself to new people you see at church

As you seek to build community, set yourself up for success.

Seek out others who are likely looking for community too.

People who are new to a church usually fit this category.

When you notice visitors, go up to them after the service and introduce yourself.

Be bold and ask if they have lunch plans.

If they aren’t available that day, try to set something up for a future date.

Here is a helpful question: Ask “How long have you been coming to _______ church?” rather than “Is this your first time visiting?”

(Suzie - Since it was in a living room)

Join a Community Group

Plug into a community group

Mission Church Community Groups meet weekly in member homes to live out Acts 2:42-47. They devote time to God’s Word, to fellowship with one another, having a meal and being in prayer together. However, they don’t just meet once a week. They entwine their lives together, doing all they can to help one another grow as followers of Jesus. Community Group members encourage one another to share Christ with their city and world, making more disciples as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19.

Get on church center. (go scan a QR code in fellowship hall)

If you don’ smart phone - God bless you. (Call out c-group leaders). Go find one of these people at the potluck. Ask them how you can get connected

Discipleship Ministries

Get plugged into Men’s, Women’s or Youth ministry.

Soon we will be launching our Discipleship Groups.

These will be the feeders for those.

Follow up on prayer requests

When someone makes a request

Pray for them.

Then check in with the person to see how it turned out.

For example, if someone in your community group asks you to pray for an upcoming family gathering or work meeting that they are anxious about, make note of when the event will take place (put a reminder in your phone or write it on your calendar) and make a point to ask the person afterwards how it went.

They will appreciate your concern and likely want to reciprocate by praying for you. What better way to begin a friendship with someone than praying for one another!

Pray

Pray that God would give you the ability to be vulnerable.

Pray that God would knit you in with others.

Life is hard, with or without God. But what’s really hard—nearly unbearable for some—is facing the pain and suffering of life apart from God. So is trying to save yourself rather than be saved. Living in a godless, shepherdless, meaningless universe—that’s really, really hard.

Ironically, in our attempts to avoid the difficult path of discipleship, we make our life harder, not easier. In our pursuit of happiness over obedience, we make our life less and less happy.

In our resistance to Jesus’ yoke, we end up shouldering the crushing burden of our own unsatisfied desires.

This paradox, which is at the very heart of the gospel itself, is best summarized by Jesus’ statement of reality: Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

This, of course, is what pretty much everybody does—they spend their time, money, and best energies (their “lives”) trying to save, protect, guard, enrich, and control their lives in an attempt to be happy and at peace. And what happens?

They are rarely happy or at peace.

_John Mark Comer

How have I experienced loneliness in my life, and in what ways has this affected my physical and spiritual well-being?

Have I ever felt like I was drifting into loneliness due to the current of modern life? How so?

What steps can I practically take to foster a deeper sense of community in my life, as shown in Acts 2:42-47?

Do I prioritize and value deep, soul friendships in my life? How can I cultivate these types of relationships moving forward?