100519 Community vs. Individualism
Tim Franklin
Introduction:
· Acts 2:44-47 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. NKJV
· This passage in Acts gives us a beautiful picture of community. All who believed:
o Were together
o Had all things in common
o Continued daily with one accord
§ In prayer
§ Apostles teaching
§ Communion
§ Fellowship
· John Locke- The De-Voicing of Society: Why We Don’t Talk To Each Other Anymore, said, “From a physical standpoint, a community is a collection of individuals, but the residents of true community act like members of something that is larger than themselves.” P. 131
o Church for the most part has become a collection of individuals due to the prevailing mindset of individualism in our society.
o You can have small group and not experience community but you cannot have community apart from a small group experience.
1. Help I Can’t Connect?
A. We have bought into individualism in our culture. In DYMI we spend one quick session’s cultural traits out there that are now in here. One of those cultural traits is individualism.
i. Cry for unity. Paul had Jews, Greeks, etc, etc.
a. 1 Corinthians 14:12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. NKJV
b. Philippians 2:1-5 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, NKJV
ii. What does this mean?
a. When we gather in a room, we gather as a group of individuals who are concerned about our individual wants and needs, not as a community united around some common characteristics.
b. If we have more concern for ourselves as individuals than we do for the corporate whole we drop out of community life. Ie. My needs are not being met. Church is not designed to meet our needs. Jesus is to meet your needs.
c. For example: my coaching group was laughing this week over people who took the personality profile with the generations conference—they found out their personality type and dropped out of church/activity commitments. In other words their personality type gave them and excuse to not be in community.
d. This in turn causes leaders to question people’s commitment. It becomes an unrealistic call to commitment given the lifestyle of an individualistic culture.
e. Even the church’s small groups have become gathers of individuals not community.
B. Culture has forced it on us.
i. Family is disintegrated.
ii. Family is scattered.
iii. We are way to busy as a people so we don’t make time for genuine community.
iv. We are safely inside our home, work, or iphone.
C. To many worlds to manage. Think of the many disconnected worlds we maintain average family:
i. Own family
ii. Two places of work
iii. Church
iv. Small group
v. Children’s sports
vi. Children’s school
vii. Extended family out of town
viii. Neighbors
ix. Other relationship circles at church,
x. Other relationship circles among friends past and present.
xi. All of this together ends up being motion without meaning. Sharing with others is what gives our life meaning.
2. The Connected Early Church?
A. Very simply, the early church had a common purpose. A people with a common purpose build strong community. A married couple with a common purpose, build a strong marriage.
i. Acts 2:44-47 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. NKJV
ii. The greatest obstacle to overcome in an individualistic culture is the rejection of shared beliefs.
B. Characteristics of a community formed around a common purpose
i. Authority—apostles, in Amish communities the head Elder watches over the community and its values.
ii. Creed—apostles teaching
a. Martin Luther-the Augsburg confession
b. John Calvin the Geneva Catechism
c. Church of England had the common book of prayer.
d. John Wesley the rigid methodical ways to disciple thus Methodism.
iii. Standards—sermon on the mount, fellowship
iv. Traditions—Jewish feasts, breaking of bread, prayer
v. Mission—make disciples
Conclusion:
· We must look at the bigger picture when we gather.
· We must remember the things that create a common purpose in our lives and agree together to walk in them.
· We must really seek to become disciples that live our lives by the Word of God and have enough courage to there.
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