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