Faith Community

I grew up on the North side of Houston, Texas which is one of the top 10 largest cities in the U.S. and at the time was one of the fastest growing cities in the country. People were moving in from everywhere because of the oil-boom. My Mom moved from Ohio to Oklahoma where she met my Dad and then moved to Houston to find work. In the sea of all these people we found our community. It was a faith community at North Freeway Baptist Church located, as you might guess, right off of interstate 45. The church body moved twice while I attended but the people remained pretty consistent.

My Church was a real faith community. We were with church people all the time. We went to church together twice on Sunday, every Wednesday, with visitation on Thursday and get-togethers on Friday and Saturday; not to mention birthday parties and celebrations. These people shaped and molded my life into the man I am today. They are my family to this day.

It’s the kind of faith community you read about in Acts 2.

Acts 2:46–47 ESV

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.

Many in my youth group went on to be in the ministry building faith communities so that others could have what we had. But the world changed. The church went from meeting daily in the time of the apostles to five times a week in my youth to once a week before the pandemic to twice a month after the pandemic. Now I struggle to get my committed Reliant members to give 4 hours on a Sunday to serve others and receive the message. What happened to us?

People have become more private in real life and more public on Social media. We have 1,000 followers and feel all alone. Faith communities built churches to match. We sit in rooms with 1000 people and nobody knows your name. No one has any idea the struggles you face or the hurt that you feel. And honestly, no one seems to care. We check our box of “getting our Jesus on” as we attend the free talent show put on by the church and then we retreat back to our homes, back to our social media accounts, back to our hidden sins, and back to the loneliness of life.

There is a better way. I know there is. I’ve lived it. And I refuse to become a check-box church that is full of dead men’s bones. Those are the words of Jesus:

Matthew 23:27–28 ESV

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

We’ve been discussing how to move past the checkboxes of religion and move the the passion of our hearts through some of the most common Spiritual habits in Christianity.

Here is what we have covered so far:

Biblical meditation is the willful subjection to God's Word allowing it to transform your heart and mind into the heart and mind of Christ.

Prayer is the communion of heart and mind with God, and solitude is the space for God to speak.

Sacrificial Servitude is serving from a heart of love and concern even when it cost you something.

Kingdom Generosity is giving from the abundance of your heart to produce kingdom results.

So how do we move from a checkbox church to a faith community? The Church, from its inception, formed a spiritual habit of faith community.

Hebrews 10:24–25 KJV 1900

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

There are 36 “one another” statements in the New Testament. ( I have listed them out in the sermon notes). But there are 4 “one another’s” that will get us started just from this one verse.

Consider One Another

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Selfish ambition is the biggest killer of Faith Community.

Your motive for coming reveals the heart issue. Did you come for the benefit of others or personal benefit?

When everyone is taking there is nothing to give.

Over my carrer I have had families come and say, “We are leaving because we want a bigger youth group for our kids.” I say, “if you leave it only gets smaller.”

A Faith Community cares about the needs and interests of others.

You motive changes from what is best for me to what is best for us. You ask the question, “What does the body need, and how can I help?”

When everyone is giving something everyone has what they need.

Do you know what kills a kids ministry. Parents that are unwilling to serve. We are asking every parent to serve at least once a month in Rkidz.

If all the parent would serve in the rotation we would need you about every six weeks. But you have to care about what’s best for the group and not just yourself.

It’s like being in a car pool where the parents trade off taking the kids to school, but you never take them.

The Point: When we form the spiritual habit of caring for the needs of others, our faith community will be healthy.

Provoke One Another

Hebrews 10:24–25 KJV 1900

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

A healthy faith community challenges your status quo.

“You can come as you are. You just can’t stay as you is.”

Everyone needs a little push to reach their full potential.

My first missions trip to Juarez with Ralph Canada.

We speak the truth in love to provoke one another to love and good works.

God wants to perfect His love in us by teaching us to love one anther.

We hold each other accountable, not to be mean, but to produce the fruit of the Spirit in you.

The Point: When we form the spiritual habit of speaking the truth in love we cause others in our faith community to reach their full potential.

Assemble with One Another

Faith Community only happens by being together.

If the pandemic taught us anything it was this fact. We tried it. We tried to stay connected during a time that we couldn’t meet. You were able to get something from the online services but you couldn’t give anything.

We lost families.

People stopped coming to church even when church reopened. They had no faith community and many fell away from the Lord.

People are telling Kim and I all the time, “We need to get back in Church for the health of my family and my own soul.

There was never a question in my home about if we were going to church. Why? “Because Daddy said so.”

As a kid I would go into my parent room shoulders shrugged lip out: “Do I have to go to church.” And the only answer I would get was, “Go get dress or I’m busting your butt.”

God established 3 governing bodies for people.

The Family

The Government

The Church

All of these institution are under attack, because the enemy knows that if you break up the unit they loose the support system which makes a much easier target.

Your Faith Community should be your place of refuge and safety from the world.

This Spiritual habit goes both ways. You can get in the habit of going. And you can get in the habit of not going.

When you neglect the assembly the assembly is neglected.

You miss the opportunity to encourage someone when you watch online.

The Point: The spiritual habit of assembly strengthens your faith community.

It is the back bone that holds it all together.

Exhort One Another

Jesus is the author and builder of your faith community.

People say, “I don’t need the church to worship God.” And though I would agree, It is clear that the desire of God’s heart to collective worship. There are two many commands and expectations of collective worship and service.

One Mind: The mind of Christ.

One Body: The Church.

One Spirit: The Lord.

Jesus gave himself for the church.

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Jesus is returning for his faith community.

The Day of Christ return is at hand. I pray he finds us about his business.

Our world right now is saying don’t gather, don’t assemble, stay home watch online. God is saying gather more as you see the day approaching.

The Point: Christ gathers with His faith community as we form his body and mind.

Matthew 18:20 ESV

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Hebrews 2:11–12 ESV

11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

When Faith Community because a spiritual habit you are:

Considered

Provoked

Assembled

and Exhorted.

And Jesus has assembled with us.

If we are going to change our community with the power of the gospel we must offer them a Biblical Faith based Community that will draw them into fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:3 ESV

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

This morning we must consider our hearts when it comes to the spiritual habit of Faith Community. Prophecy is being fulfilled. It won’t be long until the Anti-Christ comes on the scene and tribulation begins. There is another prophecy given that goes along with that.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (ESV)

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

I believe we are witnessing the apostacy of the church, the great falling away. We can be the light that shines through the darkness and draws people to the light. But it will take dedication, sacrifice, and endurance. 5428

Appendex:

All the “one another” commands in the NT [infographic]

by Jeffrey Kranz | Mar 9, 2014 | Bible topics

https://overviewbible.com/one-another-infographic/

“One another” is two words in English, but it’s only one word in Greek: ἀλλήλων (ah-LAY-loan). It’s used 100 times in 94 New Testament verses. 47 of those verses give instructions to the church, and 60% of those instructions come from Paul.

Kissy-kissy? Yes! Four of the “one another” commands are about kissing. But with all due apologies to David Crowder and John Mark McMillan, these kisses are neither “sloppy, wet” nor “unforeseen.”

When you look at these verses, a few more common themes show up.

Unity. One third of the one-another commands deal with the unity of the church.

Be at peace with one another (Mk 9:50)

Don’t grumble among one another (Jn 6:43)

Be of the same mind with one another (Ro 12:16, 15:5)

Accept one another (Ro 15:7)

Wait for one another before beginning the Eucharist (1 Co 11:33)

Don’t bite, devour, and consume one another—seriously, guys, don’t eat each other (Ga 5:15)

Don’t boastfully challenge or envy one another (Ga 5:26).

Gently, patiently tolerate one another (Ep 4:2)

Be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to one another (Ep 4:32)

Bear with and forgive one another (Co 3:13)

Seek good for one another, and don’t repay evil for evil (1 Th 5:15)

Don’t complain against one another (Jas 4:11, 5:9)

Confess sins to one another (Jas 5:16)

Love. One third of them instruct Christians to love one another.

Love one another (Jn 13:34, 15:12, 17; Ro 13:8; 1 Th 3:12, 4:9; 1 Pe 1:22; 1 Jn 3:11, 4:7, 11; 2 Jn 5)

Through love, serve one another (Ga 5:13)

Tolerate one another in love (Ep 4:2)

Greet one another with a kiss of love (1 Pe 5:14)

Be devoted to one another in love (Ro 12:10)

Humility. About 15% stress an attitude of humility and deference among believers.

Give preference to one another in honor (Ro 12:10)

Regard one another as more important than yourselves (Php 2:3)

Serve one another (Ga 5:13)

Wash one another’s feet (Jn 13:14)

Don’t be haughty: be of the same mind (Ro 12:16)

Be subject to one another (Ep 5:21)

Clothe yourselves in humility toward one another (1 Pe 5:5)

Here’s the rest:

Do not judge one another, and don’t put a stumbling block in a brother’s way (Ro 14:13)

Greet one another with a kiss (Ro 16:16; 1 Co 16:20; 2 Co 13:12)

Husbands and wives: don’t deprive one another of physical intimacy (1 Co 7:5)

Bear one another’s burdens (Ga 6:2)

Speak truth to one another (Ep 4:25)

Don’t lie to one another (Co 3:9)

Comfort one another concerning the resurrection (1 Th 4:18)

Encourage and build up one another (1 Th 5:11)

Stimulate one another to love and good deeds (He 10:24)

Pray for one another (Jas 5:16)

Be hospitable to one another (1 Pe 4:9)

Of course, Jesus and the apostles give many more instructions to the church; these “one another” passages are a good start, though.

Also: make sure you read these in context! These commands come from Jesus, Peter, John, Paul, and James, and they’re scattered across the New Testament. Don’t just stop at this list: dig into these passages to see what the author was talking about.