"The Gift We Return"
I. What the Bible says about Christian Community
A. Jesus Taught on Christian Community
1. Love as the Hallmark of Discipleship
◦ John 13:34-35: "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
2. Jesus Asked for Unity
◦ John 17:20-23: "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
3. There is Power in It
◦ Matthew 18:19-20: "Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
4. Love for Neighbor as the Second Greatest Commandment
◦ Matthew 22:37-40: "And he said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'"
B. Jesus Left Us in Christian Community
1. The Early Church's Model of Christian Community
◦ Acts 2:42-44, 46-47: “42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
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.
C. It is Reaffirmed by the Apostles
Ephesians 2
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
Ephesians 4
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
2. Miracles Through Christian Community
◦ Acts 12: James Killed and Peter Imprisoned
1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.
Peter Is Rescued
6 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. 8 And the angel said to him, “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” 9 And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. 11 When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”
12 When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13 And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14 Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16 But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. 17 But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place.
18 Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. 19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.
◦ A number of times the arresting authorities had to change how they handled the apostles because of fear of the christians…
(Acts 5:26 gently bc fear of stoning, Acts 4 Peter & John let go because all the people were praising God.
II. Why We Forfeit This Gift
A. Fear of Vulnerability
• Ephesians 2:19-20: "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God."
B. Hurt and Offense
• Past experiences can cause us to withdraw from community.
• Ephesians 4:15-16: "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
III. The Importance of Community in the Last Days
A. Prophecies About Division and Betrayal
1. Matthew 24:10-12: "And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold."
2. Matthew 10:21-22: "Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."
3. Luke 12:53: "They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
B. The Church as a Refuge
• In a world marked by betrayal and division, the church must stand as a beacon of unity and love.
• Ephesians 4:15 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ!
V. Practical Steps to Embrace Community
1. Know what Christian Community is:
◦ It is living a vulnerable life tethered to others believer.
2. Seek Reconciliation:
◦ Don’t let offenses keep you isolated. Pursue peace and forgiveness (Matthew 18:15-20).
3. Commit to Fellowship:
◦ Engage with small groups, prayer meetings, and corporate worship (Acts 2:42-47).
4. Protect it:
◦ Do not allow the enemy to divide you from Christian community! (Matthew 12:25)
VI. Conclusion
• Closing Challenge:
Don’t return God’s gift of community out of fear or hurt. Embrace it as a vital part of your walk with Christ.
• Final Scripture:
Hebrews 10:23-25
23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
