Key To Community

KEY TO COMMUNITY

Pastor Josh Weisbrod – May 17, 2020

KEY IDEA: Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Jesus shows us this as the key to real community.

KEY PASSAGE: John 13:1-16

SUMMARY:

The world has this idea that we need people who are the same as us for community. It is problematic because it doesn’t make us more connected. It makes us more isolated. We want community on demand.

Real community is different-- It’s diverse, unique, different, difficult, uncomfortable, and it requires sacrifice and obedience. In a world longing for community, Jesus gives us the key. Those that humble themselves before the Lord and passionately practice His love will build a strong community.

Key to Community

•       Jesus washed his disciples’ feet to teach us about love.

•       Jesus takes the posture of a servant.

•       A posture of humility and sacrifice is seen as weakness in our culture, but a posture of humility is powerful. You understand and have a greater perspective. Philippians 2:5-8

•       Jesus didn’t even have to touch their feet, but He was willing to get down and wash the grime off their feet.

•       Jesus washed his disciples’ feet to teach us not only how to love, but also how to live.

•       John 13:12-16 - The disciples are called to imitate Jesus. I’ve washed your feet, now you do the same for others. He will show them the greater act of love when He goes to the cross.

•       The gift we receive and the model we are following after is birthed out of the new life He’s given to us.

•       When we receive His love it challenges us in two ways. We receive a personal challenge, and we received a communal challenge.

Personal Challenge

•       We need to be washed in his selfless love. You must be washed if you want to be His.

•       Only the blood of Jesus on the cross will wash you clean. Works won’t do it.

•       There is nothing, no sin, Jesus can’t wash away. 1 John 1:7

•       You believe I am your Lord and you’ll be washed by the cross. You’ve already been bathed, but you are walking through a dirty world and will get dirt on you. It’s important to confess your sins, so you can continually be washed and made clean from your sins. 1 John 1:9

•       Jesus goes to the cross as the spotless lamb, to wash us clean.

•       The personal challenge for all of us is to humble ourselves before the Cross of Jesus daily and to be washed clean by Him.

•       The foundation of community is those who are pursuing God, who are daily seeking after Him.

Communal Challenge

•       The disciples were called not just to agree with Jesus, but to imitate Jesus. Jesus repeatedly said, here’s what you ought to do, how you ought to give, how you ought to live, etc. It’s not a secret.

•       Jesus is presenting the lifestyle to be emulated—a lifestyle of humility. We ought to replicate humility through sacrifice.

•       Humility is a universal Christian virtue to be expressed through sincere (not forced or coerced) and costly service (suffer with, care for, and give to one another) of others in Christ’s name.

•       Christian community is only possible where this attitude of humility is expressed.

•       The personal and communal cannot be separated. A person humbled at the foot of the cross, is the same person that is the raw material for the community of Christ.

•       The cross is both the key to salvation and to community. John 13:34-35

•       Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

•       As I have done, you now ought to do. Look at how Jesus loves, and then do that.

•       Real community is built through humility expressed in the service of others in Christ’s name. Real community is built by loving people as Christ loved people.

•       To build community, we need to sacrifice for one another. Die on your cross daily. Invite someone into your home (if you are comfortable), call someone, care for needs, pray for people, and sacrifice your time and your comfort.

•       Anyone can build community through humility and sacrifice, and more importantly everyone is called to build community.

REFLECTION/DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Use these reflection questions as a way to deepen your relationship with God. Allow the Holy Spirit to shine a light into your heart.

1)     What has been your experience of community?

2)     Pastor Josh mentioned that people “want community on demand.” He said, “It is problematic because it doesn’t make us more connected. It makes us more isolated.” Why do you think community on demand would make people feel more isolated?

(Small Group Leaders: Answers will vary, but the idea is that we want to be surrounded by people who are just like us, whereas real community is diverse, different, difficult at times, and requires humility and sacrifice. We can also fall into the mentality of expecting that people should come to us or reach out to us, instead of us reaching out to others.)

3)     How easy or difficult is it for you to be in a community where you are truly seen and known, where you can be held accountable, and where you can be loved by others and love others in return?

4)     Why is our own personal pursuit of God and daily seeking after Him, so critical to loving others the way Jesus loved and building the foundation of a strong, authentic community?

5)     What is something specific you can do to help build authentic community around you?

Full Podcast Episode: https://banner.church/podcast/2020/5/25/key-to-community-51720