Untitled Sermon (3)

The big idea is tied to the question of how we shift WellSpring’s culture towards stronger community. It is a fight against individualism. Western, Eastern, Biblical world views.

Who am I by myself?

=> keep in mind that single people are part of community just as families are. Families have their own version of isolationism.

Who am I in Christ?

Who am I in Christ’s body?

Explore koinonia and philoxena (hospitality).

Explore Bible culture (honour/shame) vs western culture (righteousness/guilt).

What does community look like in today’s world? Eg. social media, skype, text, face to face. Explore degrees of relationship. Remember Paul wrote letters to people he never met as if he was a part of them (Romans, Colossians).

Reciprocal relationships: Grace/faith (patron/client), helping the poor vs. expecting work.

Love demands boundaries for the overall health of the group. A little leaven…

Explore the concepts of friendship vs general community. Even Jesus did some things with only Peter, James & John. And John was clearly a favourite.

How do we build a foundation of real community? What are the layers? What comes first? How is trust built? How does genuine sharing come?

Community was built around food (and its preparation)

Shared labour

Shared worship

Shared journey

Shared crisis/battle (Eg. famine, war, sickness)

Shared victories (festivals after winning battles)

God was integrated into all these

Philippians 2:3–4 ESV

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Phil 2:2-4

Philippians 2:2–4 ESV

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.