Week 5 Sermon: "The Power of a Spiritual Community”
Scripture: James 5:10-20
Rev. Carlos Uroza
A few weeks ago, a church member approached me before worship, asking for prayers for her 6-year-old daughter who was scheduled for surgery soon. Since the worship was about to start, I assured her that we would pray for her daughter during our prayer time with the congregation. During the service, as I looked out over our gathered church family, I saw the mixture of worry, hope, and faith in that mother's eyes. It struck me how important our spiritual community is, especially in moments of vulnerability and need. That mother wasn't just seeking prayers; she was seeking the comfort and support of her spiritual family.
As I went through the order of worship, I realized that we always held the time for Children's church just before the congregational prayer concerns. It struck me that while the mother was seeking prayer, her daughter, even though very young, could benefit from the experience of her spiritual community wrapping their arms around her.
If you were to ask me if I remember any of the sermons that my local pastor preached during my childhood or teenage years, I would respond that I do not remember a single one. While some concepts of faith were planted in my mind, I couldn't recall specific lessons where I felt like I learned something important. That is the beauty of spiritual learning in our lives. When a seed has been planted without making it a huge event, it takes time to grow and develop with our experiences in life.
At that moment of realization, I improvised the order of worship, and instead of having only the kids come forward for their usual children's church message, I invited the child and parents to come forward to the altar so that we could pray for them. As I saw that young girl coming to the altar holding her parents' hands, I realized that while I may not remember those individual sermons in my youth, I remember the sense of community, the shared prayers, and the collective faith that surrounded me. It wasn't the pastor's preaching style that shaped my faith, but the consistent presence and support of a loving community that prayed for each other, confessed together, and grew together. While the little girl may not fully comprehend the power of prayer yet, seeing the rest of the children and the congregation follow behind and lay hands on her left a lasting impact on her spiritual journey.
During a difficult season in my teenage years, I remember my mother and I seeking prayers to find peace, comfort, and wisdom. My mother and I found ourselves in a situation where fear and despair were our daily reality. Throughout our lives, we had been church people, but this was the first time we needed more than to show up to church. We connected with the pastor one late afternoon, seeking prayer. The pastor was unavailable, so he gathered two lay members to meet with us. At first, I was skeptical, but I had never felt more vulnerable due to the situation. As we gathered and prayed, one of them read Psalm 27 and suggested that I read it every time I felt fear take over my life. I left that meeting feeling a little upset because I was still feeling the same, and they gave me a Bible verse, sort of a medical prescription. However, this was the first time I had actually been so vulnerable that I was able to open up about our struggle as I had never done before. As we journeyed through the difficult time and after we overcame it, I realized that those two lay members were constantly checking on us, praying for us, and celebrating with us when things got better. Looking back, the real gift was not the prescribed scripture; it was their presence, prayers, and companionship in hardships.
This brings us to today's message: the importance of community, confession, and prayer. These practices are not just church rituals but the lifeblood of our spiritual growth and resilience. They are what transform us, sustain us, and bind us together as the body of Christ.
In reflecting on our scripture passage today from James, we see how these elements—community, confession, and prayer—are woven together to create a strong and enduring safety blanket of faith. James encourages us to be honest with ourselves and each other and to gather with people who can pray, motivate, and hold us accountable. This is where spiritual growth happens, not in isolation but in a loving, supportive community.
We indeed live in times where it becomes harder for people to be vulnerable and to open up. Why is that? We often greet one another with the words, "How are you?" Typically, we respond "fine" or "ok," or we try to elaborate a story that highlights something good or not-so-good but benign rather than being honest with ourselves and the other. Perhaps the root of our lack of openness is the misconception of vulnerability as being seen as weakness. In Brené Brown's TED Talk "The Power of Vulnerability," she explains how shame and fear contribute to our reluctance to be vulnerable. Brené Brown reminds us that shame is a universal experience that can make us feel unworthy of connection. However, by embracing vulnerability with courage and self-compassion, we can foster genuine connections and joy. (“Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability”)
It seems to me that James 5:12 serves as the preamble of the closing verses of the book, which can be titled "The Prayer of Faith in Community." Can we interpret the essence of James 5:12 as a call to be honest with ourselves and utilize the gift of the spiritual community that God has provided? Rather than responding with "I'm fine" when we're not, we should learn to open up and be honest, responding with a simple and truthful "Yes" or "No" when asked how we are doing. If it's "Yes," let's praise God together; if it's "No," let's embrace each other in prayer.
Brown's insights align perfectly with James' teachings. Embracing vulnerability allows us to be truly seen and known, leading to deeper connections and authentic support within our community.
Please reflect on the importance of being honest with yourself and others. Seek out trusted individuals with whom you can share your true self, struggles, and joys. Make regular gatherings with fellow believers a routine and vital part of your spiritual journey. Practice confession, prayer, share burdens and joys, and commit to consistently love one another. May we be courageous as the mother of the young girl who opened up in hardship, and may be courageous to fight our shame through self-compassion.
Remember, we grow and thrive in our faith through these honest, prayerful, and supportive interactions, where we can experience the fullness of God's compassion, mercy, and power in our lives. For those who are not part of a church, we encourage you to join a Branch or find a group of people who share love and support in a faith-based community where you can grow and thrive in your faith journey.
Closing Prayer:
Merciful God, we thank you for the gift of community, the power of confession, and the privilege of prayer. Help us to be honest with ourselves and each other, to seek out supportive relationships, and to commit to praying for one another. May our faith community be a source of strength, healing, and encouragement. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Work Cited
“Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability.” TED, 23 December 2010, https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability?language=en. Accessed 1 July 2024.
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