Community Matters: We Do Life Together

Series: “Our Code” part 5

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Chris Vaught, Sr. Pastor

When You and I open many of letters of the New Testament we read salutations like these,

THESE VERSES ON SCREEN

Romans 1:7 CSB

To all who are in Rome, loved by God, called as saints. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:2 CSB

To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord—both their Lord and ours.

2 Corinthians 1:1 CSB

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother: To the church of God at Corinth, with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.

Philippians 1:1–2 CSB

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:2 CSB

To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters. Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

Ephesians 1:1 CSB

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will: To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus.

When you and I turn in our Bibles to the book of Acts. We find the history of the first 30 years of the New Testament Church.

Acts 4:32–34 CSB

Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold,

ON SCREEN:

This word for common in the Greek is koina (koinania) “to share, to hold things in common.”

- 12 x’s = Fellowship, 3 x’s = Sharing, 2 x’s = Participation, 2 x’s = Contribution, to Partner.

The most important relationship you can ever have is your relationship with God!

Your second most important relationship is your relationship with your family.

But perhaps the third most vital relationship in your life, should be with a Spiritual family - the Church of Jesus Christ.

No where in the Bible will you find the followers of Jesus living out their faith alone, but always in a spiritual community.

Only when we are together can we develop this Koinania that we find in the early church.

Code #5: Community Matters: We Do LIFE TOGETHER.

Money illustration:    When you pull out your money, you can see the Great Seal of the United States.  On that seal is written these words, “E Pluribus Unum.”  Which means, “In many one.”  Our fore-fathers knew for us to be a great nation, we would have to be a United People.  Our pledge declares, “One nation, under God, indivisible.”  Only a strong sense of unity can make a great society.

Where did they get that idea?  From the BIBLE!!! 

We thought with the invention of facebook, twitter, snapchat, tik-tok, zoom and instant texting that no one would be lonely anymore. Yet the truth is, we have over 312 million people and many of them are saturated with loneliness!

What is the hope for the lonely, empty people who live in crowded subdivisions?  God has the answer in the Bible, it’s Living life together in a Biblical Community.

One of our small Group leaders told me this week, that their group has “Refrigerator Rights.” You know your group is close when they don’t have to ask permission to get in your refrigerator!

Living in real Community takes INTENTIONALITY.

You have to work at building relationships.

We are a large church and it’s easy for you to get lost in the crowd. For many, their Faith in God has been narrowed down to an event that happens for one hour every Sunday. IT’S MORE THAN THAT! DON”T SETTLE FOR ONE HOUR A WEEK!

Shared traits of a Biblical Community.

We PROCLAIM the GOOD NEWS of Jesus together.

Ephesians 3:8 CSB

This grace was given to me—the least of all the saints—to proclaim to the Gentiles the incalculable riches of Christ,

2 Corinthians 5:20 CSB

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.”

2. We GROW in God’s LOVE Together.

Ephesians 3:17–19 CSB

and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

3. We are EQUIPPED to SERVE Together.

Ephesians 4:11–12 CSB

And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ,

In her book, Up With Worship, Anne Ortlund says the average church is too much like a bag of marbles.  We scratch each other and make a little noise, but don’t affect each other much.  She says we should be more like a bag of grapes that mesh together, producing a sweet-tasting wine because of our interaction. Look at what the Bible teaches us about serving one another.

ON SCREEN!

Love One Another - John 15:17

Honor One Another - Romans 12:10 

Show Hospitality to One Another - 1 Peter 4:9

Have Fellowship With One Another - 1 John 1:7

Agree With One Another - 2 Corinthians 13:11

Live in Harmony With One Another - Romans 12:16

Be at Peace With One Another - Mark 9:50

Be Kind to One Another - Ephesians 4:32

Forgive One Another - Colossians 3:13

Bear One Another’s Burdens - Galatians 6:2

Comfort One Another - 2 Corinthians 13:11

Care for One Another - 1 Corinthians 12:25

Confess Sins to One Another - James 5:16

Encourage One Another - Hebrews 10:25

Exhort One Another - Hebrews 3:13

Teach and Admonish One Another - Colossians 3:16

Stir Up One Another to Love and Good Works - Hebrews 10:24

Serve One Another - Galatians 5:13

Speak the Truth to One Another - Ephesians 4:25

Do Not Provoke or envy One Another - Galatians 5:26

Part of the way believers fulfill these “one another” texts in A SMALL GROUP! i

While many members’ gifts can’t be used in public worship simply because of limited positions and need, they can be used in private worship. It is in a small group that people often can use and cultivate their gifts of hospitality, helps, mercy, teaching, and even evangelism.

You will be hearing much more about Groups in July and August as we are redesigning our Group ministry. There are literally hundreds of you who I will encourage to take this next step and live in community with other Christ-Followers.

Some of you may want to step up and lead a group and we are going to be offering training on how you can.

The Big Take-Away:

Strong Community RELIES ON Disciples PARTNERING with One Another.

Ephesians 4:1–6 CSB

Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Prayer

Response

Reprise

Dismissal