Rooted in Community
Notes
Transcript
Handout
God wants to take us from just church attenders to being followers of Jesus who are compelled to serve others and share the love of Jesus to other people.
God’s original plan for HIS church is for us to be rooted in Christ and abiding in Christ together.
God has a destination for all of us. We were born to be fearless world changers.
When we look at the early church in Acts chapter 2 we see that Jesus left HIS followers to turn ordinary disciples in to fearless world-changers.
How does that happen? By being rooted and abiding in Jesus together.
Last week we learned about the importance of abiding in Jesus and what that looks like today.
This morning we are going to touch on what happens when we abide in Jesus together as HIS church.
We see the results in the book of Acts as theses new followers of Jesus deepened their spiritual roots and became this new thing called the church.
Let’s read and pay attention to some key indicators of a healthy church that is rooted in Christ…
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
PRAY
God wants to take us deeper. Acts 2 is the result of a healthy church where the people are devoted, amazed, generous, bold because they are rooted in Jesus. Because they are rooted in Jesus, they are compelled by God’s love to follow Jesus.
We see that God can take anyone from anyplace and make them world changers… fearless followers of Jesus. He did it throughout HIS ministry taking 12 rough, uneducated, sinful outcasts into 11 fearless followers of Jesus.
Levels of Connection to Jesus and HIS Church
… But we all have to start somewhere. That means we have to go…
From being Complacent to Consumer.
From being Complacent to Consumer.
When we choose to follow Jesus, HE brings us from complacent to consumer.
13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him.
Here, Jesus chose HIS disciples, engaged them in a life-transforming process, and eventually released them to change the world.
Jesus does the same thing today.
Jesus speaks the language of our culture by searching for the lost. Those who are complacent need to come to the realization that Jesus is their only hope but it’s so much more then just rescuing us from our hopelessness.
Jesus calls us from our lives of complacency to a life of fullness and riches in HIS Kingdom.
Jesus highlights the lost… the parables of the lost son… sheep… coin and when they are found… HE rejoices.
But, God’s plan is more then just being a consumer of Jesus… we must go…
From Consumer to Connected
From Consumer to Connected
That happens through relationships in community. Relationships are key to maturing in Christ.
In the Early Church the people gathered together, they worked together, ate together, asked questions, and learned from Jesus together.
They did life together… celebrating wonderful moments and grieving tragic losses. We love and serve our communities just like the disciples did.
We must be connected to one another and connected to our community if we are going to grow and make a difference for Jesus and HIS kingdom.
We must connect with a small group here at New Life if we are going to go from being a consumer to one who is connected. Building strong and healthy relationships is vital.
… But Connection requires commitment. God wants to take us…
From Connected to Committed
From Connected to Committed
The apostles used their gifts with authority. God has gifted us uniquely as well and, as HIS followers, we can use them to serve our communities.
In humility, we understand that we really can make an impact for God’s Kingdom.
God has set a purpose for us when we are committed to HIS purpose but serving is just a step toward something even bigger.
… God wants to take us…
From Committed to Compelled.
From Committed to Compelled.
That’s the Acts 2 church. When the early church went out, preaching, teaching and baptizing believers, the church grew.
The people were compelled by the vision given to them and by their own experiences with Jesus.
They were compelled to tell others about the Messiah.
God wants to bring us to that wonderful place where we are compelled to tell other people that Jesus has made a difference in our lives… our friends, our neighbors, our family, our co-workers.
It’s the great commission where Jesus tells HIS disciples to GO.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Jesus is with us and HE has given us HIS authority to be ambassadors for HIM. We are representitives of Jesus and so we must be compelled to GO… GO into a world that is dark and hopeless and in need of healing.
It’s our responsibility to be ambassadors of Jesus in our spheres of our influence.
We now identify as believers in Jesus, who happen to have jobs as doctors, plumbers, teachers, factory workers, electricians, Realtors, working retail and fast food.
HE has placed us in those situations for a specific purpose: to reach those around us with the love and healing power of Jesus Christ and to change that industry or vocation so it becomes an outpost of God’s Kingdom Influence!
When we begin to recognize that God has placed us as HIS agents to bring HIS influence into our communities and vocations, we see change.
As people are attracted to a relationship with Jesus because of the way we live, families will change… neighborhoods will change… cities will change… nations will change, and that’s how the world can change. The world will be won for Jesus Christ.
God did not just create us to be born, grow up, make money, and then die. HIS power of transformation is available for each of HIS follower who will dare to live a life of fearless influence.
God created us to be world-changers!
You were born to be fearless! You were born to change the world!
How can we become that world changer that God created me to be?
It’s hard to see that when I feel so inadequate… I’ve made some bad decisions in life… I come from a background of disfunction and abuse… How can God use me?
When you abide in Jesus and you receive HIS amazing and incredible love, it changes everything! Our thoughts of inadequacy, shame, guilt melt away because of Jesus and HIS amazing love for us. We receive a new identity as sons and daughters of God.
All that happens when we begin to develop some rhythms in our life which is the essence of being rooted in Jesus.
7 Rhythms of a Disciple
Daily Devotions (Acts 2:46)
Prayer (Acts 2:42)
Repentance (Acts 2:37-39)
Sacrificial Generosity (Acts 2:44-45)
Serve the Community (Acts 2:44-45)
Share Your Story (Acts:2:14-36)
Worship (Acts 2:26-28, 46-47)
Daily Devotions (Acts 2:46)
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
Scripture is the very Word of God. Through it, HE equips us with all that we need to learn about HIM. We learn how to live a life that pleases God. A daily rhythm of reading, meditating and applying God’s Word is key.
Prayer (Acts 2:42)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
One of the most important elements in any relationship is communication. Prayer is just that: engaging God is a conversation, sharing our hearts with HIM, and spending time listening to HIS voice, both individually and in community.
Repentance (Acts 2:37-39)
37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Jesus saves those who believe and call upon HIS name. Saving grace is once and for all and also a continual invitation to repent for our wrongdoings.
With the help of the Holy Spirit we take inventory of our lives, humbly and honestly confess our sin, and turn away from our sin toward God in surrender. Through Jesus’ offer of forgiveness, we receive true freedom.
Sacrificial Generosity (Acts 2:44-45)
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
Giving demonstrates our dependance on God.
We acknowledge that all we own has been given to us by HIM.
In HIS generosity toward us, God desires that we, too, are generous. God wants us to use our resources as a tangible way to partner with HIM in HIS work in the world and in the lives of those around us.
We are blessed to be a blessing. (Genesis 12:2 “2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” ).
Serve the Community (Acts 2:44-45)
We are called and equipped by the Holy Spirit to share God’s love by participating in the ministry of Jesus.
When we serve in the world and in HIS Church, we impact those around us and reveal God’s glory.
Share your Story (Acts 2:14-36)
At the beginning of Acts 2 the Apostle Peter addressed the crowd. God used Peter as he shared his story about Jesus.
The greatest gift we can every give someone who doesn’t yet know Jesus is an introduction to HIM. Sharing our life stories is the most powerful way to show the transforming power and salvation offered through Jesus Christ.
When we tell our stories of transformation, we tell the story of God. Share your story!
Worship. (Acts 2:26-28, 46-47)
Acts 2:26–28 (ESV)
26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
As Children of God, it’s important to consistently set aside time to remember what God has done, to be thankful, and to put God on display as we give HIM all the glory. In all circumstances, we are called to practice God-centered worship.
These rhythms must become more then just habits. As followers of Jesus, they need to become so connected to our life that they just become natural rhythms of our life.
We cannot do this alone, we must connect with one another as we connect and abide in Jesus together.
Being Rooted in Jesus requires a lifetime. There is no shortcut to freedom, no quick fixes. Being Rooted requires a deep work that can only happen as we humbly and daily surrender to Jesus and HIS kingdom work.
