Essentials: Community

Introduction

There are 7.5 million people in the world. It doesn’t feel lonely, because people are literally everywhere.

So, why do people feel lonely?

I believe it’s because we aren’t doing life with other people. Not just any people, like-minded people.

Let me pause… Your friend group is who you are becoming.

Let me explain, if you hangout with people that gossip don’t be surprised when people at your school start categorizing you as a gossip girl or guy.

People often say well Pastor Peyton, Jesus hung out with sinners in the Bible. Actually, sinners hung out with Jesus because they realized that something was different about Him.

Not saying it’s bad to befriend someone who’s not a Christian, but you better be prayed up. Choose your friends carefully.

God didn’t create you and I to live in isolation. He designed us to crave relationship with one another.

Romans 12:4–5 (NIV)

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

God created you and I to thrive in community.

We often get so caught up in the business of our lives that we forget how God intended us to live. But everyone needs community.

Body

What is community?

Community is a group of people sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

Whoever you do life with… that’s your community. Your community should be the people that will pray with you, cry with you, love you unconditionally, and push you toward the things of God.

Just coming to church isn’t community. Just attending a Bible study is not community.

Community only works if there’s connection.

[WOGM]

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NIV)

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

The Bible speaks a lot to this essential element of Christianity.

Here are a few things that community is:

Community is encouraging.

Being in community lets you do life with others and bear one another’s burdens.

Galatians 6:2 (NIV)

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Community is fun.

Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

How good and pleasant it is

when God’s people live together in unity!

Culture portrays Christianity as being boring because you miss out on the fun things of the world, but Christian living and being in community is fun and will always yield fulfillment.

Community attracts the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 18:20 (NIV)

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

The early church in Acts, made it a habit of meeting together, eating together, and worshipping together. Scripture says that as a result:

Acts 2:46–47 (NIV)

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Community fosters love.

Colossians 3:13-14 (NIV)

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Community comes down to lifting each other up, learning from each other, and being the friend to one another that each of us need.

Getting plugged in and finding community can be hard, especially if we’ve been hurt by people in our past.

Can I tell you something? Don’t let one bad experience stop you from connecting with other like-minded people.

God NEVER intended people to walk this life alone and its His desire for us to find community.

When we grow in our relationships with one another, we’re ultimately growing in relationship with Him.

Closing

Tonight as Joben comes up to play, I want to think about what community looks like to you.

When life gets hard or you find yourself at a crossroad, do you have people that you can turn to?

Not just anyone, like-minded believers that are pursuing the things of Christ.

If the answer is no, that is okay. The enemy wants nothing more for you to feel isolated in this life.

Why not start tonight? Look around you. These students and leaders will be your community. We want to do life with you!

Prayer