On Being the Church: Community
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*this is a riff off of Steve Huber’s sermon on Romans 16, also check out andy crouches stuff on this which, I think steve pulled some of this from.
We are going to talk about community today and love and friendship—
maybe you’ve been lonely this week—- one of those weeks, or you realize that you’ve stared more at screens than faces….
maybe you’ve been around people- but have the loneliness of others not knowing you well…
bc there is a crisis of loneliness
God, who is not lonely, also calls us into community….
In saving us, God brings us into community….
Jesus doesn’t want us to be lonely— Community
the one who sent people out 2 by 2, and then that became the pattern for the church in Acts:
— the one who himself said that we are not mere servants, but friends, and the one who said “love each other as I have loved you”
— wants us to be in community
model something as we call people into it…
Should it surprise us, that Jesus, the one sent to by God to make everything new, also calls us to friendship…
not just because we need it, but because it heals the world…
today we’ll look at
what’s in this passage?
what are the barriers to community? where are we at as a culture?
what do we do?
What we see in Romans 16
the broad group picture: Romans 16- a community polaroid
notice how this is a community where they honor each other He intentionally honors women and men who are servants of the church- and he’s encouraging people
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church….
he did that in a way that was going to help Phoebe
Rom. 16:3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. NOT just me, everybody gives thanks for them
HE recognizes: acknowledges how each person has been a blessing:
what this means to someone who serves regularly, who leads…
Men and women- recognizes the women who have served
Greet my beloved Epainetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia
Greet Mary— who has worked hard for you.
“Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ and my beloved Stachys”
Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.
(he just thinks of cool things to mention, great things to say about people)
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
He humbly will recognize someone in a way that humbles him…
they practice honor— I want to recognize you, appreciate you, recognize people
acknowledge people—
one way to try to outdo each other: Rom. 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
2. Notice the warmth
say “my beloved” “beloved” “beloved” “I love you man” shouldn’t be weird…
even in v15—- maybe he forgot her name “hereus and his sister….
mentions family—
he greets families (those who belong to the family of Aristobulus) and recognizes Family like relationships—13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. (Son of simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander & Rufus— mentioned in Mark 15)
and practices of welcome— command to warmly greet each other—
There is a command to warmly greet each other— to practice of appropriate affection: (giving this explicit instruction is sometimes needed……)
greetings and goodbyes are important— it’s a way of valuing people
16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of Christ greet you.
they are instructed about this explicitly
the other people around you are people who Jesus has called by name…
Greetings and goodbye are important— bc people are important
aloofness isn’t cool. stoic detachment isn’t ok. Not being one who expresses things with words— you can’t just say that’s not my jam
in this family, the language of loving recognition and appreciation is the new normal—
be humble enough and open enough to practice verbal affirmation—
3. they have to guard unity Rom 16:17 AND ROM 14:3
4. this community polaroid- means really public leaders and some behind the scenes people—
inclusive of people normally left out
Rom. 16:21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.
Rom. 16:22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Rom. 16:23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.
Timothy- public leader
Erastus- public leader
not get this— those born into servitude would sometimes be given a name like “third”, “fourth” (No one really wrestled to get that out of the baby name book)
when the major dictates a letter: the secretary taking down the letter doesn’t get to say “and I also would like to give a shout out”
Especially in the ancient world— this just didn’t happen…
tertius- was affirmed, and probably invited to do this:
“and our brother Quartus”— and our family Quartus
The gospel is a leveler—all of us can be saved by Jesus, all of us need to be …..
WAHT ARE THE BARRIERS TO COMMUNITY IN MODERN LIFE:
There is a warmth here…. what makes this hard? can we talk about the way that modern life makes us feel?
in 2018 Health insurer Cigna took a nationwide survey of 20,000 adults and found that 54% of respondents said they always or sometimes feel like no one actually knows them well, NPR reports. Additionally, 56% of people said the people they surround themselves around “are not necessarily with them,”
and approximately 40% said they “lack companionship,” their “relationships aren’t meaningful,” and that they feel “isolated from others.”
ONLY AROUND HALF OF AMERICANS (53%) have 1:2 meaningful in-person social interactions, such as having an extended conversation with a friend or spending quality time with family, on a daily basis.
Additionally, the survey found that younger Americans— are most affected ….The generation born between the mid-1990s and early 2000s —”Z”— is coming to age…
Nearly half say they sometimes or always feel alone or “left out.”
Why does this matter:
from a UK british campaign to end loneliness:
Loneliness, living alone and poor social connections are as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. (Holt-Lunstad, 2010)What do people miss:, more than half of lonely people simply miss having someone to laugh with. Their research also showed that simply being together with someone is missed most of all (52%), and 46% miss having a hug. Older people experiencing loneliness also miss simple everyday moments, such as sharing a meal (35%), holding hands (30%), taking country walks (32%), or going on holiday (44%).
Why is this???
Modern society is different:
Andy Crouch- did campus ministry with Intervarsity at Harvard
work with Christianity today— written articles that have appeared in NY times
The challenge/crisis of loneliness: Andy Crouch-
financial revolution— medici’s wealthy goes from land to money
Florence: first bank….14th century
industrial revolution— work not done by bodies but by machines
1769- invention of steam engine
computational revolution: 20th century—- knowledge goes from wisdom to information
these revolutions are stacked: have produced unbelievable wealth and prosperity
The industrial and computational revolutions that have been good for prosperity—— but not necessarily community…..
This has been good for power— but not necessarily for persons….
In the midst of this:
we have exchanged personhood for power for efficiency …
you can buy something without dealing with a person. wave a phone
we look more often at screens than at faces…
Bowling alone—the collapse and revival of american community…. Robert Putnam:
even in entertainment— we can do that alone…. Once we bowled in leagues, usually after work - but no longer. This seemingly small phenomenon symbolizes a significant social change that Robert Putnam….
used to be- to watch TV you had to be with other people in the house….
now, try to get your teenagers to look up from their phones to watch your dumb show….
Putnam uses bowling as an example to illustrate this. Although the number of people who bowl has increased in the last 20 years, the number of people who bowl in leagues has decreased.
social capital: is the superglue that holds communities and nations together, and the WD-40 that eases friction….
As Putnam put it, "bonding social capital constitutes a kind of sociological superglue, whereas bridging social capital provides a sociological WD-40" (p 23).
"For the first two-thirds of the twentieth century a powerful tide bore Americans into ever deeper engagement in the life of their communities, but a few decades ago--silently, without warning--that tide reversed and we were overtaken by a treacherous rip current" (p 27). Thus, social capital increased in the US until the 1970s and then suddenly decreased right up to the present. This theme is consistent across seven separate measures of social capital, including: political participation, civic participation, religious participation, workplace networks, informal networks, mutual trust, and altruism.
in volunteer groups, in civic participation, workplace networks, volunteer things like red cross, boy scouts girl scouts….
It’s not like we are doing a ton of stuff with out families: families eat together less, watch tv together less, go on vacation together less. “all forms of family together ness became less common— btw 1975 and 2000
we are trying to talk about community in the church— but in a society where we take isolating rhythms for granted…
even our advice for help is bad
Johann Hari— an award winning british journalist
Lost Connections: uncovering the real causes of depression and the unexpected solutions
who was also depressed as a young man
Disconnection from other people —he is an atheist. there is a spike in the level of depression and anxiety: more people than ever say “I have no close friends” the spike in anxiety and depression is partly because of how we live as a society.
he noticed this on facebook “Nobody can help you but you” as if that’s encouraging “It made me realize: we haven’t just started doing things alone more, in every decade since the 1930’s, We have started to believe that doing things alone is the natural state of human beings, and the only way to advance. We have begun to thin: I will look after myself, and everybody else ghouls look after themselves, as individuals. Nobody can help you but you. Nobody can help me but me. “These ideas now run so deep in our culture that we even offer them as feel-good bromides to people who feel down— as if it will lift them up” it’s a denial of human nature …..”and this approach to life makes us feel terrible.”
What does sin do: separate us from people…
the mission of this church: love god, love people, push back darkness
(not just catchy slogan— great commandment… what we are here for..
We have forgotten what life is for…..
Sin breaks that up— alienation in every level, in every relationship
what’s God do: let’s zoom out
The originator of community is God
a personal God “v25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ…
…. not a what, or an idea, but a “him”
a triune God— Father, Son, and Spirit—- one God. distinct persons
God has community— experiences love
This means that God is not lonely that God experiences relationship— and love. God is in community
In saving us, God brings us into community…. w him & w each other
Jesus reconciles us to God —
you know what Jesus prays for us:
26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
John 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
Remember how you are loved by Jesus: and love other people
Love one another as I have loved you (think for Paul- tried to wreck church, was forgiven for that, and would loved church and serve …..)
1. we need Jesus— we will run out of love, our selfishness will get in the way
2. you need people being spiritual is also being open to this input: Be open to receive
acknowledge your need for this: it’s not spiritual maturity to not need other people
2Tim. 1:3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.
some people have bailed on him: “do your best to come to me quickly”
We see this elsewhere— the grace of God that comes through people
14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appease and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. Acts 28
forum of appius was 40 miles, the 3 taverns was 12
why am I here? I brought a team from our church, bc we are so encouraged to be with you
mutual learning it seems like God has brought our churches together to learn from each other… Josh took a chance: bought me a beer ….
3. people need you: are there changes in the way you live that are necessary to pursue gospel community….
common time, some margin, some overlap…
what’s the practical step: missional community…
Do you have faith for friendship, for community??
with the love of Jesus, lets live out romans 16
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,[c]
he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Psalm 68
with the gospel: imitate through Jesus, God has done that…
rom 16
honor, thank, encourage
greet each other calls you by name
grow in warmth affection
We are coming to a family meal— right now.
we remember the Gospel is a leveler —
friendship— is a way we experience God’s grace
and it’s part of our calling….
that’s the broad group photo: a letter written to the whole church in the capital of the empire
let’s look at 2 timothy: it’s a more intimate snapshot of these relationships
intense: look at the power of spiritual friendship here
2Tim. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,
2Tim. 1:2 To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
it’s true that they are not simply peers: but don’t we learn about the power of relationships in general to be means of grace….
1. Notice the refreshment they long to receive from each other
I remember how much you love me
I love to see you be I will be filled with joy
speaks of it’s absence too: v15….
all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes…
Onisephorus— made a great effort. to find him. refresh him.
some people are bailing on him…..
Onisephorus— made the effort
We see this elsewhere— the grace of God that comes through people
14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appease and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. Acts 28
forum of appius was 40 miles, the 3 taverns was 12
Also: Do you know how much the world longs for this?
Johann Hari— an award winning british journalist
Lost Connections: uncovering the real causes of depression and the unexpected solutions
who was also depressed as a young man
he lists 9 causes: I have time to mention 4
Disconnection from Meaningful Work
Disconnection from other people
Disconnection from meaningful values
Disconnection from a hopeful or secure future
he is an atheist. there is a spike in the level of depression and anxiety: more people than ever say “I have no close friends” the spike in anxiety and depression is partly because of how we live as a society.
Why this book is fascinating: In Jeus we are reconnection in all these things
reconnected to work- do it all for the glory of God
reconnected to people: to become a christina is to be adopted into a family…
reconnected to values: that were didn’t just create in our own little soul lab, that are true because they are out there….
reconnected to hope: Jesus will bring us home and we will be together forever
Acts 28: 14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
By Robert D. Putnam
As Putnam put it, "bonding social capital constitutes a kind of sociological superglue, whereas bridging social capital provides a sociological WD-40" (p 23).
Having described what social capital is, Putnam turns his attention to how it has changed over time by conducting a meta-analysis of a large body of data from various sources. In doing so, he identifies a dominant theme: "For the first two-thirds of the twentieth century a powerful tide bore Americans into ever deeper engagement in the life of their communities, but a few decades ago--silently, without warning--that tide reversed and we were overtaken by a treacherous rip current" (p 27). Thus, social capital increased in the US until the 1970s and then suddenly decreased right up to the present. This theme is consistent across seven separate measures of social capital, including: political participation, civic participation, religious participation, workplace networks, informal networks, mutual trust, and altruism.
Jesus reconciles us to God —
you know what Jesus prays for us:
26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”