Resonance and Rootedness
If church is more than Sunday, then what kind of life we lead together Monday—Saturday really, really matters. What does it look like for us to be a strong, welcoming community of small groups? How do we practice hospitality with one another and why does that matter? We cannot begin the discipleship process if we do not welcome one another with a culture that feels like Jesus’ grace and truth. We will look closely at Romans 15:1-7 as we discuss what it looks like to “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.”
More from More than Sunday
Part 2 of More than Sunday
Teaching Notes
“Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” - Romans 15:7
Resonance = sharing the experience of "same here!" with other human beings
Resonance asks the question: is this worth my time?
Rootedness = a consistent group of people who keep us grounded to our core values and commitments
Rootedness asks the question: will this last?
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:1-7)
1. A strong community is one where everyone is always thinking of everyone else.
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
-Romans 15:1-2
“As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
- Romans 14:1
Rooted practice: sticking with the group not for you, but for others.
Resonance practice: “what can I give to the group?” not “what can I get?”
"He had power not to have been reproached, power not to have suffered what He did suffer, had He been minded to look to His own things. But yet He was not so minded. But through looking to our good He neglected His own."
-John Chrysostom (c. 385 A.D.)
2. A strong community is where everyone is always thinking about Jesus.
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Romans 15:4-6
Rooted practice: endurance through a consistent life in the Scriptures
Resonance practice: encouragement given freely and regularly
3. A strong community is one where everyone is always receiving the gospel.
"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." Colossians 2:6