Reengage: Community
Pastor Rollan Fisher
Focus: We will reengage the community of faith when we realize that God’s grace is greater than all of our sin.
A Checkered Past
Help to See
The Grace of God in Community
A Checkered Past
We all have a checkered past from which God must heal us.
Acts 9:1-9
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
From what has God saved you and how has he changed you?
Help to See
We all need help to see clearly what God is trying to do in our lives.
Acts 9:10-19
Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened.
Those who have been healed are enlisted by Jesus to help heal.
This was the case with Ananias being sent to lay hands on Saul.
You need to understand that the work of God In your life is a process.
The more you seek him, the more you’ll be changed by him.
For Saul, his sight was restored instantaneously; for others it may take some time.
-Adapted with permission by RZIM
It is as we invite people into the intentional relationships found in church community that they are able to hear the Word of God and progress along this scale of faith.
Who do you know who you need to invite into the community of faith?
The Grace of God in Community
The grace of God for life to the full in Jesus is found in community.
Acts 9:20-22
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
God releases his grace to live for Jesus in church community.
As Paul pushed past the discomforts of being known not only for who he was, but who God was making him to be, he grew more and more powerful in the Lord.
No one has the right to reject those whom God has accepted through the cross of Christ and his cleansing blood shed there.
Paul increased in strength not in isolation, but being part of the purposes of God in community.
Jesus calls us to himself at the cross through repentance for the forgiveness of our sins.
He then calls us to his body in a community through which we not only experience his grace, but then learn to offer it to the world.
Second City Church - Pastor Rollan Fisher.