Navigating Faith in a Digital Age: Screens and the Sanctity of Community

Reading of the Word

Hebrews 10:19–25 NASB 2020

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:35–36 NASB 2020

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

Prayer of Illumination

Lord,

As we reflect on today's message, we ask for your guidance. Illuminate our hearts and minds to understand how to balance screens and community in a way that honors you. Help us use technology wisely and prioritize meaningful relationships with one another. May your Spirit lead us as we seek to live out our faith authentically.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Introduction

I have a lot of screens in my life.

I have my cell phone.

I have a Ipad.

I have a MacBook.

I have a desktop in my office that has a 32” screen (so nice for studying).

In our home, we have several tv’s.

I have a lot of screens.

How many screens do you have?

What consoles do you have?

My first console was a Nintendo. No not DS, an actual nintendo. I also played a little atari at my cousins.

I used to play, Mario, Mario Kart, and sports games. In those days, it was a bunch of squares running around on a screen.

Today I am a die-hard sports fan when it comes to gaming.

But there’s more screens in our life, right?

Movie theaters, Netflix, D+, Prime Video.

There’s so many screens.

There's screens all around us. Even you get in your car, there's probably a screen there now as well. They're everywhere.

Can anyone guess the amount of time the average teenager spends on their phone each day?

7 hours and 22 minutes a day.

For some of you, maybe it’s closer to 3 hours a day. Mine says 3 hours today.

For some of you, maybe it’s closer to 10.

The Bible never specifically mentions iPhone. The Bible never talks about Android or 4k TVs. It doesn't mention Nintendo anywhere, but there are tons of principles to help you manage and navigate the screens in your life.

A Call to Steadfast Hope

Enter with Confidence vs. 19

We enter with confidence because of one person: Jesus.

Imagine a tightrope walker confidently stepping onto a thin wire stretched high above a bustling city. The crowd watches in awe as he moves with precision and grace, never wavering. When asked about his confidence, he smiles and explains, "I trust the strength of the wire beneath me more than the distance to the ground below." In the same way, our confidence in Jesus isn't based on our own abilities or circumstances but on His unwavering strength and faithfulness.

Enter with Gratitude vs. 20-21

The cost of ‘entering’ was high. It was Christ shedding His Blood at Calvary.

It is a new way - the ordinary worshipper can now come directly into God’s presence.

It is a living way - Christ was once dead but now he lives and reigns as the King of kings and Lord of lords forever and ever!

The new and living way came through Christ’s sacrifice. His flesh, not a material curtain, became the only way we can access God.

Because of this, we approach the sanctuary with hearts of praise, adoration, and thanksgiving.

Enter with Sincerity vs. 22

We come yearning for God to purify our hearts.

We come with our whole hearts, with everything that we are, so that Christ can continue the work of holiness that he started in us through his death and resurrection.

Because of the hope we have in Jesus, we stand firm in our confession of him and use this confession to encourage others.

They were reminded to stand firm because there was many others that had fallen away. They went back to Judiasm and began to fiercely persecute Christians.

In a remote village, a Christian family faces relentless persecution for their faith. Despite threats and hardships, they continue to gather secretly to worship and pray. One day, their youngest child asks, "Why do we keep praying when it's so dangerous?" The father gently replies, "Because Jesus is worth every risk. Just as a tree's roots grow deeper when it faces strong winds, our faith grows stronger when we stand firm through persecution. And through it all, God remains our fortress and strength."

A Call to Community

The Biblical (in-person) Concept of Community

While meeting with other believers, especially in worship, screens must not become a distraction. When anything distracts us from God, it becomes an idol to us.

It is easy to convey what we want to convey on the keyboard. We can be the tough warrior on a game or a Snapchat vixen. We can be keyboard activists spouting well-read opinions, while not actually doing any work toward change on the ground. We can earn Instagram verification or Facebook “top fan” status without even knowing the people we follow or who follow us. While the internet provides very valuable tools, tutoring for our children, directions on fixing the washing machine, and online Bible studies galore, nothing can replace the people who care about us and can see through the facade. When the author of Hebrews warns the reader not to forsake meeting together, it isn’t because sitting in church, singing a few songs, hearing a sermon, and eating a cookie while you wander out the door is the key to persevering in the faith. He warns us not to isolate because we need one another. We can’t hug one another through the Marco Polo app. We can’t see the sorrow in one another’s eyes through a text message. It is virtually impossible to confront in love in an email. God’s work, through the church, to refine, encourage, and support one another is done primarily in person. Screens aren’t the enemy, but they can distract us from investing in those around us and allowing others to invest in us.We must set aside the screens and focus on people because this concept of community is much more effective.

Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB 2020

and let’s consider how to encourage one another in love and good deeds, not abandoning our own meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

So we are called to encourage one another.in verse 24 How do we do this? Verse 25 gives us the answer we need. We do not abandon ourselves from gathering together. WE NEED EACH OTHER!

The Importance of a Campfire

Imagine a group of people sitting around a campfire. Each log in the fire represents a member of the church. Together, the logs burn brightly, providing warmth and light. But what happens if you take one log out of the fire and set it aside? The log will eventually stop burning and turn cold. Similarly, when we separate ourselves from the fellowship of believers, our faith can grow cold. We need each other to stay spiritually vibrant and strong.

The Online Concept of Community

As we look at our modern tendency to spend more time in front of a screen (gaming, movies, television, social media), we can’t deny how what we consume through these avenues shapes how we view people and the world we live in. What we consume is what we release to the world.

Online Community and Faith will Intersect.

Technology in itself is amoral; it has no inherent morality. In fact, we can use it in very positive ways and very negative ways. It can encourage or discourage community. Recognizing that screens are not evil in and of themselves is a good starting place in helping us as believers allow our relationship with God to influence our use of them. If we are in right relationship with God, our tech usage will also be healthy. As they intersect, which way will we go? We have a choice.

The Balanced Concept of Community

Using both in person and online concepts correctly is the most effective in building relationships with others and with God.

The Biblical concept of community takes precedence over the online community, but the online community still plays a very important role in the church today.

A Call to Endurance

We endure so much in this life. From day to day, we do not know what life will throw at us. But it isn’t about it being thrown at us, it’s about how will we respond.

Our faith allows us to endure.

Whatever life throws at us, we make it through the storm.

Why do Christians respond differently in the midst of trials? Because of the hope we have in Christ. This world is not our home. This world offers nothing that will give us hope. So we look to Jesus and place our hope in him alone. Why? Because he has proven himself that as our text says “He who promised is faithful.”

Our faith allows us to shine.

The Apostle Paul faced significant suffering throughout his ministry, including beatings, shipwrecks, and imprisonment. Despite these hardships, he remained steadfast in his faith. While in prison, Paul, in Philippians 4:4, he exhorts believers to "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" This illustrates that even in suffering, Christians can find joy and strength in their relationship with Christ.

We rejoice in our trials, because our hope is in Christ. We know that one day, our preserving in trials will lead to the reward because of our obedience to God.

Our faith allows us to share.

I will never forget the opportunity I had to share my faith in the midst of extreme trials. My third back surgery, the day after. I was 27 but there was a young man in the next bed, who was maybe 20. He was suffering in such pain after having a similar surgery i had. I quietly laid in my hospital bed and listened to what he said. Eventually, I had the chance to talk to him and hear his story. Then at the end, one question came from his mouth “how is it you seem so peaceful in such great suffering?” Just the opportunity I was waiting for to share Jesus with him.

c. In the midst of our worst times, God calls us to share Jesus. We shine Christ and then many times, it will give us the opportunity to share the hope that we hold within us.

Application

Make community your priority.

Gather together with your family of faith as much as possible.

Don't let excuses steal your sense of community. While there are valid reasons to miss out, and God understands those, be sure your excuse isn't just a flimsy one.

Don't allow screens to rob you of time with your church family when you're together.

While they are sometimes necessary, whenever possible, prioritize being fully present with your church family by putting screens aside.

Never let screens isolate you from community.

The devil wants to take us away from community. If he can isolate us, he knows he can attack us. There is strength in numbers.

"Strength is found in our unity, for where there is unity, there is strength."

When screens isolate you, they often take our hope right along with it.

Digital connections. . . may offer the illusion of companionship without the demands of friendship. Our networked life allows us to hide from each other, even as we are tethered to each other. -Sherry Turkle

This is why there are astronomical numbers of children 18-under with depression, anxiety, and other issues.

Don’t let screens make you a slave to isolation. Live in the freedom of God by participating in community. Community will give you the freedom that a child of God is given in Jesus.

Always make sure screens are used in a healthy, balanced way: physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Never let them consume your time.

Screens can quickly become an addiction if we don’t exercise self-control.

Limit your time on screens.

On my days off, I put a do not touch post-it note on my MacBook because it is off limits. I see screens enough during the week.

Don’t put them before others and especially not before God.

To Sum It Up: Technology, while not inherently good or bad, is not a substitute for face-to-face community.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while screens undoubtedly play a role in enriching our faith—providing access to countless Christian content, scriptures, and global fellowship—they also pose a danger. They can isolate us, fragment our attention, and dilute the depth of our relationships.

Yet, amidst this digital landscape, let us always prioritize in-person community. It's here, in face-to-face interactions, that we find the warmth of human connection, the strength of shared prayers, and the encouragement of fellow believers. Jesus himself emphasized the importance of gathering together, promising that "where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them" (Matthew 18:20).

So, let us use screens wisely as tools for spreading the gospel and deepening our knowledge of God. But let us never let them replace the irreplaceable richness of true community. May our churches be places where screens facilitate rather than dominate, where hearts are united, and where God's presence is palpable in our midst.

Prayer Following Message

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for speaking to us today through your Word and through the message we've heard. You remind us of the importance of community and the dangers of allowing screens to distract us from true fellowship with one another and with you.

Lord, forgive us for the times we've allowed screens to isolate us and diminish our relationships. Help us to prioritize face-to-face interactions, where we can encourage, support, and build up one another in faith.

We thank you, Lord, for the technology that allows us to spread your word and connect with others globally, but may we always use it wisely and in moderation. May it never replace the personal connections that strengthen our faith and our communities.

Help us to be intentional about nurturing relationships and investing in our church family. Let us always remember your promise that where two or three gather in your name, you are there with us.

In Jesus' name we pray,

Amen.

Benediction

May the peace of Christ guard your hearts and minds as you navigate this digital world. May you hold fast to your hope in Christ, knowing that through every trial and hardship, He is with you, strengthening and guiding you.

As you endure, may your faith shine brightly, a beacon of hope to those around you. May you boldly share Christ's love and truth, reflecting His light in every interaction and circumstance.

Go forth with confidence, knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.