Abc - The Building Blocks Of Faith - Belonging Series

Today we continue our series entitled, The ABC’s of faith. The larger idea is based on the idea that we learn over time through an exploration process of success and failure. Everything we come to know and understand is built over time on the foundation of trial and error.

We learned last week, the wooden blocks we have all played with were an idea in 1594, a practical concept 100 years after that, and only then it would take another 175 years to be mass produced as the blocks we know and love from Brooklyn, New York.

Last week, Peter talked about behavior and this week we continue with “B” alliteration by building on the idea of Christian belief, behavior and move on to belonging and its role in Christian witness. These are the building blocks (or the major aspects) of Christian identity that help us to withstand the storms of life.

What does it mean to be a part of a faith community?

What does walking in the faith with God and others look like?

How is it different from the rest of your relationships?

Before I begin, I’d like to tell you a story to illustrate the idea of belonging and community. A soldier saw his lifelong friend fall in battle. Caught in a trench with continuous gunfire whizzing over his head, the soldier asked his lieutenant if he might go out into the “no man’s land” between the trenches to bring his fallen comrade back. “You can go,” said the lieutenant, “but I don't think it will be worth it. Your friend is probably dead and you may throw your life away.”

The lieutenant’s advice didn’t matter, and the soldier went anyway. Miraculously he managed to reach his friend, hoist him onto his shoulder and bring him back to their company’s trench. As the two of them tumbled together to the bottom of the trench, the officer checked the wounded soldier, and then looked kindly at his friend.“I told you it wouldn’t be worth it,” he said. “Your friend is dead and you are shot.”

“It was worth it, though, sir,” said the soldier.

“What do you mean; worth it?” responded the Lieutenant. “Your friend is dead.” “Yes, Sir” the private answered. “But it was worth it because when I got to him, he was still alive and I had the satisfaction of hearing him saying, “Jim…, I knew you’d come.”

True community is found when everyone involved believes and behaves in a way, they know that, they belong to a cause greater than oneself.

Let’s dive into the scriptures this morning to find the answer. As you open your bibles to Acts 2, let me give you a little background. The Holy Spirit had just been given to the disciples on Pentecost. There was a crowd gathered and Peter was preaching his first sermon and it went viral. Take a listen.

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

A faith community has some similarities to the other groups you might be associated with or have a shared interest. However, being a part of a faith community is different from your other associations due to the level of commitment required.

Baptism is more than a ritual. It’s the entryway into a new way of life. It declares what you believe about the physical and spiritual life. It codifies your understanding of right and wrong. As Luke shares this account, we must remember that those who publicly repented after the sermon were declaring allegiance to the unpopular idea that Jesus was the Messiah. A declaration many in positions of power were opposed to. It was a decision that would affect both the standard of living and the quality of life of those declaring it. Let’s continue…

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Personally, I understand why Luke writes that Peter warned and pleaded with many words. It’s hard to describe what happens when you're in the Spirit and you encounter people who are starting to connect with the abundant life message. It feels like you're offering someone a life line but your words aren’t just right. It’s why I think a few hundred years later, an entire group of Christian elites at the declaration of the emperor Constantine decided to crystallize what it means to be a part of the Christian faith in what today we refer to as The Nicene Creed. The creed affirms what we believe: