Christmas Series “Home Alone” — Sermon “Isolation Is Not Good For You”

Christmas Series “Home Alone” — Sermon “Isolation Is Not Good For You”

Three week outline of sermons:   Isolation    Invasion     Restoration

Movies are a powerful medium to speak to the human condition … like parables “CRY”

Watch the movie … Some interesting observations … Notice the Neighbour! … PICTURES

Matthew 1:18-19 “Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.”

The first Christmas must have been awkward. Virgin girl pregnant by the Holy Ghost?!?!?!

Picture Of Christopher Knight

Christopher Knight   “I became very introspective … without others I found no need to define my self … I became irrelevant.”   He didn’t find himself he actually lost himself!!!

Christopher Thomas Knight (born 7 December 1965), also known as the North Pond Hermit, is a former hermit who lived almost without human contact for 27 years in the woods in Maine.[1] He survived by committing approximately 1,000 burglaries against houses in the area,[2] or approximately 40 per year. Apart from the fear and notoriety his many burglaries created in the local area, Knight’s unusual life also attracted widespread international media reports upon his capture.

Knight entered the woods in 1986, aged 20, without saying goodbye to anyone, and was captured during a burglary in 2013. His only human contact in that time was one exchange of a trivial greeting with a hiker.   “Hi!”

Mother Teresa   Loneliness is the leprosy of the modern world.  I have come more and more to realize that it is being unwanted that is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience.

Dr Dean Ornish  Ornish Lifestyle Medicine  “Love and intimacy — our ability to connect with ourselves and others, is at the root of what makes us sick and what makes us well, … People who feel lonely and isolated have a 300-500 percent greater risk of premature death due to physical illness.”

Impact people are committed to living in authentic community. 

You cannot fulfill the purpose for God outside of community.

You can know God without community and get to heaven without community, but you can’t manifest God’s 

fullness.

1. Isolation Was Never The Plan

Genesis 2:18  “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone;”

Hebrews 10:21-25   NLT “…And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water…”

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”

Connecting Is Mandatory!

A. Together We Approach

“…let us go right in to the presence of God…”  vs.22

Revelation 5:9 “…your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

B. Together We Stand

vs. 23 “Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm,” 

Holding on is a group activity!!! Hold on to each other as we hold on to the promises. He is FAITHFUL!!!

C. Together We Act

vs 24 “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”

Join me in….  Help me with….  This has worked for me…

59 One Another Commands In New Testament.   21 Involve “Love.”
John 13:34  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” 

D. Together We Remain

vs.25 “…let us not neglect our meeting together…”

Social media is NOT real human interaction. It’s edited!!!  How many of you have secretly unfollowed me?

2. Isolation is rooted in selfishness

Proverbs 18:1  “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.”

3. Isolation Fosters Deception

Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

4. Isolation Is Resolved In Jesus

1 Corinthians 15:22  “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

Romans 5:10  “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” 

Colossians 3:13 “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”

BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY:

1. Everyone is welcome.      Your background doesn’t matter. 

2. Nobody is perfect.          Bring a Bible and your problems. 

3. Anything is possible.      Simon can become Peter.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download