Live Differently!

Bible Introduction (5m)

Derek Redmond and his Dad

Poignant - 1992 Olympics, Barcelona - collapsed on back straight with torn hamstring - Suddenly large man in a tee shirt ran to Redmond:

Video: Derek Redmond 1992 Olympics | 2:00

Dad: You don’t have to do this. Redmond: Yes, I do! Dad: Well then, we’re going to finish the race together.

We are called to live differently - in community

Beautiful picture of what it’s like to live in Christian community.

In an age of individualism, we are called to love and support each other and to help each other finish the race.

Example: early church. Acts 2:42-47 (Alan).

Introduction (5m)

Why doesn’t the church today look like the early church?

Society so individualistic that biblical idea of community seems weird

Private lives. // Not community but professionals.

Idea of commitment to community becoming more alien

Jobs/homes.

Churches often reflect this

Professionals not pastor. // Mask. // Move churches - jobs/homes/convenience/personal preferences/relationship breakdown.

Not pattern of Early Church

Acts 2:42 NLT

All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

Devoted/committed/spent their time/regularly - to each other. Not individualism.

Devoted to teaching

Listening to everything J had taught disciples, exploring Bible - putting it into practice. Not just listening to preacher but dwelling in Scripture themselves.

Devoted to fellowship

Each other. Not coffee and biscuits. But life together. Sacrificing their personal/individual lives for each other - time, possessions, money, themselves. Growing authentic, vital, quality relationships.

Devoted to eating together

Sharing food/meals and remembering J’s death.

Devoted to prayer

Together in prayer. In community, pursuing them intentionally and with passion.

All marks are needed to support each other finish the race

Teaching helps us keep J front and centre, the main thing the main thing. Without it we backslide into surrounding culture, shaped by social pressures of day.

If we give up meeting together/spending time together, become isolated and our faith slowly dies.

Sharing meals together and remembering J’s death as we do so helps us keep the death and resurrection always before us. Reminds us what J has done for us and that he will have final victory.

Prayer reminds us we are heaven and earth people. We help connect the two through prayer.

Love was their motivation for community

Acts 2:44–46 NLT

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—

All love. Agape love. Self-sacrificing, other-oriented love. Brought them together. Motivated their meeting. Worked at practical help - sharing possessions, etc. Motivated their worship, the time spent in homes, sharing meals.

Love - support for each other and help to finish the race.

Application (5m)

Prioritise your church family

Know we love each other - seen it

Battling Zoom, texts, WhatsApp, emails, letters, cards, phone calls. Practical help - shopping, errands. Miles walked to deliver newsletters/periodicals. Postage. Disk burning. Gifts. Colouring. Battling anxiety to come to in-person meetings.

As we come out of pandemic, continue to prioritise your church family

When you feel ready, get together. Not because nice to see people, what we’ve always done, even because you’ve missed it, but recognising community life is integral to Christian life.

Paul often describes church as Body of Christ. No use if we’re all separate body parts!

Spiritual growth, battle with sin, serving God are all dependent on how committed you are to church family. Because they support you to help you finish the race.

Also, source of outreach

Our love for each other draws others in. It’s attractive. There is an energy to it. We start to share it with others:

Acts 2:47 NLT

all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

So important, looking at ways to enhance

Small groups - opportunity to regularly get together, 6-8 people, enjoy fellowship, grow relationships, pray and discuss Christian living together. Hope you will be open to this as we unpack it in coming weeks.

Together: New Series

Continue to highlight importance of spiritual community, accountability, support, serving needs of community.

Battle Drill

Continue to look at these verses, see what else they have to say about living differently.

Next Steps

Video - Make Us One

Verse 1

One with the Father, one with the Spirit

One with the Son of God

One with our sister, one with our brother

One family by the blood

Chorus

Make us one, make us one

Your will be done, make us one

Verse 2

One heart with heaven, one mind connected

One body unified

Bind us together now and forever

Jesus be glorified

Bridge

We confess all our offences

We confess we've been afraid

We repent of all our pride let all the hurt be washed away

For all the wars and violence against our enemy

Come heal our land with Your great river

Restore our family

Chorus 2

Make us one, make us one

Let Your kingdom come and make us one