Practice: Community

We were made to be in community. All the way back in the garden God saw it was not good for man to be alone.

it is also in God himself that we see community. God is three in one. The trinity.

Human beings were designed to be with other people. This is much greater than extrovert and introvert. This is fundamental to being human. Isolation never is good for long periods of time. that is why it is a punishment in prison.

As we bear Gods image God is relational and so that means we are as well.

Hebrews 10:24–25 “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.”

Acts 2:42–47 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 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 is grace driven, christ centered, intentionally intrusive, redemptive relationships. - Paul David Tripp

A sense of belonging

- Mutual significance

- Shared purpose

- Mutual responsibility

- Acknowledgment of interconnectedness

- Respect for individual differences

- Commitment to each other’s and the group’s well-being

A Christian community is made up of Christians who live near each other and work to build each other up. We all live in some type of community big or small. The question we need to ask is how is my community forming me. is it a place where closeness to christ is grown or stomped out. is it helped or hindered.

Living in community is the only way we can achieve the churches goal on earth.

Love God, Love people.

Proclaim the gospel by:

Witnessing to the lost about their relationship with Christ

Testifying to the truth of Jesus Christ

Explaining His crucifixion for sin’s forgiveness

Demonstrating His resurrection power

Calling people to repent and follow Him as Lord and Savior1

Disciple believers through:

Worship

Evangelism

Ministry

Fellowship

Teaching

Investing mature disciples’ lives in new believers1

Create a community that:

Ascribes glory to God

Nurtures authentic relationships characterized by love and service

Provides a context of grace where people can recover their authentic personhood2

Engage in diverse ministry activities such as:

Regular preaching and teaching

Worship services

Outreach programs

Chaplaincy in hospitals and prisons

Publishing faith-based materials

Digital communication

Bible translation3

Provide witness that is:

Individual-focused (to the lost, poor, hungry, and oppressed)

Corporate (embodying reconciliation)

Evangelistic4

Serve society through:

Establishing schools

Running hospitals

Supporting orphanages

Caring for societal welfare

Practicing “love your neighbor

We all do that in different ways that different people respond better to. That is why we are called the Body of believers. My leg cannot do what my arm can. and my arm cannot do what my stomach does.

1 Corinthians 12:12–13 “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

Grace driven

1 Corinthians 12:26 “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”

We need to have goodwill towards all in the community. They need to have our favor as God has given us his

Philippians 2:2–6 “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;”

Christ-centered

Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

Colossians 2:19 “They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.”

If anything is at the center of our community it breaks down or will not last. everything else is temporal and fading

others things might be good for a time but will fail.

if its emotion or friendship that can fail. Sports will end, school will end, games will end, your interests will change.

Intentionally intrusive

David and Nathan

2 sam 12

Our community needs to be able to call out one another in love

If there is not love then it has failed.

We should be able to approach anyone is our community

Redemptive relationships

Galatians 6:2 “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

Our relationships should edify and build up

Colossians 3:13 “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

If this community sounds good to you. Like something that you desire or long for that is good! But this type of community does not just happen but is intentionally built. And it starts with you. You have to be the change you desire. or the friend you want. We can wish for this community all we want but we will never be apart from one of we do not start looking like it ourselves.