Building a strong community

Well good morning everyone…It is so good to be here this morning. We are having a great morning here together and I’m excited that we get to go hangout later today and have some lunch together…Anyway, right now we’re going to send our kids to meet their teacher back in the back and go to your class. It is always so great that we have people who are excited to get to share the love of the Lord in a way that our kids can understand what is going on. You know, I was reminded about a statistic this past week, it is said that 93% of kids have developed their worldview by the time that they are 13 years old. That means before they are even in high school kids have already decided what lens they will view the world through. Of course our desire is that this would be a Biblical lens, but that only happens when we as a church, partner with you as parents as you teach and disciple your kids at home. Hey, if you are out there this morning and you think you would like to help these kids to develop a Biblical worldview, then I want to encourage you to reach out to me and I will connect you with the people you need to talk to. We also wanna welcome those of you that are joining us online…whether you are live or later we are grateful you are a part of our extended Spiritual family.

Now last week we started this new series called, I Love My Church. It is my hope in this series that we will each be reminded about why we should be excited and proud about not only be a part of LRBC, but more importantly being a part of the universal church. Then, as we are reminded about why we love our church and why we are excited to be a part of this family, that we will want to share that with everyone we come into contact with. Frankly…I’m hoping to both challenge and encourage us to answer this question, “Are we willing to ‘wear the team jacket’, or are we with good sneaking in on Sunday and quietly doing our thing, and then moving on with the rest of our week?” As we look at this series, we will continue to keep the focus of what the early church did in view. If you remember last week we saw how the early Christians were devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Those will be a bit of a roadmap for us as we move through this series.

This morning I want to talk a bit about community and how important it is to be a part of a strong and thriving community of believers. We see this throughout Scripture, but we also see it in our own lives. You see, there have been times when all of us have felt alone and have felt like we were just trying to survive and no one else gets it. I know that we have all had moments like that because I have never talked to anyone that has never had at least one moment like that in their lives. I say that we have all had moments like this, but some of you feel like you never leave that moment. Maybe you’re someone who has experienced what it is to truly be alone, both physically and spiritually. Maybe you’re someone who has had some awful experiences in churches before and you’re kind of struggling to see how LRBC is gonna be different than everyone else. Then of course those of you that have experienced God’s grace in your life and you know you don’t deserve it because you keep feeling the temptation to fall back into that old way of life, but you don’t think anyone else would understand that pull…

You see, loneliness is a pretty scary experience. It isolates us, makes us feel vulnerable, and leads us to believe that no one really understands what we’re going through. But here’s the good news: Jesus specifically designed His church to be the remedy for that. He didn't just save us to be individuals walking alone; He called us into a community where we can find strength, encouragement, and purpose together. In fact, in our key passage today Hebrews 10:24-25, we find this specific instruction. The writer of Hebrews encourages us not to neglect meeting together, but to be intentional about building each other up, stirring one another to love and good works. This isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a vital part of our faith journey. Because God knows that we’re stronger together than we could ever be on our own. That’s what a church community is all about…and that’s why it’s important that we are a part of building a strong community together with God. Let’s go ahead and take a look at our key verse today…

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

As we look at this passage we should realize that that a strong church community is essential for spiritual growth, mutual support, and fulfilling God’s mission. Maybe you’re not sold on that idea though…Maybe you’re happy on your own, or you don’t believe that Scripture really teaches this for us today…Well, how about we start off by looking at the

Biblical Foundation for Community

Let’s take a moment to reflect on our key passage this morning, and see if and how it applies to us today in 2024. I mean we are a few years separated from the early church and online communities have grown and you are able to make connections with people virtually, so how does this idea of community apply to us today? We’ve already talked a little about loneliness and how that is an experience that seeks to isolate us. So if loneliness isolates us, then the remedy would be something that brings us together, and that is exactly Jesus designed his church to operate. Look at this Scripture together again. I’ll put it up on the screen this time.

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Now in this passage we see three specific commands that are transformational in the Christians life.

First of all, Stirring One Another to Love and Good Works: When we gather together we encourage each other to do more for the Lord. When we are together we are able to worship the Lord as a unified body of beleivers. We will talk about how God is working in your lives, and then you will be encouraged that God is still working in people’s lives today. You will hear stories about serving others, and you will have a desire to experience that as well. When you share your passion of serving God with others, they are encouraged to serve the Lord as well. When we are together we will stir each other to do more for the Lord…not out of a requirement, but out of desire.

Next, we have The Value of Gathering Together: Now this is the one that will get us in trouble from time to time, and this is where I’m about to make someone mad at me. Let me say this first…it is actually important to gather together with other beleivers. You see, I can’t tell you how many times I have heard, “I just don’t feel connected” from someone as a reason for leaving a church. Or maybe they have said that as a reason to leave church all together. Well, listen here…and you may want to write this down. You can’t be connected if you aren’t here. I know that’s mind blowing right there isn’t it! Here’s what this means though…that means working on Sunday is not an option. That means travel sports are not an option. That means camping every weekend isn’t an option. You see, when you give all these other things a higher value than gathering together with beleivers, you are saying that you don’t want to be connected with believers.

Let me give you another preview…and you might as well consider this to be a guarantee, ok. Parents, and I’m talking about parents who have kids still living at home right now. Parent’s if you don’t bring your kids to church with you now, they will not want to go to church later. Parent’s you cannot miss church and expect your kids to have a passion for church, and the Lord. Listen…I have spoken with so many parents who have not brought their kids to church when they were younger because of sports, or because of work, or because of camping, or because of whatever was going on in the park that weekend, and then wondered why their kids didn’t want to attend church. Well…it’s because when they were younger you told them by your actions that church is not important. Here’s what blows my mind sometimes…your kids do not have an option about going to school do they? So why do you give them an option about coming to church? If you truly believe what you say you believe, you will stop at nothing to get your kids to church because their eternal soul is at stake here. Don’t touch a hot stove, don’t play in the street when cars are coming, don’t use drugs…these are all things we tell and teach our kids because we don’t want them to be harmed…but then going to church becomes an option as long as nothing better is going on that weekend. Folks…you have to prioritize gathering with other believers.

You see, in order to build connections or to stay connected to the body, you have to join together with the body. In order to build relationships and friendships with believers, you have to join together with believers. The best way to build relationships with believers is to worship the Lord together.

Lastly, we see that we should be Encouraging One Another: Remember earlier we talked about loneliness. Well, how can beleivers help other believers if we are not together. Social media is great…but posting something from behind a computer or phone isn’t the same as having a real conversation with another believer. Personal encouragement is needed in order to sustain you in the faith. There is a reason that Jesus did not make tell the early Christians to hide in their basements or in their field…it’s because we were made to actually be together. Jesus knew there would be difficult times, actually he promised that there would be difficult times, and the only way through those times is with the encouragement of other beleivers. You see, God uses other beleivers to speak to you and remind you that you are not alone. However, if you never join together with other beleivers, then you are missing out on the needed encouragement to get through this life.

This is why we are instructed to join together. Now this passage ends by telling us that we should be meeting together more and more the closer we get to Jesus’ return. If that’s the case, why is it that regular church attendance has gone down? You see, 2000 years ago Christians gathered daily, 30 years ago a regular church attendance was 2 or more times per week…now, in order to be considered a regular church attender, you only have to attend 1 time per month. That is exactly the opposite of what Scripture tells us to do, yet our culture is pushing people further and further from gathering together…why do you think that is?

So Scripture very clearly tells us that we should gather together, and for good reason…So lets take a quick look at the

Characteristics of a Strong Church Community

You see, there are alot of church communities out there that someone could join and be a part of. Some of them are great and some are less than great, and some are just awful…so how do you know which church community to be a part of? Well, if you are here today, then I would say you just need to stay here…However, the reality is that sometimes people have to move. Sometimes God will change your geographic location, or maybe God will call you out into some form of ministry at another location. If that’s the case, how do you decide where to go and what it looks like to have a strong Biblical community? Let’s look at a few things together…

1. Genuine Love and Care for One Another: That’s the first sign as you walk int he door. Let’s take a look at what John says about this topic.

John 13:34–35 (ESV)

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This should be the defining characteristic that you can see as soon as you walk in the doors. I love the fact that Jesus says this is how all people will know that we are his disciples. This is how those who do not believe will know that you are a believer…the way you love and care for each other. This should be apparent immediately! That means that unity is actually important, because without unity you will start to have people that will speak negatively about others. That’s the opposite of what Jesus commanded here. So…how do you show love to your church community? I’ll give you three things to write down here before we move on. To show love you must be present. (that’s a no brainer). To show love you must listen to each other. Finally, to show love you must be willing to help each other.

2. Accountability and Spiritual Growth: This should be felt as you are connected with others in the church. Take a look at

Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)

Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.

This is something we should be doing. I know that I frequently speak with some here that have taken this mindset to heart and truly desire to be the iron that sharpens others…the key is to also be willing to be sharpened yourself. You see, within the church community there is not a single person that has all the answers…I know thats a shocker for some of you because you thought you had all the answers :) But there is no one that has the answers except Jesus. The rest of us are relying on each other to help us grow to be more Christlike.

So, just like iron sharpens iron, one Christian sharpens another…You see, iron tools were sharpened by striking them together. Just like that, people need interactions with others to be sharpened in their faith and character. Here’s the deal though…sharpening implies friction, heat, and sometimes even discomfort, but it ultimately leads to a tool being more effective. In the same way, relationships that challenge and encourage us, though sometimes uncomfortable, help us become more spiritually effective. Let’s keep going here.

3. Encouragement and Support: This is the result of being together. the Apostle Paul wrote about this idea when he wrote his letter to the church in Galatia.

Galatians 6:2 (ESV)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

What does it mean to bear each others burdens though? Well…it means that you are honest about your situation with your fellow brother and sister in Christ. It means that as we are listening to someone share we are not immediately assuming the worst about them, and instead you are considering how you can be a help to them. It means that even though they may have caused a certain issue, you aren’t going to leave your brother to deal with things on his own. Listen, part of being a family is being there to pick up the pieces together and help each other be better. When you carry one another’s burdens, this is a practical expression of the love that Jesus commanded us to have for each other as beleivers.

So how do we do that here? The first and easiest thing we can do is pray for each other. We have an online prayer community as well as a prayer chain where immediate needs can be shared. As a church we have also been known to provide meals as a way of encouraging each other through difficult times. A church can also provide financial assistance to others with the church family. I think it is so cool that , as a church, we have given out probably close to $20K to those in need just in the last couple of years. It’s not just a financial thing though, there is a personal carrying each other as well when we engage personally through conversation and support. Of course that leads us to the last characteristic that I want to mention today.

4. Serving Together: When we serve the Lord together we experience the joy of the Lord in a new way. There is something special about using the gifts that God has given you to be able to bless and serve others. Look at what Peter said about this topic.

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

You see, God gifts us, not to be alone, but to use what he has given us to be a blessing to each other, for his glory. When you are serving alongside your brothers and sisters in Christ, you are building a bond within that community that is not easily broken because serving each other build intimacy. When we join together to serve the community around us we are able to see how God can impact those around us. For example, those involved in Leaf River Daze witnessed how God took their small efforts and made a significant impact. Those who have served in various other outreach events have seen firsthand how God is transforming our community—not only to welcome LRBC but to actively seek and value its presence here. Look, there is still a large part of Leaf River that doesn’t attend a Bible teaching church. Even those who don’t regularly attend are starting to view LRBC as "their" church—a place they turn to in times of struggle or when they’re ready to explore their relationship with God. As we come together in this way, we are fostering unity and shared purpose, allowing the Lord to use us as His tool in this community. That is the impact of serving together…but how do we do that?

How We Can Build a Stronger Community

Well, this is gonna be pretty quick so I want you to pay attention. I want you to take a moment to consider four key commitments:.

Commit to Regular Fellowship: Make it a priority to be here on Sundays and engage with your church community.

Intentionally Build Relationships:Reach out and build meaningful connections with other believers, even if past experiences make this challenging. By doing so, you allow God to heal and grow you.

Serve Each Other:Get involved in serving both at LRBC and within the community. Whether it’s through upcoming outreach events like Trunk or Treat, Operation Christmas Child, or the Leaf River Christmas parade, or serving in various church roles like the kids ministry, worship team, or tech team, find a place to contribute.

Pray for Each Other:Join our prayer meetings on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. at Neighbors and Fridays at 9 a.m. here at the church, or participate in our Facebook and texting prayer groups. Make prayer a central part of your commitment to the community.

Now that we’ve laid out these crucial commitments, let’s take a moment to understand why they’re so important. You see, if these actions become a regular part of your life, then we will see increased strength as a community. I understand that committing to these actions may feel challenging, especially if you’ve had difficult experiences in the past. But remember, moving forward with the Lord is part of what makes our community stronger.

So, this morning I am going to ask you to actually make a commitment…Think about how you can get involved in these opportunities. Use the commitment cards to make your pledges, whether it’s to all four actions or just one. Your commitment will make a difference.

Now as we reflect on the commitments we are making, I want to briefly remind us all of how important it is that we are in a strong community together. Another pastor said it this way: 'The local church is the hope of the world.' Why? Because through the church, God works to bring hope, healing, and salvation to the lost and broken. We are not just a gathering of people; we are Christ’s bride chosen to make Himself known to the world.

Building a stronger community requires us to put into practice what we read in Hebrews this morning: love, accountability, encouragement, and service. These aren’t just abstract concepts—they’re real actions we can take to make a significant difference in each other’s lives. So here’s my challenge to you: Take a concrete step today. Reach out to someone who needs encouragement, get involved in a ministry, or be more intentional in your connections with others. Let’s not just talk about being the church—let’s live it out together.

Now, let’s close in prayer.

Father, we ask for unity, love, and a deeper sense of community within our church. Use us to build each other up and to be a beacon of light in this world. Help us to embody these values, not just today, but every day. In Jesus' name, Amen.