Constancy

Passages

Proverbs 17:17, 18:24, 18:1, 19:22, 20:6, 20:25, 25:14, 16:6, 17:24

Sermon Summary

You can't build experience community without showing up. This is harder than we think. We're all naturally limited, and most of us are pulled in many different directions. Proverbs praises the rare & beautiful gift of constancy, also known as steadfast love, which pulls us into the "wide funnel" of a church community and narrows into companions and close friends over time. Only the Lord fully embodies steadfast love, and only those who receive his steadfast love in Jesus are able to channel it to others.

Discussion Questions (choose any—you don't have to answer them all!)

1. [Optional starter question] What stood out or stuck with you from the sermon?
2. How do you assess your own relational "ecosystem" right now? Where is it strong or weak? 
3. What factors make it hard for you to experience thick community?
4. What false stories about life (such as the Freedom story) do you tend to believe?
5. How has God demonstrated his steadfast love toward you over time? Be as specific as possible.
6. When you're tempted to skip worship or some other gathering of fellow believers, what are some reasons you tell yourself? Then invite the group to gently assess and offer alternative reasons to go anyway.
7. What is one specific step you can take to move toward Gospel-infused community this week?

Resources Consulted

• Africa Bible Commentary, ed. Tokunboh Adeyemo
• The Message of Proverbs, David Atkinson
• Proverbs for Everyone, John Goldingay
• Tyndale Commentary on Proverbs, Derek Kidner
• The Five Books of Moses, Robert Alter
• Proverbs: A Shorter Commentary, Bruce Waltke
• Proverbs, Ecclesiastes & Song of Songs, Roland Murphy & Elizabeth Huber
• Proverbs for You, Kathleen Nielson
• Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Navigating Life, Timothy & Kathy Keller
• Proverbs: Wisdom That Works, Ray Ortlund
• The Stories We Live By, Timothy Keller & Michael Keller
• The Dignity of Dependence, Leah Libresco Sergeant
• 2015 Dartmouth Commencement Address, David Brooks

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