Latest / Harvest After Sunday / United in Community: Harvest DNA
Transcript
- Harvest Media: Welcome to the Harvest After Sunday podcast. I'm Natalie and I'm here with Stefan, pastor of preaching and teaching. And today we're gonna be talking about being united in community, which is one of like our distinctives here at Harvest. It's something we say often. We are gospel people, we are anchored in God's word, we are united in community. So I wanna talk about a few things. Like what does that mean? And where do we get that from scripture? I'm assuming it's from scripture and very biblically. Grounded. So let's assume. Let's talk about it. So what does it mean? How how is it grounded in scripture? And then like what does that mean for us practically? So let's dig in. What do we what do we mean by saying we're united in community? So community is our relational commitment and connection to one another. That we are we are ongoingly relating to one another. In a way that says, I'm committed to you and you're committed to me. And we are both, we are mutually submitted to this idea of growing into the image of Christ together. And so we're participating in this together. It's not all that different from any like team environment or like a team sport. You think about on a team, you don't have just a bunch of individuals. Who are trying to be really good at their respective positions. You have a group of people who are gifted in specific ways, and it is actually in their mutual participation in the pursuit of excellence as a team that they actually become an excellent team. Yeah, so a shared mission. Right. And so the united thing is that we agree on what the mission is. Okay. We agree why it is that we should be mutually committed to one another. that because of what we're in agreement on, this mutual commitment that we call community is essential. It's not optional. I think a lot of times we we we mistakenly think that just being in the same room together is a community and it's not. to be in community is to be in agreement on beliefs. values and behaviors. We we believe the same things, we want the same things, and so we do the same things because of what we believe and what we want. So this is significantly beyond attendance. a hundred percent, yeah. Attendance on a Sunday morning, even attendance to a a group of some sort, like just showing up is not what we mean. There's no unity around beliefs and what were the three things beliefs beliefs values and behaviors and behaviors and actual doing so it's much more significant than that yeah they're if I'm simply attending I can disagree on all three of those things yeah sure and somehow and somehow convince myself that I am a part of a community but but that is that actually isn't the case it is it is in our unification around what we believe is true and because we believe This is true, this is what we should desire together as a group, and because this is what we desire as a group, this is how we're going to live together. if we believe that God is who he says he is, that we are who he says we are, and that our lives are meant for his purposes, we should desire to be more and more faithful reflections of his purposes for our lives, which will then mean that we will all commit to the kinds of behaviors, the kinds of actions, the kinds of lives that are in pursuit of that thing that we should be desiring because of what we believe. It is that like that agreement idea is so, so important for real community. And when you have that Then you no longer function as an autonomous individual who is just checking boxes or who's who is consumeristic. I I come to get the thing that I think I need. You see yourself as being a part of something real, because it is real. It is a community of people who are mutually submitted to the truth, who mutually desire the glory of God, and who mutually see our lives together as men. To reflect that. And so that is one of our core values as a church is to be united in community because we are convinced that for us to be what the Lord intends a church to be, we need to have that level of agreement, that kind of unity that is then expressed in our body. And not just to be the church, like for Harvest to be the church, that it is meant to be, but even for the individual Christ follower, right? Like that it's an essential piece of it for the individual Christ follower. Because think there's a lot of people that struggle to find themselves in agreement with a church on the many things that you've touched on already, that a church should be believing and valuing and doing. and and then that hinders them from becoming united in community at a local church. and then there's a belief or a justification that they can be a Christ follower in an autonomous individual way by not attending and participating in a local church body. Right. The the points of disagreement then become justification for my disengagement and my isolation. And that that Functionally goes against our very makeup as people. When we talked back in the spring about what it means to be human, and we talked about how part of being the image of God is that we are inherently relational, that we are made to reflect God. One of those ways that we reflect Him is in our relationality. Because God, in His triune nature, has eternally existed in perfect unity among the persons of the Triune Godhead. Son and Holy Spirit. And so then in the creation of mankind, when he makes the man, he says it's not good that the man should be alone. And while that is the first image of a marriage relationship, it is a statement about so much more than just marriage. It is not good for a person to be alone because you're not able to properly reflect the way the the God who is inherently relational. He's relational in his being and he relates with With his creation, and so we then relate among human beings and we then relate back to God. So relationality is a fundamental part of our makeup as humans. And what I said back then in that in that three-part series was you cannot be fully human when you are living in isolation. That to be human is to be relating. to other people and to God. Now, does that mean that someone who struggles to connect is somehow failing at being human? No. What I'm saying is the person who says, I don't need other people. That is that is a denial of what God made you to be. and so it makes sense then that the New Testament uses body language and and communal identity language around the church because We are together one body with Christ as the head. We we kind of in our relating to one another, we essentially we make the person of Christ visible to the world. We display the work that he's doing in us. We have a collective identity in Christ, like by us relating to one another, it ultimately points to him because it's a proper reflection of the God who created us. And so the while I can totally understand the the idea that because I disagree with some things at this particular church, I don't need to participate. I would like I I understand it, I comprehend it, I disagree with it. Yeah. I it makes me think of that framework. You gave us a couple times, and I found this so helpful, and I think we could refer back to it. There's four kind of categories, and I there's like preference and opinion. Yeah, preferences, opinions, perspective. Persuasions, convictions. Okay. So for the per like, let's make it really practical and encourage the person that either because they have allowed their like preferences, opinions to become outsized or demand that this agreement with a unit you know, with a congregation of believers, they've made that a demand, and when they can't find that in a complete way, they're using that as a justification to not participate in a church body. And And or there's going to be many people that have just experienced real disappointment and hurt and wrongs being done at the hands of other people, even within the church. And so these kinds of things are hindering people from participating. So just to I mean, you've you've shown us already the significance of a part of being humid human and made in the image of God is to be in community. So that is there. What is a a right or realistic understanding of kind of the amount of disagreement on some of the preferential or opinion categories that will exist even if you are rightly plugged into a local church body. Yeah. So I just by way of review, preferences are those things that we can disagree on and it shouldn't affect anything at all. Mm-hmm. Opinions are things where we legitimately believe there is right and wrong, like what one idea is right and one idea is not right, not necessarily morally right or wrong, but just one's correct, one's not. And while we disagree, it doesn't have to get in the way. So preferences don't affect anything. Opinions don't have to unless you make it too big of a deal. Persuasions are I If you disagree with me on this, I legitimately think that you're wrong. But with some things, because of the nature of this thing, I can just trust that the Lord's gonna work that out in you, or he's gonna work that out in me, and one of us will change our mind down the road, but we can still be in Christian fellowship with one another. Or if it's if it is kind of a big deal, and should be a big deal, that's the important caveat, it makes doing church awkward. But I don't have like I'm not gonna say you're not a Christian. conviction is if you disagree on this, either you're a heretic or you're in sin and I can't fellowship with you. Because you and I see it so differently that I can't actually trust that you are seeking after the Lord. Now you can hear that that one is really strong and by very nature of the way that we talk about those, we sh we'll have a lot of preferences, we'll have a lot of opinions, but should be less than the amount of preferences we have. We'll now have less persuasions and we should have even fewer convictions. And where we get wrong, and I've talked about this in a sermon months ago. Where we go wrong is where we make the opinions, we treat them like they're convictions. Because you disagree with me, I'm I'm leaving. so I think that kind of putting it practically If I can if I can be frank, there really shouldn't be a lot of things that cause you to disengage from the community of church. Yeah, it sounds It sounds like saying it plainly when you said there's a lot of preferences, we should expect a lot of disagreement about preferences. Like that that is a part of it and you can continue to be a part of it. And it should affect nothing. Yeah. And and because there are gonna be lots of opinions, we should expect that there be differing opinions on things. But but the attitude of humility says, though I have this opinion, I'm not gonna demand everybody agree with me. Yeah. And at the level of persuasions, I have to be Able to do what I like to call theological triage. Right. So triage is taking the most important thing and moving it to the top. Things that can wait, they can wait. Well, theological triage is to say what are primary things that really affect the way that we do ministry here? And then what are secondary and tertiary things that while while we might disagree on them and while I'm convinced from scripture that one is true or one or or your view isn't true. we can disagree and still have unity and love and trust the Lord's work in sanctifying us. Okay. So the primary things are gonna be are are going to be things that directly impact the way that we actually relate to one another. And what I what I find is that a lot of times w the things that cause us to disengage are things that didn't have To affect us that way. It was that it was important to me. And so I needed someone to validate that. And the fact that they didn't validate it now feels like an attack on me. And and I would just try as graciously as I can to say that is not necessarily what it was. Now, have there has there been legitimate hurt to people that that You were absolutely right in being hurt by it. yeah, that is that is all too common. But we also have to be a people who pursue restoration and reconciliation. So if I'm in a situation where I've been hurt by something at a church and I don't pursue reconciliation and I I just I disengage I'm not I'm I'm not letting the the gospel have its way in me and in that other person. Like there there is a God glorifying process of saying, Hey, you hurt me when you did this. I need you to know that. And then that person says, I'm so sorry. Will you forgive me? And you say, Yes, I forgive you, and we are united again in community. What a beautiful picture. I really pray that we begin to see more and more of that. In practice. Right. Because I'm I'm not seeing as much of that biblical reconciliation in Christian relationships as you would expect. Yeah. And it's really powerful. Because we're really good at justifying ourselves. Paul Tripp calls it our inner lawyer. Mm-hmm. Right? That that I am very good at convincing myself why I was right in that situation. And if you don't see that I was right in that situation, then I just don't want to have anything to do with the situation anymore or these people or insert whatever. And I think that there is a a high view of the gospel that says, man, though we will have conflict, though we will we will rub against one another in uncomfortable ways, though there will be things that we disagree on or ways that we hurt one another, our view of the gospel and of the restor restoring and reconciling work that God did in us with himself is powerful enough to overcome this and I am so committed to this body that I won't let the I won't let interpersonal conflict be the thing that says then I'm out. Yeah we need to have that high view of the gospel to motivate us to pursue restoration and reconciliation So that we can truly be united in community. Because if I'm willing to disengage from one community and even necessarily join another community, what's to stop it from just happening all over again? I was talking to somebody years ago, and she was much older than me, much wiser than me, and she and her husband had been around ministry for a long time, and she said people who leave churches. Leave churches. Yeah. And it was just such a it was such a great statement because what she's saying is when when it becomes easy to disconnect, it just becomes easy to disconnect again. And a high view of the gospel keeps us from doing that. Yeah, I mean, if we're not practicing biblical commands about what it looks like to be in relationship with one another in one setting, then we are not going to magically do it in another setting without practice. and you know, we talked about what some of the actual scripture that talks about not only the significance of of being in community, but what we're actually doing in that community. You're touching on some of those things now about reconciliation and pursuing peace and going and confessing or asking forgiveness or, you know, those are practical, there's there's steps and commands for that kind of action. And we should be doing those actions. in biblical community. And then on the other side of things, there are also clear commands about being willing to overlook an offense. Yes. Doing all that we can to live at peace with one another, which sometimes involves enduring and forbearing and being gracious and extending grace and mercy, meaning not everything has to be a conversation about how you might have hurt me or wronged me and discerning those things. And so there's a lot of practical. commands in scripture about what this living in community actually and practically looks like. Right. There are over a hundred and thirty one another commands in the New Testament. So that right there helps us to see just how much the New Testament wants us to know that community matters, being united in that community matters, and it is worked out in how we engage one another. And and that's actually by God's design. So the Lord could have chosen to sanctify us individually. Mm-hmm. Where I don't need another person. in fact you hear many people who think that that is the case. I don't I don't need to go to church to have a personal relationship with Christ. except for the fact that that his word says you do. because his word says that that we are one of the means by which God will sanctify you. And you are one of the means by which God will sanctify me. That it is actually our interaction with one another as a church community. That is that is unified, that because we are mutually submitted to the same beliefs, values, and behaviors, now we become the the checks and balances to one another according to the word of if we are in fact pursuing those beliefs, values, and behaviors. And and that is a part of God's design for our sanctification. That's why Hebrews says not to neglect the the assembly. That's why Paul Talks about whenever you gather, because you are going to gather. And so the next time it happens, because it's going to, because this is a necessary part of you being conformed to the image of Christ, that you're with his people, and so you're participating in that. And and so it when we see the weight that the New Testament puts on our interactions with one another, and then we see the way that the New Testament talks about the essential nature. Mm-hmm. Then we will no longer think I can I can achieve Christ-likeness in my life by myself. What we will say is I need other believers if I am to walk faithfully with Christ. Yeah. So if I take my walk with Christ seriously, I will actually say the opposite of rather than saying I don't need to attend church to have a personal relationship with Jesus, if I take the New Testament seriously and I take my walk with Christ seriously, I will say the opposite. I will say I can't possibly have a real relationship with Jesus apart from his people. Yeah. Some of the commands and instructions that we see, these one another commands, are challenging and fascinating. I mean, some of them jump to mind obviously, and it's love one another and serve one another, but like one that always stuck out to me is confess your sins to God and you'll be forgiven. Confess your sins to one another and you'll be healed. some of I mean, just the significance of what we are meant to do in community and in relationship. And it it can be Confusing and kind of mysterious. Why did the Lord choose to do it this way? And like we already mentioned, it is imperfect and it requires patience with one another and grace, and sometimes involves hurt either inflicted upon us by the sin of others or by our sin against others. And yet you you've said several times already that it it's gonna require us to submit, like that we have to submit to the same ideas. And values and beliefs. and I think of how often in the New Testament it it talks about submitting to one another in love. And and I think, you know, it is absolutely necessary in order to be able to submit the humility that is required in our hearts, and ultimately the trust in God. That though we might say, Hey, I see a lot of problems with this whole church thing and with these other people and all the ways that I want to protect myself from. This potential hurt in this scenario or disappointment. I am ultimately gonna trust that somehow this is God's good plan and I'm going to participate in it and it's gonna require submission. and that might be for some people where they need to start and and examining their own heart and seeing is that the reason why I have been hesitant to commit to a church community. other people are more than ready, and like you said, it's they're desiring it and they they don't have they're not they haven't been united in community for a number of reasons. If there are people here with us at Harvest that are new to us or not new but are feeling like that that is what I want and I I want to participate in the body in this way this is such a great time. I mean we just had our ministry fair talk more about some of the opportunities in our specific church body where people can get Plugged in now and practically take a step to be united in community. Yeah. So I like to think about it like a funnel. So obviously the top of the funnel is wider than the bottom. And and in that in that funnel you have starting from the top, things that require less of a commitment. in terms of time or depth. and they serve as kind of like a like an on-ramp. And then as you get further down the funnel, things require more time, more commitment, more depth. And what we should what I think is the right way to approach it is I don't need to be thinking about doing everything I need to be asking what is the right next step for where I'm at. Mm-hmm. That way it's it's manageable, it's doable, it's not intimidating. So for the Sunday attender, the person who the like they come on Sunday, and then that's the extent of their engagement during the week. We have men's and women's events that meet throughout the year. Like we have a men's kickoff that's happening in just a few weeks. We have women's events that happen throughout the year. That is a one night, very, very easy on ramp. Low commitment, low, low time. You're going to hear truth. You're going to be with God's people. And there's always opportunity to be with other people. At our men's kickoff, we always share a meal and sit around table and talk and you can meet lots of people that way. So you have those. and then you also have the kind of the next step that is maybe a weekly commitment for a season where we have classes that you sign up for the class, it's the ten week class and they meet once a week. Or maybe you've never been in a small group before and you're like, I'm willing to give it a shot for a season and then see how I feel. Okay, great. Sign up for a small group. meets typically once a week, maybe every other week, depending on the small group. but But in those, what you have are you have spaces that are specifically intended for being with God's people and growing together. And as you're with God's people, you meet God's people and you begin to build relationships with them as you're both participating in learning the same truths that you are mutually submitted to that then impact the way that we live. And then as you s as you think, okay, well I I I'm ready to take Even more of a step. We have men's and women's discipleship where men have D groups, where it's a small group of men, like four guys. There are various forms of one-on-one discipleship that our ladies do, where it is an ongoing relationship. Like you are you are spending meaningful time with other people with the express goal of growing in your knowledge and following of Christ, and you're being mentored by someone who's older in the faith than you. Perhaps they're not older in age than you, but they are certainly older in the faith. They are further down the road than you presently are, and so they're able to mentor you and disciple you. I think that if we think about it that way, then then you someone who hasn't yet taken that next step of connect really connecting in community at Harvest can say, okay, what time commitment can I commit to? A couple times a year? Once a week. Once a week for a season, once a week for a year. Where I am, then I can I can take that that next step. But I do think it's helpful to also kind of think about them in terms of two different functions. So our classes are meant for you to grow in your knowledge of the truth and to certainly find practical ways to be able to live it out. But it's they're really more learning oriented. Our small groups and and discipleship groups are much more oriented toward Relationally applying the truths of scripture as we're relating to one another. So where in a class you're you're hearing some instruction and there might be some dialogue, there really shouldn't be a lot of teaching happening in a small group. Like that's the small group leader is not the teacher of the small group. The small group leader is simply helping to facilitate discussion that's gonna help us to to as a group talk about these truths for our lives and time. Spent together in prayer, sharing what's going on in your life, things that you're struggling with or that you're worried about, and then people can encourage you and speak truth to you, and they can follow up with you. Like small groups are very relational, and discipleship, one-on-one, or D groups for the men, like it's very relational in its nature, whereas our events and our classes are much more instructional by nature. So I personally think that it's good to have. have both in your life. if you can only pick one, then pick one. Mm-hmm. but but commit to it. Mm-hmm. And and I think that what you'll find is that when you commit to it The longing for community begins to be satisfied because you start to find that there really is a united community at Harvest. Yeah. Even the examples that you walked through and the funnel, it really describes our time at here at Harvest over the last ten years, showing up regularly on Sundays for a year or two before we took a step to be united in actual community where we were living life with people in a small group and and then joining Bible studies and other groups. And then doing one on one discipleship and it's been I mean, if anybody knows me, I think it's evident how much I love our church and how much I see it as a family and a body that I'm a part of. and I d I love these conversations, even the parts about, you know, differing preferences. And there are gonna be people that go and look at the offerings that we have for groups and studies and say, Well, my pr I want this study, but on a different day. Or an evening instead of a morning. And, you know, so we have to wrestle with our various preferences. And I've even had those times where I have to say, I'm I'm seeing this in this ministry, and that's not the way I do it. And the Lord has just shown me, yeah, you're not in charge. And so I'm, you know, I'm like, yeah, okay, I'm not in charge there. and parsing through those things, it is imperfect and sometimes clunky, but it is sanctifying, and I can see in that way. way when it does require me to grow in humility and me to be patient with others and forgiving or ask forgiveness and pursue reconciliation, God is using this church body to sanctify me. And I'm so thankful. And I'm excited that in this fall season it's it's such an emphasis for us to s invite people to participate in community here at Harvest. And so like you said, the registrations are open. They can go on our website and and find out more information about men's studies, women's studies, groups, classes, small groups. And if you don't see the information that you're looking for, maybe about a one on one discipleship or you want some guidance about what might be the next best step for you, you can always email or fill out the connect card and people will reach out to you and help you navigate that and and pray for you. that God would honor your desire to be united in community and make it clear What you're meant to do for your next step here at Harvest. So we'll be praying for those people as they consider what their next step is and are just so glad that you joined us for the Harvest After Sunday podcast, where we help you grow into the image of Christ by applying the truth of his word for his mission. We'll see you Sunday.