Anna Davis - Connection

Sunday, March 1, 2026 - Anna speaks about the importance of living in true connection and community with one another. What does it truly MEAN to connect with others? What does that look like?

Acts 2

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

We thank you for what you're doing. We thank you for what you will do. We thank you for everyone that's present in this room. I'm thankful for everyone that's present in this room. Amen. Amen. This morning, we have one of my favorite new additions to my life. Miss Anna Davis. If you don't know her, you should meet her. She's lovely. She has the superpower of being able to come in the room and just know what God is doing in such a clear way, and she can communicate it so lovingly to each person. It's just incredible. And she is so humble, but she is so well studied. She has put in hours and years of her life to learning the scripture and learning about the Lord and learning about the culture and history. And she is she is a well-educated woman. So I don't have a list of all your accomplishments, or I would list them because you are truly incredible. But just I would like to welcome her this morning. And we just bless you as a collective. We bless you this morning that whatever the Lord has in your heart will come out, and we will be ready to receive what the Lord has for each of us and as a collective, and we are so thankful for who you are, and we just bless who God has made you to be and all of the hard work and hours you've put to study this book that He's given us. We just thank you for that and that we get to benefit from that in Jesus' name.

SPEAKER_00 2:06

Well, thank you. That was a very lovely introduction. Um thanks for having me again back. And um, I'm really humbled to be part of the community here. Um I definitely feel very warmly received. And um, I also think that that says a lot about your community here, um, which I really love. Well, Linda and I talk about it all the time, and I have to say that I love that it's really close to where my house is, um, and I get to just walk here all the time, so that's also a bonus. I um, as I usually do when I'm gonna share, go over something I feel like probably maybe too much, you know. Um, and um, I think in some ways it's good, it's the fear of the Lord, but then sometimes maybe I just get a little too nervous in and of myself. Uh very aware of my, you know, we all have our things and our shortcomings. But um I have changed this a few times and now this morning again and after worship. So um sorry, I always think it's interesting to um come and speak after worship when you get moved like that, and then you have to come up here and speak. Okay. Um well today I was gonna I'm gonna speak on um connection. And as I've been pondering it a lot, because one of the reasons is like New Heart, YWM Santa Rosa is new, and we are discovering how is God leading us, and how are we um moving in the community? How are we loving and touching and actually going to bring a transformation with which means really people knowing God? Yeah, and what makes us different and what makes that happen? Is it that I make that happen, or is it just waiting, or what is you know, um so I went on the website for this wonderful church, and I was reading because I know that the heart here is to be connected, to be in collective. And um it says um come this morning and connect with others. That's what the point is, is to come here, be together, and connect with others. The goal to love Jesus and live like Jesus and serve our community here in Santa Rosa. Wherever you are, Jesus will meet you there, and so will we. So these are some of the things that are on there, and I was like, yes, I love it, okay, because I really believe that it's important, and then it reminded me of why I'm drawn to this place and this community, because there is a real deep desire to love, to love Jesus first, to love one another, to really um commune in connection together as the body, and um with the table on Wednesdays, uh, a place of fellowship, warmth, safety, and nourishment. Awesome. Okay, I'm sure people have thought for a long period of time to put that statements and words together, and I don't have all of that history, but I know what it causes me to think of when I see it, and that's the point of a website. And um so these things have popped out to me as I've been considering community and what does it mean to connect with others? It's a nice statement that we kind of throw around a lot and we can say and even Christianize. Um and which, for those of those of you that know me, one of my pet peeves is Christianized language. Um, and so today I want to talk about what does that mean, actually, and what does that maybe look like? And I don't have it all figured out, but I feel like just the thought, the process of pondering, the process of taking a moment to consider. Because in the space of growing and moving, it's easy as you grow and move to kind of veer and get sidetracked and thought that dream was amazing. Because we can easily lose sight of the foundational things that we know because, like in that dream, we all know that all we need to do is stand and take authority, but somehow in the moment, we can get caught up, maybe in how other people are responding, maybe in what's kind of been normal in the past. Um, you just get carried away. Um, and so foundationally, this call for this church, but also the body of Christ, is about community and connection. And I really feel a call to that and a call to consider it. Genuine authentic community is what we call it in YWM Santa Rosa. What does that mean, right? So I was reminded, of course, uh, Acts 2, where the church begins, right? And they are communing daily. And in Acts 2, 43 to 46, it says, everyone kept feeling a sense of awe. And many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles, and all those who had believed were together and had all things in common, and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing with them with all as anyone might have need, day by day, continuing with one mind in the temple, breaking bread from house to house, and they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, pleasing God and having favor with all people. So there was something about their communing together, being one in mind, being one in heart, giving of one another. And what does it require as a practical human being for me to give everything of myself and my possessions and my things to someone next to me? Because that's a tall order, really. And there's this aspect I think that's happening in Acts that there was just such a striking, jarring, like, whoa, because it's so present, it's so real, and the spirit is moving, and 3,000 people have come to the Lord, and you get caught up in that moment and you're on it for a while, like everything is the Lord's. Right? And I think that's what's happening, which isn't bad, it's incredible. And that's what we do, and we respond that way, and what happens is that it attracts because that's what people really want. They want belonging, they want to be part of something, they want to be part of something greater and bigger than themselves. Um, I also was reminded of Ephesians 4, and I couldn't uh get off of it, so I just thought maybe I'll read it then. So in Ephesians, Ephesians is amazing because Paul's writing to this church that's super diverse. Okay, it's a port city, all kinds of stuff happening. You got Jews and Gentiles, you got magic arts, you've got, you know, you guys, even port cities nowadays, they're all kind of like eclectic. Like everything's going on, you know? And Ephesus was huge, and that's what it was like. And here's this church that's living in this kind of chaos, spiritual chaos. And he's calling them through this letter, basically, to know their identity. To you gotta you gotta center up in Christ. That's his repeated word. Who are you in Christ? Because if you look too far around, you get distracted and pulled away. And he goes on to encourage them to believe and really trust in this mystery, uh, which is that things of God who create, he created all things. So all things, as RC said, means all things. But all things actually belong to him, all peoples belong to him. And when he gets, by the time he gets to chapter four, he's telling them, because of all that Christ is, who you actually are, and the faith that you have, that you are included in, therefore, I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. And he goes on to say, there is one body, one spirit, just as we were called to one hope. You're calling one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God, and Father of all who was over all, through all, and in all. There is no exception. It's the whole and it's the all. And the first thing I think of when I think of community is then it's everyone. And sometimes we get in our communities, the plural, and we forget about our community. Um, even within the church, the body is Christ's, and it does. We have committed to be together as one for God, but all people belong to God, and they belong in our community, and God wants all of them, and just like I have family members that don't really get it, but I pray for them every day because God wants them. It's the same for every person, everywhere, no matter where you're from or where you live. So, in this contemplating, I had a very interesting um time. I went to a friend's house, so bear with me, this is kind of interesting. I've never watched Survivor before. Okay. This friend of mine is um, she's not a Christian, she's spiritually, you know, curious, and um, she's not really interested in Christianity necessarily, but we hang out with her, and she was all about wanting to watch this season 50 beginning of season 50 Survivor, and we're Melinda and they're like, okay, sure, we'll we'll watch it. I my mind was blown when I was watching this um show in a good way. I found it interesting and agitating. Okay. Um, so go with me on this for a minute. So these participants um in season 50 specifically were also participants that had been in the past seasons. So they've people that have already been on the show before. And they're all gathered together. It's the first time they've done this. And of course, we all know Survivor, there's only one winner. This is the irony for me watching this show. There's one winner, but um, as they were sharing at the beginning, because they were coming back, they people were talking about their experience on Survivor like they were giving testimony at like savior testimonies in church. I'm not even joking, people were crying, and I looked at Melinda and I was like, wow. They were so grateful to be back into this place and be back with these people and in this experience, and probably what I would say is in this community, right? Of like-minded people that understand that have been through similar things, situations. And I was my I was perplexed by how they spoke about being there. They introduced the the characters, and then their first challenge they need to work together as teams. So they randomly put them in three teams, and um they didn't even know each other, and then they're kind of thrown in to like accomplish something together, right? These are all really fascinating dynamics for human beings, okay? As I work with people all the time, I just found this so crazy. And then um, so they were all like-minded, so they were going towards the same goal, which is to win the game, and it was interesting. Um as a team player myself, the irony for me, I love team. I am a total team player, but what got me the whole time I was watching the show was but only one person wins. For myself, at the heart of myself that's a team player. I was just the whole time, I was like, but are they a team? But but wait, art like the whole time. It was really quite a struggle. Poor Melinda sitting next to me was, yeah. And I was trying to not say too much because you know I'm at somebody else's house. So um so it was very interesting in that way, and I found it quite ironic. Then they come to make strategies, right? Because they gotta strategize to win this game, okay? And part of the strategy is to block out other people, but we're making teams. Okay, and I was like, whoa, okay, so then they start making these little alliances. This is like the first day they're there, you know? That's commitment, right? So they're creating bonds uh to ultimately make their way to make it to the end, right? And in that, they're um trying to not get voted off, and in one way, they're basically kind of setting alliances that they're gonna eventually break, and that they're gonna be betrayed, and they know they're gonna be betrayed because there's only one winner. So eventually, even if Melinda and I made this alliance, which people were saying, I'm committed to you to the end, we're in this together. Still, only one person wins. And I was in my mind really confused because I'm like, are they convincing themselves something else? How can they be in this compartmentalized way of thinking? I I was quite blown away. I um did observe that one of the women that came in really aggressively and right away was trying to you know get everyone to sorry to get someone off. The reason I was quite, I felt a little bit like warned that still she was so harsh, right? And I was like, surely no one's gonna like this lady. She's just duper brash, right? She's like going behind, and like and she did get voted off first. And so I was I was slightly warned, thinking, okay, there is still an aspect of people seeing, seeing these things, whether they realize it or not. They they understand that what she's gonna do is bring division this whole time, and people are like, let's get rid of that because we don't want that for all of this, you know, however long they're out there. I don't know, maybe a month or something. Um, and so that finally something made sense to me on the show. Um, and then I started to see that so many things made sense because they stayed together in a wilderness together. Um they were living life alongside one another every day, right? They had to figure out how to live in this place that they didn't know. And they then had to go through these challenges, if you know, obstacles, if you will, and even um difficulties uh amongst one another. Um I then realized how quickly you can connect with another person because a guy got hurt on their first challenge, and they were there maybe a day or two, three days, and they came back to check because he had hurt himself, and so they had to like, you know, care, and they had to send him back because he needed surgery, and these people that were on his team were in tears that this guy was leaving. Now, again, you got both sides. Okay, there's one less person because I want to win, but then they're in tears because he has to go. And there was both sides the fact. That they're connected to this human being because they empathize, they understand how sad is this? This is terrible for them. Um, I was with this guy and they talked about how amazing he was. He was one of the people, actually, that was his his strategy was you have to befriend people relationally. He wanted to encourage people, and he wanted to why if he is gonna get voted off, but what was fascinating is they all loved him, but it was because he championed them all, and they did want them to kind of in some format work as a team. How I don't know, but that was his strategy, and I was blown away at how much of this curated show. Okay, this is so curated. I was sitting there asking Melinda, how are they opening that secretly if it's being filmed? Right? But you don't think that when you're watching it, maybe, okay? But it's curated. Um a curated show is it's pulling at so many of the greatest desires of humankind, all at the same time. And the essence of the gospel is in this show, just an askew perspective. Because really, we all want to be together, and so they get this glimpse of being together, and they do, they they desire to help each other, they desire to do that, but then there's this game at hand that they gotta win. Yeah? Um, and these people came out of this experience forever changed. That's what they testified to at the beginning. They were transformed, is what they would say. Um is it just the game that draws them in then? Or is it their hunger for being met through an experience? Like, what is it that's you know, drawing them? I was watching and trying to sit there and figure out, and for me, it was so similar to being on missions. Okay, because we go with groups of people, we're out in the middle of wherever, and I was a little bit like, they got clean water? Gee, they must be roughing it out there. You know, just a little bit of that. But um, but I was amazed at seeing that the same principles took place. They instantly were connected, they instantly wanted to be human together, to get to know each other, take care of each other, figure out what to do. And it caused me to think, what is the transformative love look like? Because they're transformed. So, what makes it any different than the transformation I'm talking about? Where is the difference? Because you can be transformed through experiences, and people are. So, what is the key to the difference of what I'm drawing people to to be transformed by? And the reality is that human connection is the desire of every human being, and that connection transforms us. Hands down, when I don't care if we're talking good, bad, human connection is transformative. So, what is human connection? It's the deep sense of closeness, right? Understanding that occurs when people feel truly seen, heard, and valued by other people. It is actually fundamental, it's actually biologically driven within us, and actually it is it's formed through mutual, non-judgmental interaction. And people are boosted in their mental health, it reduces stress, it fosters personal growth. People grow because of human connection. And as I was considering community, I have constantly considered this is the foundational framework of our faith is human connection. That's what Jesus was all about. Being connected to the Father, helping us as humanity, the whole Old Testament, helping humanity connect with the Father, and how to connect with one. That's what I mean, that's what the whole uh, what do you call the commandments are? That that's what it's all about is how do we connect together, respect and love one another. And I I feel challenged in myself of how am I creating human connection? And in our culture, because guys, I'm new to being back in America, so maybe it's a little bit more abrupt for me, but I'm like, why do I feel like I just can't really fully connect with people? I tell Melinda this all the time. I'm I'm an introverted human. I love it, I hate it at the same time. Because I love people. Okay, I thought before I became I came to know Christ, I thought I didn't like people, but I was wrong. I do like people. I just um never felt connected to them, so I didn't understand what was so great about all these people everywhere that are kind of annoying to me and loud and causing, you know. Um and when I came to actually coming into connecting and understanding and hearing people's stories, understanding where they're coming from. Um, I actually am quite an empathetic person. And I was drawn in to hear all the things that people have gone through, the ways that they have been able to persevere through fast, blew my mind the things people go through and they make it through, and how fun they are, or how exciting, or how they think. I love that. And so then what happened is it became a little bit like a kid in a candy store of like, wow, these people are incredible. If I can actually really hear them, if I can really actually see them, if I can really actually value who they are, what's going on, what's you know, what they're about. And um then when I was looking at this aspect of human connection, I thought, wow, that was transformational for me. I had a lot of major uh rejection issues, actually. And I thought nobody, just nobody liked me. But I realized through you know God's help, I was actually very standoffish, and so I wasn't very approachable, and so when I made myself approachable, all of a sudden people were amazing, and I was I was um reprimanded very in a nice way by the Lord. That's that's our relationship, I don't mind it, I love it, and I said, okay, okay, I get it. So um, as I've been thinking about this, um I've really been considering the church, right? The body of Christ, and we have been trying for a long time to create human connection in a way that brings the body and the fullness of Christ into reality. And that's I feel called to that. That's what I've been doing for years in just different places in the world, trying to fan that, whatever it looks like, letting people be people, letting them understand what in the ways that they need to understand. And as I was reflecting, there's so many scriptures on how we are not to be by ourselves, but we need each other. All the way back, Genesis 2 with Adam, that we are not to be alone, that he created us as human beings to be together. And throughout the whole Bible, he's constantly talking to us about mutual support, right? And help. He's talking to us about personal growth and sharpening one another as much as I love it. Melinda and I are like iron, sharpens iron. I love it, amazing, and I do, and I would never trade it, but it's true. And you need that because that's how I grow, right? Who I hang out with affects how I live my life, right? I can't help it. Emotional healing and joy. I talks Proverbs talks a lot about encouraging words, how we talk to each other, what brings life, right? Um, talking about Hebrews goes on about how we spur each other on daily. I mean, everywhere. I was trying to write the scriptures down, and then I was just, it was just like, you know. So I just got a few here. Um He calls us to unity and harmony, right? He wants us to be in the goodness. What's goodness? Goodness is unity. You can't have unity without community, common unity. That's right. Yeah? And so the old, I don't care if we're talking Old Testament or we're talking New Testament, it is saturated. There is no difference. It is what he's been doing since the beginning, and still, as we sit here today, we all are very aware that he's still trying to do it today. So he emphasizes love, forgiveness, and security. Okay, well, that's produced again through other people. I love people, they love me. Um forgiveness. Will I extend forgiveness to somebody else? That's again somebody else. Bringing security and safety, which I think is very fascinating because really security and safety does come through a bond of peace. And that's repetitive through the Bible. And even the scripture we read there in Ephesians 4, 2 to 3, it talks about unity through a bond of peace. And when you come into a community that is safe, that you feel you feel safe. Okay? There's safety. And I I think that for me, maybe it's highlighted because safety is pretty important to me. People are like, really? You're a missionary? Yes, but safety is very important to me. And it is not something that you can buy. And it's not something that's assured. There is no certainty of safety, even when I'm with the people that I think are the safest. That's just a reality. And so when I started really thinking about that, that is something different. Where does my safety come from? My safety doesn't come only from people around me, my safety comes from Christ. He calls us to relational purpose and ministry, being committed to one another in love through hard things and mistakes. Um, that was from the last. That's really important because we can work through things, right? Forgiveness. And actually, you grow closer to people that you walk through difficult things with. Can you persevere through the uncomfortableness? Can you be the smartest person or something? And seeing how our uncomfortableness causes growth and causes community. And um, that was highlighted to me personally because we've been talking a lot about being uncomfortable. Oh, I think it's been here, yeah. Doing the uncomfortable things I love, Pam, that you were sharing. Like just doing stuff that maybe isn't normal or it's a little bit outside, but that's exactly what God's wanting to do. And I love when you share because everybody's like, yeah. Why? Because we're all with you triumphing in the aspect of growing and seeing and actually impacting. Making what was amazing about that is when you talk to someone on the street, the first impacting thing is not what you're gonna do or say. First impacting thing is I see you.

unknown 36:48

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 36:50

You have seen somebody, and you are choosing to make the connection that I see you. And I'm gonna tell you, not only do I see you, God sees you. And when they hear that, that's also super impacting. But I tell you what, it's first that you've seen them because people walk all day long not seen, and in the world today, normal. And with social media, normal. It gives even more room and more room for not being seen. People feel like they're being heard, but they're not really being fully heard because they're not being seen. You can write stuff out there, but nobody knows who you are, and you can be blown off because people disregard you because they don't see you. And when you talk to someone in person and have a conversation, it goes completely different than when you're talking to someone on the phone, even or on the computer. Because it requires personal human connection. And I think that the world is crying out for human connection. They don't always articulate that, they don't always realize what it is because I think sometimes we don't even know what it is. And I think that for me, I've been considering okay, well, how then? How do I create connection and community, support and love? How do I do that? You know what I find really challenging in America is everybody's so far away. Literally. I was telling Melinda this, I was like, oh, when we were in, you know, we were in the Middle East, you know, I take my neighbor food, I say hi, I say hi, everyone's more aware of each other, they all know, kind of, and then there's this aspect of just jumping in there and engaging with it all. And here people drive up, get out of their car, go in their house, right? Get out, go where they're going. And so a lot of times, then our relationships are associations of circumstance. We are friends with people at work, we are friends with people that we pass and cross by, and if you try to create and maintain a relationship with someone outside of that, it's actually really challenging. We we've been doing that with people, and it's surprising how hard it can actually be. So I have felt challenged. How do I create that? How do I create that with my neighbors? How do I create that with people when I see them? Do I become over-familiar with seeing the same person that I don't ask anything else or anything new? Am I growing in my question asking skills to actually I love Zach? I think Zach's a great question asking. You need lessons, ask Zach. Um questions that actually draw people out so that they can be seen and known. And um, I think that that is kind of some of my thoughts about it. Why do we do the things that we do in church?

unknown 40:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 40:30

That's a good question. Great question.

SPEAKER_00 40:34

If foundationally, I was just reminded this morning in worship of Mark 12, 28, um, that basically says, What commandment is foremost of all? He asks Jesus. And Jesus says, the foremost is hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all of your strength. And secondly, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. And so we come sometimes and we love God, and we come to love God. Um, how are we also loving our neighbor, which is one another? And are the things that we do and practice do that? Do the things that we practice create human connection? Because loving my neighbor requires human connection. That's the point, I guess. And so if I'm doing something, is it creating connection? Okay, I've been doing a lot of Bible studies, guys, in my life. And you can go to Bible study and not connect with anybody. It blows my mind. You can be in the same room with people over and over and over, not have any connection with them. You can sit by somebody at work all day, every day, and you know them, but do you see them? Do you connect with them? So I have been challenged myself in why am I doing what I do? And I often have to ask myself, am I doing what I do because I love the Lord my God with all of my heart, and I love my neighbor. And there's a very thin line between that and doing it because it helps me feel good. And I watch it all the time in missions. The people go and they minister and they give out and they help people because it makes them feel good about themselves, and that is, I think, the skating line between humanitarian work and the gospel. So God calls us to love someone, and it's loving act to give people things. I'm not saying it's not at all. I hope you guys are hearing me. But there is something we always have to check our hearts because am I doing it though for my benefit? Even I hope they get saved so that I can feel better about hanging out with them. I don't know. You know, it's the stuff we come up with that's kind of silly. But am I in? The place where I am loving to give and to love. And it's not about what I'm getting out of that. It's about connecting with people. And whether that person agrees with me, whether that person is aligned and like-minded, it doesn't matter. It matters about seeing them. And that's what I think I've been really challenged with and also agitated by, in all honesty. It's the Holy Father. It's the Holy Father. So God is not necessarily doing new things, but He's drawing us in our time and our day and age to understand how we are called to create connection because that's what will draw people in. And for me, what brought me to Christ was the connection. That someone had, I disagreed with them, I was mean to them, I said awful things to them, and they never came back at me. And when it came time, I knew I could go back and they were safe for me to go and say, I'm done. And then they led me to understand a relationship with Christ. So we can change the world, I believe, through radical connection. But that is easier said than done because it requires vulnerability. It requires an extension of ourselves, not for what we gain, but for what it brings, which is life, love, and God's intention for mankind to be one with Him as the center. All people everywhere. Thank you for my time. I'll let RC finish us up. Thank you.