Week 4 - Community | Return | Aaron Pennington - Lead Pastor

What does biblical community actually look like, and why does it matter more than ever? In Week Four of Return, Pastor Aaron Pennington looks at the early church in Acts 2 and the five priorities that helped create a deeply connected community of believers: devotion to God’s Word, unity around the mission, sacrificial generosity, consistent gathering, and intentional community. As our world becomes increasingly digital and artificial, loneliness and isolation continue to grow. God never designed us to live disconnected from Him or from one another. In this message, Pastor Aaron challenges us to examine how intentionally we are building relationships, gathering with the church, serving others, and allowing ourselves to truly be known. We also look ahead at how Trace Church’s future home can become more than a place for Sunday services, creating spaces for community, meals, ministry, food assistance, relationships, and opportunities to extend hope throughout Colorado Springs. Scripture References: Acts 1 Acts 2:42-47 John 14 Hebrews 10:19-25 Matthew 25:31-36 Revelation 2 Return is a two-year discipleship initiative centered on returning fully to God, returning to our first love, living with urgency for the return of Christ, returning to the priorities of the early church, and creating more opportunities for people to find their way home to their Heavenly Father. 📍 Trace Church | Colorado Springs Join us Sundays at 8:15a | 10:00a | 11:45a | 5:00p (Mountain Time) Livestream 10:00a MT 4330 Mark Dabling Blvd, Colorado Springs Looking for a church in Colorado Springs? Searching for a Bible-believing, Jesus-centered, Spirit-led church community? You’re welcome here. ⸻ STAY CONNECTED 📌 Subscribe for weekly messages: / @tracechurch 🌐 Visit our website: https://tracechurch.com 📘 Like us on Facebook: / tracechurchcos 📸 Follow on Instagram: / trace.church 🎧 Listen to the Trace Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/prof... ⸻ 🚶‍♂️ TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP ✅ Connect with Trace: https://tracechurch.com/next-steps/ 🙏 Request prayer: https://tracechurch.com/need-prayer/ 💸 Give your First and Best: https://tracechurch.com/give/ ⸻ 📖 ABOUT TRACE CHURCH Trace Church exists to help people find and follow Jesus. From in-person worship in Colorado Springs to online services around the world, we create space for life-changing encounters with God’s Word and His presence. Whether you are exploring faith or looking for a place to grow, there is room for you here. ⸻ Trace Church Colorado Springs, Sunday church service, Christian church Colorado Springs, Bible believing church, worship service live stream, Jesus centered church, Spirit filled church, church livestream Colorado Springs Chapters: 00:00 Preservice Loop 04:46 Raise a Hallelujah 10:35 Who Else 15:45 Welcome 17:25 Giving & Generosity 18:46 Return Story | Taylor & Jill 23:17 Week Four | Community 23:53 The Need for Human Connection 24:21 What Is Return? 26:40 Returning to the Early Church 28:41 Acts 2:42-47 29:28 Five Priorities of the Early Church 31:00 Devoted to God's Word 31:57 Unified in Purpose & Mission 33:20 Be Careful You Don't Take the Problem With You 34:00 Giving Sacrificially 35:51 A Story of Sacrifice 37:08 A $10,000 Painting 38:24 The Importance of Gathering 40:01 Hebrews 10:19-25 42:00 Church Attendance & Devotion 42:20 Building Intentional Community 44:00 Why Small Groups Matter 44:49 A Place Where You Can Stop Pretending 45:18 Transparency Leads to Transformation 45:44 You Can't Hide and Heal at the Same Time 46:54 No One Should Out-Community the Local Church 47:37 Vision for Our New Building 49:23 Serving on the Loneliest Days 51:42 Food Pantry & Free Grocery Store 53:05 What Would Jesus Ask Our Church? 54:33 Matthew 25:31-36 56:38 We Will Not Be a Country Club Church 57:38 We Extend Hope When Life Hurts 58:58 Communion & Response 1:00:04 Invitation to Follow Jesus 1:04:03 Run to the Father 1:09:00 Goodness of God 1:13:34 Closing & Next Steps