Spiritual Renewal: Building A Faith-filled Community

Hello Everyone
● Good to see everyone this morning
● If you are visiting us, make sure to fill out a connection card in the lobby

We continue our series: Spiritual Renewal
● This series is focused on guiding our thoughts toward renewal during the holidays
● Making the most of our downtime to prepare our hearts and minds for 2026

Here are the various topics…
● Spiritual Preparation
● Dreaming with God
● The Spirit Leading Us Beyond Our Limits
● Building a Faith-Filled Community

Today’s will be about Building A Faith-filled Community
The last part of spiritual renewal is bringing it all together within the church family

Today we end our series with Building A Faith-Filled Community

• The last part of spiritual renewal is bringing it all together within the church family

• How we can build up the church community God has given us

Here's today's Big Idea:

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

• Many times I believe that I can get more things done if I do it myself

• Although that may be true at times, that is not how God designed us

• He was the one in Genesis who is quoted as saying, “It is not good for man to be alone.”

• We need each other, especially to Build A Faith-filled Community 

• Montco can go as far as our unity can handle

• Today, I want to look at God’s heart for His church 

Key Thoughts

• By the Power of God (7-10)

• His Redeem Team (11-13)

• The Mighty Morphin Church (14-16)

Let's dive in!

First Key Thought: God the Gifter

Ephesians 4:7-10 NIV

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. [8] This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people." [9] (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? [10] He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

This is one of those treasure hunting scriptures:

• What's cool about this statement is what verses 8-10 speak about

This is Kingship language:

• Once a king conquered a land or nation, he would receive a tribute and plunder from the defeated

• It is the spoils of war

• And we know this from the Psalm Paul uses

• It is a Psalm of praise from David acknowledging God is the Supreme King over all

• David paints this imposing picture of who God is and how He treats those who are with Him and those who are against Him

Check out what David writes:

• Turn over to Psalm 68

God the Watcher

Psalm 68:1-35 NIV

May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. [2] May you blow them away like smoke—as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. [3] But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. [4] Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. [5] A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. [6] God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. [7] When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, [8] the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. [9] You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. [10] Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor. [11] The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng: [12] "Kings and armies flee in haste; the women at home divide the plunder. [13] Even while you sleep among the sheep pens, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold." [14] When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon. [15] Mount Bashan, majestic mountain, Mount Bashan, rugged mountain, [16] why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the Lord himself will dwell forever? [17] The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary. [18] When you ascended on high, you took many captives; you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious—that you, Lord God, might dwell there. [19] Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. [20] Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. [21] Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. [22] The Lord says, "I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea, [23] that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share." [24] Your procession, God, has come into view, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. [25] In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the young women playing the timbrels. [26] Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel. [27] There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah's princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali. [28] Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before. [29] Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts. [30] Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war. [31] Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God. [32] Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, [33] to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens, who thunders with mighty voice. [34] Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens. [35] You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!

What an imposing image:

• He melts enemies like wax

• He rides on the clouds

• Marches through the wilderness

• Sends kings and armies running

• Outnumbers His enemies

• Crushes the heads of enemies

• Rides across the heavens

• The ancient heavens

• Power is in the heavens

God the Watcher (Gift Giver)

However, He is:

• Father to the fatherless

• Defender of widows

• Which hardly anyone did in ancient times

• Sets the lonely in families

• Provides for the poor

• Which hardly anyone did

• Shares his plunder with the people

• Bears our burdens

• Who saves

• Gives power and strength to his people

• This last line is amazing

Let's skip back to Ephesians 4:8

Jesus the Gifter

Ephesians 4:7-10 NIV

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. [8] This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people." [9] (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? [10] He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

Now knowing what we know, look at how Paul switches the main character:

• Instead of God, it is now Jesus

Jesus doles out gifts to the church:

• This is not just for the leaders, as we will read later in the chapter

• But this is for everyone in the church as well (Romans 12:6-8)

• Prophesying (preaching today)

• Serving

• Teaching

• Encouragement

• Giving generously

• Leading

• Mercy

These gifts contain God's power and glory:

• I just want to take the time to share about our leadership teams

• A collection of amazing brothers and sisters

• This is a picture of our team (doesn't account for everyone)

Second Key Thought: The Redeem Team

The Redeem Team

There is a Netflix Documentary titled: Redeem Team about the 2008 USA Men's Basketball Team

• A special hand-picked team to redeem the trophy from a disappointing performance in the 2004 Olympics

• USA came in 3rd that year

• Breaking a streak of 3 straight gold medals

• It is the story of how the USA team storms back to claim the gold

God has given the church a redeem team to help the church community stay renewed:

Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

This is God's hand-picked Redeem Team:

• Prophets (No longer a role in this context)

• Evangelists (Church Leader)

• Pastors (Shepherd/Elder)

• Teachers (Qualified Biblical Teacher)

The role of this team:

• To equip his people to engage their faith

• To build up the church community

• To help reach unity and maturity

This is pretty clear teaching about the role of Leadership:

• Nothing to debate

• Paul wasn't asking the church to vote on this

However, the Ephesians struggled to be humble towards leadership:

• When we read 1 Timothy, we get a window into the church some 2-3 years later

• Here Paul is addressing members in the church

1 Timothy 1:3 NIV

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer

1 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV

Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. [7] They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

Some in the Ephesian church were not humble towards God's Redeem Team:

• They are teaching scripture incorrectly and leading people astray

• They act like they are teachers but have no idea what they're talking about

How do you view the leadership?

• Really?

• Do you presume to have a better way of doing things?

• Sometimes we can get excited by a podcast or a great book and think we now have gained the insight to lead the church better than people who've been in ministry for decades

Do we take this approach in other professions?

• Medical

• Physics

• Engineering

• Bio Chemical

• Psychological

Leading the church is serious business

The Standard of Leadership

James 3:1 NIV

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

The Standard of Leadership

James 3:1 Phillips

Don't aim at adding to the number of teachers, my brothers, I beg you! Remember that we who are teachers will be judged by a much higher standard.

We need to be careful:

• God has set his team this way for a reason

• I think he knows what he is doing

The Mighty Morphin Church

This is a picture when everything comes together:

• We take the practical teaching from everything up to this point

Ephesians 4:14-16 NIV

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. [15] Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. [16] From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

When all the pieces come together, we see something special: The Church as God Intended

When all the pieces come together:

• Immovable when it comes to the popular philosophies of our society (v14)

• No longer being tossed back and forth

• Buying into what feels right to current culture

• Speaking up for God and His word

• No matter how isolating that may feel

• Speaking truthfully to each other in love (v15)

• Not letting things go

• Or keeping silent to preserve the peace in relationships

• Allowing Biblical convictions to strengthen and support the church (v15)

• The glue is holding to scripture

• Not to the opinions or teachings outside the Bible

• Finally, reserving the rightful place for Jesus as the head of the church (v16)

• Letting Jesus direct the course, make decisions, and lead the way

When the pieces come together like this, it reminds me of one of my favorite shows growing up:

• A collection of different characters and personalities needing each other to accomplish a common goal

• Some of the best produced content to date

[VIDEO CLIP]

The Mighty Morphin Church

You are needed!

• It may sound cliché, but your presence is needed

• We are back together, but some are still not showing up

• Or not engaged with the work

• Or not speaking up

• Or not living as Jesus is the head of their lives

• The body is at its peak strength when we are working together

• Supporting one another with every relationship

• Growing and building itself in love

• As each part does its work

Questions to Consider

1. How are you using God's gifts?

• God empowered us with gifts from the Holy Spirit

• How are you using them?

• Is it for God or for something other?

2. Do you respect the role of leadership the way God desires?

3. Do you view yourself as a vital piece to our church family?
   
   

Conclusion

• We want to build a faith-filled community

• It is going to take everyone

• Take time over the break to meditate in prayer for our region

• Allow God to speak to you where you can invest and serve

Have a great holiday!