Made for Relationships: Church Community
Pastor Tim is focusing on relationships within the church community, marking the conclusion of a series and anticipating the Advent season. He emphasizes that "church" refers to the people of God, not merely the Sunday gathering, stressing that the foundation of Christian life and relationships is the gospel (the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus). He addresses the overwhelming nature of New Testament commands by focusing on the "one another's," which he summarizes into three practical applications for church life: love one another, be with one another, and be unified with one another, even when personal sacrifice is required. He strongly encourages believers to prioritize time together and maintain unity by focusing on the core, non-negotiable truths of the faith.
Deep Dive Podcast
Study Guide: Relationships : One Another
Quiz: Test Your Understanding
Instructions: Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each, based on the provided sermon content.
What is the critical distinction between a "Sunday morning gathering" and "the church"?
Explain the difference between the "universal church" and the "local church" as described in the sermon.
According to the sermon, what is the foundational source of the Christian life, and how does it impact relationships with others?
What are the "one another" commands, and why are they presented as a key to understanding relationships in the church?
What is the single command that grounds all the various "one another" instructions for how the church should interact?
Based on John 13, what did Jesus say would be the primary sign to the world that people are his disciples?
Why is it essential for believers to "be with one another" in order to live out the biblical commands for community?
What four activities did the early church in the Book of Acts devote themselves to, and what was the result of their togetherness?
What is the third summary of the "one another" commands, and what potential personal cost does it entail?
How does the sermon advise believers to handle disagreements on secondary issues while maintaining unity?
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Answer Key
The "Sunday morning gathering" is described as a worship service in which the church engages, not the church itself. The church is defined as "the people of God on the mission of God for the glory of God." Confusing the service for the church leads to a small vision of what God desires for his people.
The "universal church" comprises all people over all time who have professed faith in Christ, with Jesus as the head. The "local church," such as Mercy Church, is the local expression or gathering of people who are part of that universal body.
The foundational source of the Christian life is the gospel—the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Engaging personally with the gospel first changes an individual's relationship with God, and this internal change then trickles out and transforms their relationships with other people.
The "one another" commands are a collection of over 50 specific instructions in the New Testament that tell believers how they should relate to each other (e.g., love one another, serve one another). They serve as shorthand for all of God's instructions for how the church should live in community.
All interactions within the local church are grounded in the single command to "love one another." Actions like offering hospitality, encouraging someone, or doing good to another are all expressions of this foundational command to love.
Jesus states in John 13 that "everyone will know that you are my disciples" by the way believers love one another. This mutual love, especially despite differences, serves as a primary witness to the world about the transformative power of following Jesus.
Believers must "be with one another" because it is impossible to love or carry out the other "one another" commands without being in a relationship and spending time together. Presence is a prerequisite for fellowship, meeting needs, and building community, just as it is in any other meaningful relationship.
The early church devoted itself to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. As a result of being together, they shared everything in common, sold possessions to give to anyone in need, and met daily in the temple courts and in their homes.
The third summary is to "be unified with one another, even if it costs you." This entails swallowing one's pride, forgiving when wronged, and prioritizing the unity of the body of Christ over the personal victory of being right in a conflict.
The sermon advises believers to unite around the "non-negotiables" of the faith, such as the core tenets found in the Nicene Creed, while extending grace in other areas. This means having conversations about disagreements on secondary issues but not allowing them to become deal-breakers that destroy fellowship.
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Essay Questions for Deeper Reflection
The sermon argues, "Christians don't go to church. We are the church." Analyze this statement. What are the practical implications for a believer's mindset and actions throughout the week if they truly embrace this definition?
Discuss the quote from Miroslav Volf. How does his argument that "one cannot... have a self enclosed communion with the Triune God" challenge modern, individualistic approaches to faith?
Pastor Tim categorizes the numerous "one another" commands into three overarching principles: "love one another," "be with one another," and "be unified with one another, even if it costs you." Explain how these three principles are interconnected and build upon each other to create a healthy church community.
Explore the concept of "church hurt" as mentioned at the beginning of the sermon. How does the ideal of church relationships presented later in the message contrast with the reality that people often get hurt within the church?
The sermon draws a distinction between essential, "non-negotiable" beliefs and secondary matters where Christians can disagree. Using the examples provided (e.g., trick-or-treating, the rapture, homeschooling), discuss the challenge and importance of maintaining unity in a diverse community. What is the danger of elevating secondary issues to the level of non-negotiables?
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Glossary of Key Terms
Term
Definition from the Source Context
The Church
Not a building or a Sunday service, but "the people of God on the mission of God for the glory of God." It is comprised of people who have professed faith in Christ.
Universal Church
The body of all believers over all time who have confessed their faith in Christ and are following him. Jesus is the head of the universal church.
Local Church
The local expression or gathering of the universal church, such as Mercy Church. This is the community where believers are directly involved with one another.
Sunday Morning Gathering
A worship service in which the church engages. It is an activity of the church, but not the church itself.
Church Hurt
The pain and harm that people experience from others within a church context. The sermon acknowledges this is a real issue in a broken world.
The Gospel
The foundational source of the Christian life. It is defined as the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Community
A term used as shorthand for living out all of God's instructions for his church, particularly the "one another" commands.
The "One Anothers"
A collection of over 50 commands found in the New Testament that specifically instruct believers on how to interact with one another (e.g., love one another, serve one another, forgive one another).
Fellowship
Community time spent together among believers. The sermon specifies that one cannot have fellowship alone; it requires being with others.
Non-negotiables
The core, essential beliefs of the Christian faith around which the church must be unified, such as the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.
Unity
A state of fellowship and peace within the church, centered on non-negotiable beliefs. The sermon argues that unity is more important than personal victory in disagreements and may require personal cost and sacrifice.