We THRIVE in Community: THRIVE 2026 | Ps Luke | Revive Church of the Nazarene

In today’s message from our Thrive Series, we continued looking ahead to what it will take for Revive Church to thrive in 2026. Each week we have explored different biblical foundations for a thriving church: waiting on the Holy Spirit, becoming living sacrifices, giving generously, and serving faithfully. But today we focused on a truth that runs through the entire New Testament — we thrive in community.

From the very beginning, God chose not to accomplish His mission alone. Instead, He chose to partner with His people. He fills us with the Holy Spirit so we can live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and work together as His movement in the world. The church is not a building, not a gathering, and not a Sunday routine. The church is a community of believers united by the mission of God.

Looking at Acts 5 — the first time the word “church” appears in the book — we discover three essential characteristics of a thriving biblical community. Through the story of Ananias and Sapphira, we see that a thriving church must be a community without hypocrisy. Pretending, performing, and projecting false spirituality destroys community, infects the church with pride, and ultimately harms us more than anyone else. God wants us honest, authentic, and ready for real heart transformation.
Second, a thriving church must be a community of confession.

Jesus came not for those who pretend to be righteous but for those who know they are broken. Healing does not begin with hiding — it begins with confession. James 5:16 tells us, “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” Many believers are forgiven but not healed, simply because they refuse to confess what they battle. Confession brings our darkness into the light so the Holy Spirit can heal the wounds we’ve kept hidden.

Finally, Acts shows us that a thriving church is a community of reverence — a people who take God’s Word seriously and bow to the authority of Jesus. The first time the word “church” is used in Acts is when great fear, meaning deep respect, fell upon the believers. A true church is one that honors Jesus, obeys His commands, and rejects casual faith. Churches that do not take sin, mission, or Scripture seriously drift from God’s purpose and risk becoming tools of the enemy rather than instruments of the Kingdom.

As we move toward 2026, Revive Church will thrive as we grow deeper in community. One practical next step: join a group and come as you are. Groups are where confession happens, healing begins, and authentic relationships form. Revive Church is not a place to pretend. It’s a place to be transformed.


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