Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Pastor Brandon Lemons, from Friedens Church in Port Washington… We connected because we both belong to a group of people who lived in Palmyra, MO, and graduated from Palmyra High School.

Group identity is one of the most powerful forces in the world.

For good or evil — Nazis, ISIS, gangs

1 Cor 15:33… Most parents instinctively know this and are picky about their kids’ friends.

Who their kids hang out with influences who their kids become.

That’s just as true for adults as it is for kids.

Wilder & Hendricks…

Left Brain (what we know) / Right Brain (who we are, identity)

“Group identity has the power to change character because it operates… on the right side of the brain.

Our automatic responses to distress can be trained by our group identity.

Let me state this again because this concept is countercultural.

Our instantaneous reactions to life’s circumstances can be transformed by having a joyful hesed community that has a well-developed group identity based on the character of Jesus.”

-- Wilder & Hendricks

How does this work?

Through updating our “library” of examples… “Why are you yelling?”

In order to see those examples, I need to belong to a group of people who are living the Christian life.

When it comes to following Jesus and growing spiritually, one of the most important questions we can ask ourselves is this: Who are my people?

What group is my group identity built on?

We were meant to follow Jesus together.

God designed us to be in the fellowship of believers.

We were created to belong to belong to one another — Gen 2:18, “It is not good for the man to be alone.”

Illustration: We went to a seder meal with a friend who is the pastor of a Messianic Jewish congregation.

All the feasts and festivals and traditions and stories and commands to remember in the OT were given to build an identity as the chosen people of God.

The NT calls this “the fellowship of believers.”

What makes a bunch of random people into a fellowship?

Shared stories — George Washington / Abe Lincoln / David & Goliath / Moses & the Red Sea / the Christmas story / Jesus calming the storm / the crucifixion & resurrection

Shared experiences — family holiday traditions / worshiping God together

Shared values — “In our family, we ________________.”

Shared purpose — To glorify God and enjoy him forever / To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself / To go and make disciples of all nations… We are living life on purpose together.

Shared suffering — 1 Peter 5:8-9

Creates shared identity

Here are a few examples of what the Bible says about our group identity in Christ.

Col 3:12-14.

Eph 2:12-13, 15b, 19-22.

Gal 3:26-29.

1 Pet 2:9-10.

Who are your people?

Who we love shapes who we are.

“Our brains draw life from our strongest relational attachments to grow our character and develop our identity.

Who we love shapes who we are.”

-- Wilder & Hendricks

Is Jesus one of your people?

We all have multiple group identities, whether we want to or not.

Am I intentionally building relationships with a group of people who are the kind of people I want to become?

Finding people isn’t as hard as you might think.

It doesn’t take a program.

It just takes a meal.