Support in Community

Pastor Meyer’s Sermon

 Sunday, August 26, 2007

[Video] “This has been the biggest advantage of being in a group like this. They are our extended family when it comes to a crises, when it comes to trials. Most of our family lives hours away and it was hard for them to support us except through phone conversations and an occasional visit but, through the loss of our daughter, I couldn’t imagine dealing with that without our group.”

“Yeah, and I think our whole group has been through, in 4½ years, everybody goes through things whether they’re big or small and we’ve really learned to depend on each other and pray for each other and just grow with each other.”

“And it goes both ways, too, because each one of us has our own stories and it’s nice to have that in common. Good or bad, we support each other in our bad times as well as our good times.”

“I’ve had good groups in the past so for me, it is one where the good times or bad, this will be a group that will be there, will come from a perspective, from God’s perspective, not from the ‘me’ perspective, which for me is what I need. So I’m hoping to have a group that approaches it that way. That’s pretty much what I’m looking for in a group, from the group I guess.”

“Yeah, the support, like you said, not only in good times but in bad times, having that group of close friends, if something bad happens, you can turn to them for help with the kids or with meals and spiritual help, too.”

“Just as things happen, as things happen with our children or extended families, whether it’s a death in the family or a birth in the family, it’s just sharing those different experiences and just talking about them as a small group.”

During this sermon series, we’ve been walking alongside this Community Group. They’re members of our congregation. And as we listen to them, we begin to get a sense, get to the heart of what it means to be in community. Did you hear some of the words they used? Extended family. Taking the place of family who live out of town, to depend on one another. Sharing experiences. Stories we have in common. Praying together.

We are a community of believers and as the pipe cleaner people we created last week demonstrate, they reflect us, each and every one of us, not as individuals who attend different services, even though that may be, but we do not stand alone. We are connected. We’ve learned that you and I have been created for community, a community that shares life together, that shares Christ together. And the image of God, the triune community, Father, Son and Holy Spirit is reflected here with us together in our community.

You see, being a part of a community doesn’t mean superficial or shallow conversations happening where words are exchanged, like, “Hi, how are you doing?” “Fine,” where the person is not really too concerned about how the other person is doing and the other person who answered, “Fine,” is not too concerned about giving a deeper answer. No, when we are in community with each other, it is important to feel we are not simply just alongside one another, that we are together.

Dr. Granger Westberg, a founder of Holistic Medicine, Inc. out of Chicago, Illinois, asked this question when he leads workshops in front of nurses and doctors and pastors and his question is this: “What is the healthiest hour of the week?” Now think about it. How would you answer that question? Dr. Westberg surprises everyone because his answer to the healthiest hour of the week is the hour of worship in church.

The early Christians believed that one of the most important assurances they could claim for themselves and to share with each other was that they counted for someone and, therefore, for something in this world. Did you catch it? All believers were one in heart and mind. Why is that important? Well, the answer gets to the heart of community, why community was created. You see, psychologists generally agree that there are a few basic needs that we humans have to have fulfilled in order to live productive and happy lives. Now aside from the regular physiological needs we have, such as hunger and thirst and sleep, the top three human needs are 1) A sense of belonging or connectedness; 2) A sense of recognition that you exist; and 3) A sense of being accepted. It’s important that we belong, that we are connected with other human beings.

But in spite of the fact that we live in an increasingly crowded city and world, there’s a growing phenomenon in this country and that is loneliness. A recent gallop poll suggests that over a third of our population is experiencing frequent feelings of intense loneliness. Those living alone have tripled since 1960. Doctors say that loneliness can bring on other diseases and many of the illnesses and social struggles we deal with in society are the result of people trying to find ways out of their loneliness.

Now this morning, we are sitting here in our pews in the midst of all these people but I have no doubt that there is even loneliness here at this moment. It could be you. It could be the person sitting right next to you. At one point, one time or another, we do feel disconnected and without companionship or isolated in a superficial, not personal environment. So our loneliness, even in a crowded city, has increased.

Or maybe it’s that second need on the list, that you just want to be recognized for who you are and how you are feeling. Something great has happened in your life but you have no one to share it with. Sure, you could call your family and talk to them on the phone but they live two states away and it’s not the same celebrating on a phone as it is celebrating face to face with someone the joys you have in your life.

Just a few days ago, my wife and I were getting the kids ready to go outside to play and we got everybody’s shoes except Abby’s, our youngest one, and we couldn’t find her sandals anywhere. We looked all over the house and we couldn’t find them so we had to use some other shoes. And during the time that we were looking for the sandals, Abby was just upset because these are her favorite sandals. So we went on outside and went on with the day. And that night, as I was getting ready for bed, I went on my side of the bed and there they were right next to the bedside table. And so I picked them up and I put them over by the door coming into our bedroom. And in the morning, when Abby came into the bedroom very early in the morning, she saw the sandals and she picked them up and she said, “Daddy, my sandals!” And then she went on and talked to every person in our household. “Hey, I found my sandals.” Now that’s just a simple illustration, a simple story, but it gets to the heart of an important basic need. It’s that need to be recognized.

Or maybe it’s that third thing, that you just want to feel accepted, that people would actually care for you and welcome you. I know that was a big issue in our house this past week as school was getting started. The issues were three things, 1) Am I going to know someone who’s in my class? 2) Are they going to like me? Are they going to accept me? 3) Is my teacher going to like me, going to accept me?

Now some of you may be saying in your mind, “You know, I’m not feeling any of this. You know, I belong. I’m connected. I belong to the local country club and we play golf together and we play cards together and if there’s something on my mind, I can talk to them about it.” Or maybe you’re saying, “I have people to celebrate with. I have my friends that I work out with at the local Y and I can go and tell them anything and sometimes we even laugh and cry together about all kinds of things.” Or “I have no problem feeling accepted. My family accepts me for who I am and I don’t need anyone else.” And to all that, I say, “I’m happy for you. I rejoice with you.”

But you know, I know one thing and that God has created us to be in community. He formed a Christian community that He created to help us to deal with the basic needs we have. And taking a survey of scripture, we see that starting with Genesis 2 where God says, “It is not good for man to be alone.” Moving on to Job 24, “God gives us security and they are supported and His eyes are upon their way.” He creates support. He creates security. How does He do that? Well, in Psalm 133, it starts out, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” And we even see that with the disciples. What did Simon Peter do when he found out his mother-in-law had a high fever? He went to Jesus. It says, “Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked Jesus to help her.” Now Jesus, of course, is the Savior but also the friend of Simon Peter. He went to Jesus for help. And we see that’s how the early Christian church handled it. In Acts 2, “We see they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings and to fellowship and to the breaking of the bread and to prayer.” Going on, Paul even encourages us, “From God, the whole body is joined and held together by every supporting ligament, it grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work.” The body supports itself. And finally, we hear from the writers of the Hebrews, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing but let us encourage one another.”

It’s no wonder Jesus, at that last Passover meal before He was to suffer and to die, He would say, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you.” You see, you get to talk about your problems and difficulties with your buddies at the club. That’s great. I’m happy. And they slap you on the back and they tell you, “Things will be okay,” or, “I’m happy for you.” But how much more meaningful would it be for you if your friends were to say, “Let’s pray together about what’s on your mind at this moment.” Things are going well for you and you can celebrate with your workout buddy at the local Y but again, that’s great and you can laugh together and celebrate together but how much more meaningful would it be if your friends began praising God with you.

Or if you have a challenge that’s in your life and you’re not sure what to do, how much more meaningful would it be if your friends said, “Well, let’s go to scripture and see what the bible has to say about it,” instead of talking about what the latest Dr. Phil episode had to say. Again, I go back to what the members of the Community Group we were walking alongside with this morning said. They said, “Extended family.” Taking the place of family who live out of town, depending on one another, sharing experiences, stories we have in common, praying together, that is what you will find in a Community Group, a Christian Community Group. It’s a place where hearts and souls are warm because we care about each other. We take care of each other and we make room for one another.

For those who want to share their lives with us, that’s what community has been created to become. It doesn’t always happen but it can happen. And Jesus always does His part. All that we need to do is ours. Amen.

Copyright 2007 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church