Citywide Baptist Church
The key to community
Jesus introduces the key to healthy community: Care for the vulnerable.
Locations & Times
Citywide Baptist Church (Mornington)
400 Cambridge Rd, Mornington TAS 7018, Australia
Sunday 10:00 AM
Last week we saw that Jesus' central concern for the church was that we would be one.
Together we identified the things that get in the road of the church being one
One other thing that can get in the road of the church being one, paradoxically, is the desire for the community of our dreams:
Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest, and sacrificial.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest, and sacrificial.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
We long for community, because we are built for it, but the longings themselves can become a problem when the idealised picture we have of what community should be gets in the road of us loving the people who actually make up the community.
Jesus now focusses again on the "Little Ones"
In saying "see to it" Jesus is making it clear that what he is about to say is not an option.
Jesus is giving us a command about our attitude to a particular kind of people.
"These Little ones" could be referring to children, or low status disciples, or even low status people who are not yet disciples (Luke 15:7). Either way, it is the people who it would ordinarily be easy to ignore.
One way to think about it is to identify the people who can’t repay you.
Jesus is giving us a command about our attitude to a particular kind of people.
"These Little ones" could be referring to children, or low status disciples, or even low status people who are not yet disciples (Luke 15:7). Either way, it is the people who it would ordinarily be easy to ignore.
One way to think about it is to identify the people who can’t repay you.
Who are the "little ones" in your life?
https://www.menti.com/1a9vzkz3inThe word angel means messenger, and this is one of the few verses in the bible where we get the idea of a "guardian" angel.
While the angel isn't really guarding the "little one" they are actively bringing their situation before God.
God cares deeply for the "little ones" and he actively cares about whether you care about them.
In talking about "my father" Jesus is reminding the disciples of the unique relationship he has with God the Father.
While the angel isn't really guarding the "little one" they are actively bringing their situation before God.
God cares deeply for the "little ones" and he actively cares about whether you care about them.
In talking about "my father" Jesus is reminding the disciples of the unique relationship he has with God the Father.
In saying "what do you think" (more literally, “what does it seem to you?”) Jesus wants us to stop and reflect on his words.
"Though only one is missing, the shepherd's whole routine is altered. He concentrates all his energy on recovering that lost one. He is prepared to leave the ninety-nine at some risk in order to ensure the safety of the one that strayed." - Leon Morris (PNTC)
There is not a single person who is of little worth to God.
"Though only one is missing, the shepherd's whole routine is altered. He concentrates all his energy on recovering that lost one. He is prepared to leave the ninety-nine at some risk in order to ensure the safety of the one that strayed." - Leon Morris (PNTC)
There is not a single person who is of little worth to God.
Do you want to make God happy?
If you have wandered away and taken your eyes off Jesus, come home.
If you are with Jesus, look at where he is looking, and you will find it is towards those who are lost. Join him in the search.
If you have wandered away and taken your eyes off Jesus, come home.
If you are with Jesus, look at where he is looking, and you will find it is towards those who are lost. Join him in the search.
There is no-one who is not important to God, and there should be no-one who is not important to you.
The key to a healthy community is an intentional and personal focus beyond your own good, to the good of the "little ones."
In a Christian community, everything depends on whether each individual is an indispensable link in a chain. The chain is unbreakable only when even the smallest link holds tightly with the others.
A community, which permits within itself members who do nothing, will be destroyed by them. Thus it is a good idea that all members receive a definite task to perform for the community, so that they may know in times of doubt that they too are not useless and incapable of doing anything.
Every Christian community must know that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the community.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Life Together)
A community, which permits within itself members who do nothing, will be destroyed by them. Thus it is a good idea that all members receive a definite task to perform for the community, so that they may know in times of doubt that they too are not useless and incapable of doing anything.
Every Christian community must know that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the community.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Life Together)
As that happens the Christian community becomes a chain, because all of us are little ones or weak in someone else’s eyes and all of us are potentially shepherds or strong in the eyes of others.
The antidote to the things that get in the road of the church being one, is an ongiong and intentional love and service of the "little ones."
The antidote to the things that get in the road of the church being one, is an ongiong and intentional love and service of the "little ones."
Who are the "little ones" Jesus is asking you to make space for people?
Small Group Questions:
1) Who are the "little ones" you find it easiest to ignore? Who are the "little ones" that you get most frustrated with?
2) The reference to "Their angels" is unusual in the bible but not in Jewish literature. How do you respond to the idea of a guardian angel?
3) What does the picture of the shepherd leaving the 99 for the 1 give you about your value to God?
4) How does God's care for the lost sheep contrast with your own? Is God wanting to say anything to you about the lost sheep in your life?
5) Have someone read the Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote. How does it affect how you see the church?
1) Who are the "little ones" you find it easiest to ignore? Who are the "little ones" that you get most frustrated with?
2) The reference to "Their angels" is unusual in the bible but not in Jewish literature. How do you respond to the idea of a guardian angel?
3) What does the picture of the shepherd leaving the 99 for the 1 give you about your value to God?
4) How does God's care for the lost sheep contrast with your own? Is God wanting to say anything to you about the lost sheep in your life?
5) Have someone read the Dietrich Bonhoeffer quote. How does it affect how you see the church?