Transformational Community

Romans 8:28–30 NKJV

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Pray - Lord, help us become all you called us and created us to be so that we might enter into the glory you have prepared for us. Amen.

I want to talk to you about the transforming power of community.

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” — Jim Rohn

Did you know that from the time that we are born our behavior is shaped and influenced by those around us?

Illustration: Mirror neurons in our brains fire in the same pattern whether we are doing or observing a task. In other words, we learn by watching. This can also be seen in things like walking in step with someone, or yawning when someone else does, etc.

Additionally, there is evidence that the people that we associate with have a powerful impact on the quality of life we live.

“According to research by social psychologist Dr. David McClelland of Harvard, [the people you habitually associate with] determine as much as 95 percent of your success or failure in life.” — Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect.

Understanding the power of the influence of others and the role it plays in our development and success is important if we want to intentionally grow in our faith and life.

Illustration: Kindergarten and play-doh with molds.

Christians are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. God appointed or determined that we should be molded or shaped into the form of Jesus.

One of the primary ways that this shaping takes place is in a community of faith, among a group of people (i.e. brethren) who are pursuing the kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul understood the power of connecting to others to grow and develop in faith.

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Galatians 4:18–19 NKJV

18 But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

When you understand that one of the primary ways that God works in our lives is through relationships developed in a community of faith, you are empowered to partner with Him and experience transformation and change.

The Challenges of Community

Proverbs 14:4 NKJV

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

Make no mistake, it takes effort to be a part of community. People are messy. Everyone has different perspectives and backgrounds.

Sometimes we agree. Sometimes we don’t.

One thing we cannot avoid is that we have the ability to choose the culture that changes us. And if we want to become like Christ, once- or twice-per-week community with other Christians is not enough.

We need to intentionally choose to connect to the community that is best for our spiritual growth.

Illustration: It takes effort to be a part of a sports team. A sports team requires commitment. You have to practice. You have to travel. You often have to pay dues (buy jerseys, etc.). You have to work hard at being a part of the team and improving at your position so that you can win games.

If we are willing to put that much effort into a recreational activity, how much more should we do so to be ready for an eternity with God?

For about three years, Jesus spent just about every day with a group of people. Sometimes is was a few and sometimes it was many. But they were always focused on learning about the kingdom and on becoming like Jesus.

The simple fact is that spiritual formation through relationship is the way of Jesus. And as with everything in the kingdom, we have to choose to respond or we will not receive the benefits for ourselves.

The Power of Community

We are going to look into the power of community by examining a few passages in the life of Saul, Israel’s first king.

The main chapters that you can find this in is 1 Samuel 9-10, 15

1 Samuel 9:1–2 NKJV

1 There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. 2 And he had a choice and handsome son whose name was Saul. There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

This is how Saul was described. The son of a mighty man of power. His dad was notable and wealthy. Saul himself was the best looking man in Israel and taller than everyone as well.

Saul went looking for his father’s donkeys. God spoke to the prophet Samuel and told him that he would soon meet Israel’s king. When Saul found Samuel, God told him Saul was the one.

1 Samuel 9:20–21 NKJV

20 But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?” 21 And Saul answered and said, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?”

Notice Saul’s response to Samuel’s compliment. Saul thought little of himself and his family (though the Scripture tells us his dad was a great man and his family was known).

After Samuel anoints Saul, he tells him that he is to go to the hill of God at Bethel and he will encounter a group of prophets. And he tells him,

1 Samuel 10:6 NKJV

6 Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.

And when Saul connected with the group of prophets, God did something in his life.

1 Samuel 10:9–11 NKJV

9 So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Later, God would give King Saul an assignment to execute punishment on the Amalekites for ambushing Israel on the way out of Egypt. He was to totally destroy all that they had, people and property (1 Samuel 15.1-3).

But Saul failed to obey God.

1 Samuel 15:7–9 NKJV

7 And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

God was very disappointed with Saul and after a night of prayer, Samuel went to confront him.

Saul accepted responsibility for not killing the king but then blamed the people for keeping the best of the items (1 Samuel 15.20-21).

Samuel responded prophetically that God rejected Saul from being king.

1 Samuel 15:24–31 NKJV

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.” 26 But Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. 28 So Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you. 29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” 30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.” 31 So Samuel turned back after Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

Notice that Saul feared the people and obeyed their voice. And notice that even though God rejected Saul, he wanted the prophet to honor him before the elders of my people and before Israel.

Later in his life, when Saul was seeking to kill David, he came back in contact with the group of prophets.

1 Samuel 19:23–24 NKJV

23 So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

Choosing Community

In light of Saul’s story, I want to share three choices that are important if we are going to experience the power of transformational community for our good and God’s glory.

Choose to Be Conformed to Christ

Jesus said that “it is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master” (Matthew 10.25). As Christ followers this is our goal, to become like Jesus.

Because Saul didn’t adopt God’s view of himself he became concerned what others thought of him.

As a child of God, you are who God says you are (John 1.12). But if you can not receive that and choose to embrace that truth, you will become influenced by the labels of others and allow yourself to be defined by your past.

Choose to be conformed to Christ, to embrace His way and you will experience God’s purpose in your life (cf. Ephesians 2.10).

Choose the Right Culture

Proverbs 22:24–25 NKJV

24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, 25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

Two definitions of culture:

the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group

the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization

We need to understand that the culture that we align with shape our attitudes, values, and goals.

This is why who we spend our time with as well as what forms of information and entertainment we consume is something that we should choose wisely.

Illustration: High School friends; social “influencers,” entertainment industry

Make sure that you are choosing to engage and spend the majority of your time in the right cultural environment.

Choose to Commit to Christian Community

Hebrews 10:24–25 NKJV

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

One of the functions of a community of faith is to stir up good works and love in us.

In a community of faith, we encourage and exhort one another, especially as things get more difficult in the world we live in.

We support and strengthen one another.

Choose to commit to a community of faith that leads you to Christlikeness and growth. When you do so, you are committing for your good.

Conclusion

When Saul was around the prophets the Scriptures share that he experienced the presence of God, his heart was changed, and he was like another man. He began to prophesy and enter into the worship of God in a powerful way.

But when Saul was away from the prophets and among the elders of the people, he was influenced by his fear of them and a desire to impress them. This led to his downfall.

If we recognize the power of a transformational community we will:

Choose the be conformed to Christ

Choose the right culture

Choose to commit to a Christian community

Because we choose to do these things we will find a place to belong, deep and abiding relationships, and an environment where we grow into our purpose.

We will learn to love and live like Jesus did.

The question for us is, what will you choose (cf. Joshua 24.15)?

Pray for God to lead us and place us as we choose to become like Jesus, seek the right culture, and commit to the right group of people. Amen