Renewed Community
Renewed Community
Romans 12:1-13
An old man had seven quarreling sons. He was nearing death so he called his sons to his bedside. He had one of his servants held a bundle of 7 sticks tied together. He said to his eldest son, “Break it.” He strained and struggled but he could not break the sticks. Each son tried to break the sticks alone, but failed. The old man finally said untie the sticks and give one stick to each son. He said again, “Break it.” And each stick broke easily. The dying father gave his sons one last message. His sons were strong together and weak alone.
This story was one of Aesop’s fables dating back to the 6th century before Christ. This simple illustration has been used by many authors in many cultures for thousands of years. A community is strong when it is bound together. There is strength in unity. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 4:9–12,
[9] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. [10] For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! [11] Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? [12] And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
A bundle of sticks is hard to break. Individual sticks break easily.
My aim this morning is simple: I want us to think about our communal life together and ask, “Are we a bundle of sticks bound together or merely a group of individual sticks?” The illustration is simple to understand, the challenge will be in its application.
The Gospel is the Binding Cord of Community
Paul spends eleven chapters in the book of Romans unpacking the gospel of grace. He shares how in Adam all die, but in Christ Jesus all are made alive. He turns his attention at the end of the book to the church’s community, Romans 12:1,
[1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
His appeal begins, “By the mercies of God.” Everything we do is rooted and grounded in God’s mercy towards us. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve where grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. We are sinners and therefore we deserve judgment for our sins. But God, who is rich in mercy, does not give us what we do deserve: death and eternal judgment, but instead places our punishment on Jesus Christ. Jesus came to die for sinners. Because Jesus died for sinners, God can be merciful to sinners. Anyone who turns from their sin to trust in Jesus Chris as their Lord and Savior, will experience mercy. They will not receive what they deserve for their sins: death, but they will receive what Christ deserves for his righteousness: eternal life.
Every command God gives us is rooted and built upon the foundation of the gospel. Christian, you have been bought with a price. You deserve death but have been given life. You deserve hell but have been given heaven. You stood on trial clearly guilty for your crimes against God, but in mercy Jesus stepped in front of you and took the blame. On the basis of God’s mercy, you are to present your bodies as a living sacrifice. As a Christian, you have no right over your life for you now belong to God.
The Gospel is the Catalyst for Change
The gospel is the foundation for all of life. We never outgrow the gospel. It is our foundation. You may change the rooms of your house by changing the furniture or painting walls, but the foundation stays the same. Once we have a solid foundation, then we can change the rooms. And this is what Paul is urging next, Romans 12:1–2,
[1] I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Paul is moving from indicatives of the gospel to the imperatives of the gospel. There are three commands here: First, present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Your life belongs to God. You live for him. You live to please him. Second, do not be conformed to this world. You are called out of this world. You were set apart. You belong to another country. We are in this world but no longer in this world. Third command, be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, acceptable and perfect.
There are so many applications in these two verses. The world is not the physical world, but the worldly ideas and philosophies that are opposed to God. We need to know what the world says about food, gender, politics, sex, technology and be transformed by renewing our mind in the Word of God to test and discern God’s will in relation to each. The world is pushing its message and trying to conform us into its image while Christ has given us His Word and is transforming us into his image. Does our life look more like this world or the world to come? Are we viewing politics like a citizen of heaven or earth? Are we viewing sex like a citizen of heaven or earth? Are we viewing food like a citizen of heaven or earth? These verses are packed with applications.
This morning, I want to ask, “Are we viewing “community” like citizens of heaven or earth?” Do we need any renewing of our minds to change our community? A couple years ago, we painted our kitchen a brighter color. It seemed like a small change to our home, but it made a huge difference. The brighter color actually helped to shift the mood of the room. We spend lots of our family life in the kitchen together and it had an impact. Do we need to freshen up the paint in our view of community? Would small changes of how you think about community impact your lives individually and our lives together?
Paul writes do not conform to this world’s view of community. So what is this world’s view of community?
Consumeristic Community - the world wants to conform you into a consumeristic mindset. It is a transactional mindset. It is a self-centered community. It is about what you get rather than what you give. It is more transactional. People want community more for what they get out of it rather than what they contribute to it. This is one of the challenges of the church in Nairobi. The African church is permeated with the false prosperity gospel. By God’s grace, people are starting to leave prosperity gospel churches looking for more sound doctrine, yet they are still approaching the church with a consumeristic mindset. They are coming to consume sound exposition, but they are still not giving themselves to the community. They are still coming to take rather than to give. It is a worldly view of community.
This mindset is rampant in the western church. It breeds entitlement rather than humility. It breeds selfishness rather than sacrifice. It takes rather than gives.
Conflicting Community - the world promotes conflict. It stems from a consumerist mindset. The community is for them and when they do not get what they want, they create conflict. This worldly view of community tends to criticize or complain against leadership rather than support and encourage them. It focuses on what people don’t have rather than what they do have. In Numbers 11, the unspiritual, worldly Israelites, driven by their cravings, their selfish desires created conflict. Numbers 11:4–6,
[4] Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! [5] We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. [6] But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”
The rabble were consumed with their cravings and led people to complain about what they didn’t have rather than appreciate what they did have. Nothing is new under the sun. The worldly mindset celebrates change through conflict.
Common Community - The world wants us to be conformed into communities surrounded by common interests. Community is built around people with the same sports team, or hobbies or video game habits. There is nothing wrong with those types of communities, but as we heard last week, the church is called to be so much more. We do not build community merely with those who share our worldly interests, we build communities on Christ. Rick Warren built his ministry in California by trying to reach “Saddleback Sam.” Warren’s strategy to build a church was to formulate his church to appeal to a typical successful, well educated, wealthy, white suburban American male. The aim was to appeal to a certain kind of person and to build a community based on things they would have in common. This is how the world builds community.
These are just a few examples of the worldly forms of community. The question is do we have any of these worldly ideas in us. Are we consumers of the church? Do we take more than we give? Do we have a transactional view of our relationship with others? Are we complainers? When things do not go right within the body, do complain to others or pray to God? Do we work to change the inconsistencies in the church through prayer or conflict? Are we building our community within the church with people who are more like us?
When we ask ourselves these questions, we have to ask them with humility. It is humility and honesty that will be the catalyst to change our community. Romans 12:3,
[3] For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Paul moves the mercies of God, to being a living sacrifice, not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, to humility. We have to think with sober judgment. The only way we will ever change in our community is if we take an honest look at ourselves individually and move forward in humility towards one another.
We need to ask ourselves, “How am I thinking about community? Am I being conformed to this world’s way of viewing other people?” Beloved, when our lives are changed vertically with our relationship with the Lord, they must also be changed horizontally with one another. When we become Christians, we see our need for one another.
The Gospel Creates the Church
Paul appeals on the basis of the mercies of God, to conform their lives to Christ, he then immediately moves to the church. Romans 12:3–8,
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
We must be transformed by the renewing of our minds to test and approve what God’s perfect will is, and Paul seems to think the church is a part of God’s perfect will. How are you related to the body of Christ?
If you are a Christian, you need the church. Some say, “I don’t have to be a member of a church to be a Christian?” And although it may be true, it seems to be missing the point of the Scriptures. You do not have to be a member of a church to be a Christian, but why would not be part of one? Hear Paul’s analogy, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” Our physical bodies have eyes and ears, hands and feet, liver and intestines, lungs and a heart, and they all serve different functions. Our eyes can’t do what our heart does. Our spine can’t do what our lungs do. We have different parts of our body that serve different functions, but they are all part of the one body. So it is with the church.
We are all different. We have different gifts and different strengths. And we need each other. The person who says, “I don’t have to be a member of a body to be a Christian,” makes no sense to biblical christianity. Lungs without the body can’t function like lungs. A Christian without a body cannot properly function as a Christian. Paul continues to make his point in the diversity of the gifts given to the church. The list is not exhaustive but shows how individuals have been given different gifts. Romans 12:6–8,
Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
Christina, God has given gifts and he wants you to use them for the good of the body. And this is how a church functions properly. We all use the different gifts we have to serve each other. It actually is pretty simple.
Are you using your gifts? Are you exercising them in the body? Imagine if Ronald Acuna Jr, Atlanta Braves superstar, came to every game but never suited up. He was at the games, he was in the dugout, but he never put on the uniform. The Braves would no longer be the best team in baseball, because they would be missing Acuna’s gifts. The Braves need his fielding, his speed, his bat if they are going to be their best. It is the same for the church. If you have been given gifts by God and you do not use them to build up the body of Christ, we are deficient. We are not the best version of our church. God has assigned your gifts to the body of Christ to be used to build up the church. Your spiritual gifts are primarily not given for you, they are given to you for others.
Friends, we need each other. Whatever gift you have, I need. If I am going to become more and more like Christ, be transformed more into his image, I need you. You need me. We need each other. This is God’s plan. He created the church so that we could become more like him. No one is more important in the church than someone else. As the lead pastor, I am not more important the widower or the college student or deacon. I am one member of the body and I am called to use the gifts God has given me to build up others. God has called you to use the gifts that God has given you to build up others. We should compare the gifts that we have to gifts given to others. God has assigned gifts to his children. He is good, sovereign and wise. He knows what he is doing. He merely wants us to use the gifts He has given us to serve others.
This is how we fulfill his command to not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds to do God’s will. The church is God’s plan to transform his people. And he wants you to be part of it. He wants you to center your life around the church. He wants you to make it a priority. For when you don’t, the body suffers.
Our culture puts so many things in front of you to make you neglect the body of Christ. Whether its external things like entertainment or sports, or internal things like bitterness and discontentment, the world wants to pull you from the church. You can’t let the forces of this world pull you from the body. And Beloved, we can’t let people drift from our community. We have to go after them. They are members of us. When people drift from the body, they are in danger. Remember when a bundle of sticks is together they are strong, individually they are weak and can easily be broken.
The Gospel Commands the Christian
Paul continues his exhortation to give a list of commands for the Christian. Let us look briefly at them as they relate to our community at Park. Romans 12:9–13,
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
The strength of a community is only as strong as its individual parts. Each individual Christians in the body must labor in these if we are going to be a strong community. How you exercise your love for one another or how you face evil will impact the community as whole. If you are self-seeking, and lazy in your zeal for the world, the whole body will suffer. If you are one who is constant in prayer for the body and patient as you face trials, the church will be stronger in Christ. If you give to the needs of the saints, the saints will have less need.
One practical way we can build community is by seeking to show hospitality. We talk about hospitality often, but I see this as an area we can grow in as a community. Again, not just opening our homes to those who are like us or in the same life stage, but to a variety of people in the body. Several members have shared with me of late how they have not been invited into anyone’s home, and it is causing them to feel unloved in the body. If we are all growing in showing hospitality towards each other, we help the whole body feel loved. If you do not feel like you are receiving hospitality, show hospitality. Find against the bitterness that may be creeping into your heart.
One of the verses I often mention in membership interviews because of its importance to our community is Hebrews 10:24–25,
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Consider. Think. Meditate on how you can help others love God and love others. Consider how God can use your gifts, your passions, your time, your home to help the body love Jesus and help them do good works. This is a community project. The verse mentions the importance of the gathering. We cannot effectively care for each other unless we are with each other. There is a with-ness to Christianity that our technological world wants us to avoid. Beloved, we must gather with each other.
The Lord Jesus did not stay in heaven, but came to be with us. He is our Immanuel, God with us. He came to live with us and to die for us. He was raised from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of God. But he will not stay there. He will come again to be with us. As the text, we should be encouraging each other as we see the Day drawing near. We are laboring for that Day when the clouds will be ripped out and the Lord Jesus will descend. And he will gather all his saints to be with him forever and ever.
The whole Christian life is a preview for eternity. We gather together week in and week out, serving each other with the gifts God has given so that we may be encouraged to look to the Day of our King’s return. Jesus Christ is worth every effort we give for his namesake. The church is worth every effort we give because she was purchased with the blood of our Savior.
Beloved, Jesus wants us to be together. He wants us to be bound together with the strong cord of the gospel. Remember you are not called to live as an individual, but as a member of the body of Christ.