Life Together: The God Who Dwells Among Us

This week's texts from Scripture are:

Acts 2:42-47

Zeph 3:17

Sermon Outline:

Introduction

• Roadmap: conclusion of 4-week series on Christian community (Acts 2:42–47).

• Transition to Zephaniah 3:17 → God’s presence at the heart of community.

• Big Idea: True Christian community is formed and sustained by the presence of God.

• Question: When was the last time awe came upon your soul?

God’s Presence Promised (Zephaniah 3:17)
Four promises when God dwells among His people:

1. He Will Save

   • Salvation is God’s work, not ours.

   • Response: trust God in dark and confusing times.

2. He Will Rejoice Over You with Gladness

   • God not only loves you; He likes you.

   • His joy in you is real, even if you feel uncelebrated.

3. He Will Quiet You with His Love

   • Picture of a parent quieting a child.

   • God brings renewal and rest to anxious, restless hearts.

4. He Will Exult Over You with Loud Singing

   • God is not silent; He rejoices loudly over His people.

   • Our worship is a response to His singing over us.

The Role of Community in Remembering God’s Promises

• We are forgetful people.

• Christian community helps us remember God’s presence and promises.

• Life Groups, worship, serving, fellowship → tangible reminders of God’s nearness.

Applications for Our Church

1. Personal Application → Which of the four promises do you need to claim today?

2. Community Application → Commit to Christian community (Life Groups, gatherings).

3. Churchwide Application → Monthly evening worship service (Oct. 16 as launch).

Application Questions…

Acknowledging God’s Presence

Where in your daily routine do you most sense the presence of God? Where do you need to invite His presence more intentionally?

Comprehension (Understanding the Sermon & Text)

1. Where in your daily routine do you most sense the presence of God? Where do you need to invite His presence more intentionally?

2. When was the last time you felt awe before God? How could you build rhythms in your week that open you up to awe again?

3. Of the four promises from Zephaniah 3:17 (He saves, He rejoices, He quiets, He sings), which one is God pressing on your heart today?

Theology (Believing the Truths of God’s Word)

1. How can you remind yourself this week that salvation is God’s work, not your effort?

2. What difference would it make in your outlook if you truly believed that God not only loves you but also likes and rejoices over you?

3. When you feel unseen or uncelebrated, how can you practically remember that God rejoices over you?

4. What practices help quiet your anxious thoughts and let God renew you with His love?

5. How can you make worship a more natural response to God’s delight in you—not only on Sunday, but throughout the week?

Life Application (Putting Truth into Practice in Daily Living)

1. Are you currently in a Christian community that regularly reminds you of God’s presence? If not, what’s one concrete step you could take this week to find or join one?

2. What personal sacrifices (time, convenience, preferences) might God be asking you to make in order to experience deeper Christian community?

3. Do you sense God calling you to begin a new small group or ministry of community? If so, what’s your next step?

4. Who in your life needs to be reminded that “the Lord your God is in your midst”? How can you encourage them this week?

5. What reminders (phone alarm, journal, prayer card, Scripture note) could you put in place to rehearse these four promises of God daily?

6. When you gather with others (Life Group, family, friends), how could you bring a spirit of awe and expectancy into the conversation or prayer time?

7. Instead of fitting God and community around your schedule, how could you reshape your calendar to prioritize God’s presence and Christian community?

If you have questions about this sermon, please feel free to reach out to David.