The Community Paradox
March 15, 2025 / Pastor Tom Van Kempen / Oxford Assembly of GodActs 2:41-42, 47 (CEB) Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized. God brought about three thousand people into the community on that day. The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers. . . The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.
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I. Humanity was created for
Genesis 2:18 (NKJV) And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.
1. We crave
1) Individualism
2) Isolationism
2. We thrive in
1) Companion
2) Complement
II. Sin has greatly our community instinct
1. Sin makes people
2. Sin makes people
1) Afraid of being hurt
2) Afraid of being rejected
3. Sin satisfies with
1) Community without investment
2) Community based on surface issues
3) Community based on misdirected purpose
III. God’s plan is to with you through the church community
Acts 2:47b (CEB) The Lord added daily to the community those who were being saved.
1. Reconnect to the of life
1) Called to Christ
2) Called to the church
2. Find real for the journey of life
Acts 2:46 (CEB) Every day, they met together in the temple and ate in their homes. They shared food with gladness and simplicity.
1) Small groups
2) Safe places
3) Shared life
3. Renew your broken life in the context of
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
1) Spur each other on
2) Sharpen each other’s skills
3) Shouting out encouragement
4) Finding true strength in numbers