Connect: Community
Jul 04, 2014
But how can we build community?
3 ESSENTIAL ACTIONS:
1. Unity – (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12:3)
Scripture refers to us as one body. We each have different gifts and different skills. As the scripture says, we are different parts of one body.
Each part plays a specific function in unified body. Just as each skill and gift is used to glorify God together, as one body (the Church).
If we tie a band around our arm and cut off all the circulation to it, what is it’s worth and function? When we put other things before God we are essentially cutting that circulation off. We are putting walls around our hearts and putting up a barrier to building unity.
2. Encouragement – (Hebrews 3:13, Romans 15:1-7)
Community with other believers is impossible without encouragement and edification of each another.
Hebrews 3:13 says, “But exhort [encourage] one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
This is a call to DAILY encouragement: not just every once in a while, not just when we feel like it, not just when we’re in a good mood, DAILY.
How do we encourage others? By modeling our love of others after Christ. See Romans 15:1-7 for details.
3. Discipline – (Colossians 3:16)
This doesn’t mean disciplining or reprimanding others, it’s discipline in our faith walk.
In Colossians 3:16 we’re told… “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
If we’re not disciplined in filling ourselves with the Word and growing spiritually on our own, how can we grow in unity with other believers? How can we contribute to the body? We can’t!
If we’re not living authentic Christian lives as servants to Christ, the church, and each other, community with one another is impossible.
Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we are now all one body with Christ. Each one of us has a different spiritual gift, given to us by the grace of God. We are called to live authentic Christian lives, using our gifts to glorify the One who blessed us with them. When we don’t, we starve the Spirit living in us and cut ourselves off from the body to which we belong and we remove ourselves from community.
Your Turn:
What part of community is most difficult? Unity? Encouragement? Discipline?How are you currently building community with others?