Saints Together Week 6 - Shipwrecked Faith
Read
1 Timothy 1:18-20
18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the good fight, 19 having faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and have shipwrecked the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered to Satan, so that they may be taught not to blaspheme.
1 Corinthians 5:4-6
4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus, and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 hand that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough?
Summary
Welcome back to Community Group, this week we heard about Shipwrecked Faith. A person living in habitual sin has shipwrecked faith, although it may not sound like a good thing, shipwrecked faith is better than no faith at all. The Prodigal Son had this kind of faith, what helped him is that he had a home to come back to where people were waiting for him. If you are in Community you also have a home to come back to when you realize you have made a mistake.
There were three points in this week’s sermon:
Enduring Encouragement
Difficult Discipleship
Real Restoration
The first point, Enduring Encouragement, is found in verses 18 & 19. Paul is speaking to his spiritual son Timothy. He is reminding him of his calling and what has been spoken about him. He is also reminding him of his commitment to the cause of Christ. In the past weeks, we have spoken about the importance of community. How in community you find encouragement, support, forgiveness and companionship. Timothy had all these things in his community, of which Paul was a part of.
Our second point, Difficult Discipleship, is found in verses 19 & 20a. Paul is telling Timothy to be careful; others have shipwrecked their faith. We used the illustration of a fleet of ships. Ships that sailed together followed each other. They would use warning signs to keep each other on course away from danger. If a ship wrecked, it was because they failed to listen to the warning of the other ships. Paul speaks of the two he delivered to Satan. This was not an easy or joyful reality, but it was loving. It is like when we allow our children to do something that will hurt them, so they can learn a lesson that lasts them a lifetime. These men had rejected faith and good sense. Community is important because when you veer off course, they are there to bring you back on course. Sometimes, in community, we warn, warn and warn, but people don’t listen. At that point we may need to ask them not to fellowship with us. However, just because they are not fellowshipping with us, it does not mean we don’t pray for their safe return.
Finally, Real Restoration, was our third point found in verse 20b. The goal Paul had for these two brothers was lasting and sincere restoration. A change not based on an event or an emotion, but rather based on truth and a sincere relationship with Jesus Christ. In community, we want everyone to have that sincere relationship with Jesus Christ.
So, what are our next steps:
Ask yourself “is my faith shipwrecked?”
If it is, allow your community of faith to help veer you back to Christ.
If you have no faith at all, it’s time to come to Christ.
Pray for those in our family or close relationships that have Shipwrecked Faith.
Discussion
Have you ever found your faith veering towards a shipwreck? Explain
Who or how did you get back on course? Explain
Have you ever had to have that difficult talk with someone you have been walking with? Explain
Has anyone ever had to have that difficult talk with you? How did it go?
When you have those difficult conversations, is Real Restoration your goal? Explain
Announcements
This coming year, I would like to report to Pastor Chris the health of our Community Groups. I would like to tell him how many of them met that particular week and how many people were in attendance. Could you make it a habit to send me an email or a message on WhatsApp letting me know the day you me and how many were in attendance. That would be a huge blessing.
I pray you made it to our Dream Team Conference this past weekend. It was a blessing to see some of you and talk about what the Lord has instore for our Community Groups this coming year.
Let’s continue to pray for each other and send prayer requests through our WhatsApp thread. If you are a CG Leader and are not on our WhatsApp thread please contact Meichelle at meichelle.vasquez@bt.church
Pastor Isuaro Medina
Isauro.medina@bt.church
Cell: (956) 984-9380
