True Community - Fundamentals
Main idea:
The christian life is an invitation into a life of community with God and his people. It is a shared common life in Christ which draws us together as Christians, gives us a deep sense of belonging, encouragement and purpose as disciples.
Outline:
1. True community starts with God
2. True community is central to the life of the church
◦ Assume the best about others
◦ Reject performance and be real
◦ Commit to people as the most important investment of your life
3. True community is for the world
Questions:
• Do you feel a deep sense of belonging to the church family? Is your heart wide open to the church family in your life? What are the barriers to that?
• Do you enjoy the church? Do you strive to make it a place that others enjoy as well?
• Do you see yourself as someone who is actively building the life of the church?
Scripture References:
• John 17:21
• Revelation 21:1-3
• 1 John 1:3
• Ephesians 4:1-3
• 2 Corinthians 6:11
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We are continuing our series on our fundamental values as a church.
We have discussed Gospel, Scripture, Discipleship - and today we come to community.
In many ways community falls UNDER the umbrella of discipleship. Our life as christians in the community of the church is PART of our whole life of discipleship. At the same time, community is such an important aspect of our discipleship that it deserves its own sermon.
Desert monastics - an ironic birth of powerful community
St. Anthony - was born in a small village on the left side of the Nile to relatively wealthy parents. Although his parents died when he was young he inherited enough money for a comfortable life.
But his life changed when he walked into a church one day and heard the reading of Matt. 19:21 "if you want to be perfect, sell all you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in the kingdom of heaven..."
During the mid 300's when christianity became the state religion of Rome, a number of people were dissatisfied with the way that christianity was becoming the popular norm, and in thier view was being watered down.
So these individuals set out to live alone in the desert and devote themselves to spiritual growth, prayer and meditation.
Some of these early hermits lived alone for years is rock caves.
But their devotion was very attractive to many others and no matter how they tried to get away from civilization - devoted disciples always found them.
And so this movement grew from isolated people to form communities out in the Egyptian desert. These communities came to be called monasteries from the greek word that means "solitary".
These desert monastic communities lived by a strict code, with clearly defined leadership, daily schedules and roles for everyone in the community. They gathered twice a daily for prayer and worship. They sang psalms while they worked.
Joining these communities was not easy. People who wanted to join had to spend at least a few days outside by the gate begging to be let in. They they spent a year or so with the gatekeeper, learning the doctrines of the faith before they were admitted as true members.
What started as a effort by some to escape social presence turned into a powerful movement of social spiritual community that permanently impacted Western civilization and christian practice for all of history.
Why such appeal? Who wants to reject their freedom and riches, live in poverty and seclusion?
We see in this a powerful attraction to the human need for social and spiritual belonging.
what is community?
The word community is used in a variety of ways to describe a group of people that have something in common that draws them into a shared life together.
Christian community: a shared common life that draws us together based on our shared identity as followers of Jesus.
A shared common life in Christ which draws us together as christians, gives us a deep sense of belonging, encouragement and purpose as disciples.
Christian community demonstrates that following Jesus is not an individualistic process. That knowing God is not something that is experienced through a program or a class. That life with God inevitably carries with it a certain kind of social experience.
Why is this so important to the life of the church?
1. True community starts with God
Although community is a social experience its roots go far beyond any human experience.
John 17:21
21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.
Jesus' intention for the community and love of the church is rooted in the love and unity that exists within the trinitarian relationship.
The Bible does not present God is a isolated solitary old man floating in the sky.
This goes way back to Genesis 1
"let US create man in our image after our likeness..."
Man, created as a social creature is created in the image of a God who is, at his core relational, and lives in a life of communal partnership and belonging.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one in essence and nature, three in person - living in a state of unity, oneness, joy.
Jesus' goal for his disciples to live in community, belonging and love is rooted in his own life within the Trinity.
The biblical God is a community of love within himself.
Why do cults have such power to make people change their lives and do crazy things? Because their is something transcendental in a deep experience of spiritual belonging.
Not only is God social within himself, he creates so that he may dwell with us.
Why did God create the world?
Often our practical, results oriented view of life makes us frame God in a way that is too results oriented.
God is perfect and does not need anything. He creates the world not to get some specific result. He creates to spread and share what he already has.
All thoughout the Bible we see the idea that God desires to dwell with his people - to live among them, to share his life, his presence with them. To belong to them and to have himself belong to them.
"....and they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden in the cool evening breeze..."
Notice how this is clearly highlighted in Revelation 21 as the GOAL of all history -
Revelation 21:1-3
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. 4
What does it mean that he will be "with them"?
If we trace the biblical story and follow the idea of God's presence, we see a God who is not always seeking some sort of practical result - his mind does not work like a business man.
He is a God who desires to dwell with his people. To live among them. To share a common life - he seeks to belong to them, and he seeks for them to belong to him.
Maybe one reason modern culture is so sad and lonely is because we are always so excessively busy. We are running from one thing to the next. We don't have time to just be, to belong, to put down roots, to enjoy the company of others.
We can learn from God.
2. True community is essential to the life of the church
John 17:21
21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.
God desires and God works for this goal - not just so that individuals will be saved from hell, not just so that they would be changed to be more like Jesus - but that they may experience among each other, what God experiences within himself.
One of the most important goals of the church is not just that we have correct theology, good preaching, a good building - but that there exist a certain kind of spiritual oneness among us.
Jesus prays that the church experience a certain kind of social experience that mirrors God's own inner community.
1 John 1:3
3 what we have seen and heard we also declare to you, so that you may also have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
How do we get to this?
What is your view of the church? Is it a place you have to perform? Is it a place you have to be careful to please certain people? Is it a place where you see others as obstacles to your own goals? Is it a place you come to get what you need personally?
Have a correct perspective of the church:
• we are one in Christ
• we have the same story of salvation from sin
• we are adopted into the family of God
• we all have the same Holy Spirit dwelling in our
• we have the same battles with sin and temptation
• we are on the same team against the forces of darkness
• we are partners in the mission of the gospel to the world
• we are all loved by the same Father
When you think of the church, do you think of it as the place of deepest spiritual oneness in your life?
But theres a second step. its not enough just to acknowledge our common spiritual foundation. We must work to build a community of love and belonging.
Ephesians 4:1-3
Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
For many christians, experiencing spiritual community in the church is viewed as a bonus, but not as an essential. We are busy, we have jobs, families, plans - having a good church community is seen as a great bonus that we can plan on in some seasons of life, but not in others.
Another thing we commonly see is that people want to come to church or a small group where there is a really good sense of community - a space that is encouraging, loving, genuine - but they don't want to build it. They just expect it to be that way so they can come and enjoy it.
Paul says that when we understand our spiritual unity in Jesus, we commit to building a life of love, unity and peace among the christians in our life.
"...make every effort..."
Its great that we all agree that we have one foundation - but how do we actually become the kind of church that is marked by love, joy and acceptance?
How we act in a social setting is a reflection of how your heart is oriented toward those people.
• assume the best not the worst - love hopes all things believes all things, rather than fear and criticism bring joy and encouragement
We can never see into people's hearts. But we act like we can. We look at their actions and we make assumptions about what we think their motives are.
Maybe because you have been hurt in the past. Maybe for other reasons - we often fall into the temptation of assuming the worst about others.
when someone said something critical of us, we may assume they are set against us, they dont like us, they are prideful, etc.
What kind of community does this create? Prioritizing personal safety, distance from others, a spirit of criticism.
"bearing with one another in love"
"love hopes all things, beleives all things..."
when I assume the best about others i learn to see them as struggling saints - as those who are battling with sin but deep down seeking growth in God.
This is not naive.
It makes forgiveness much easier. It makes me a lot less afriad or suspicsious of others.
It makes me more likely to bring joy and encouragement instead of constant correction.
Encouragement is very very powerful. When you assume the best about others, you are much more like to be an encourager.
• reject performance and be real - even if people misunderstand me at times, i know that deep down we are all seeking to be more like Jesus
Do you worry what others think of you? Do you feel like you need to put on a certain look? That you need to act a certain way to gain acceptance?
A spirit of performance kills true community because it breeds an atmosphere of being fake and shallow.
2 Corinthians 6:11
11 We have spoken openly to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide.
What if they misunderstand me? what if they judge me?
Its ok. We can't fully control how others view us. The most important thing is that i am truly walking before God, I am loving people, I am opening my heart to them - Ill let God do the rest.
Paul was misunderstood a lot.
But you know what also happened through his miinistry - a lot of people were encouraged and built up. We think that its the pastors who are smart and know everything that build others up. The reality is that its often someone right next to you who is honest about how they are struggling, how they are battling sin, and how God is helping them.
• make a commitment to people as the most important investment of your life
community is built by people who show up, people who are committed to serve and to give even when no one is looking and even when it seems that it was all pointless.
Jesus said what you did for the least of the brothers - you have done for me.
Has that ever sunk in to your heart?
Serving the church, loving people - its not always glamorous. Ask the people who keep our property looking so good. As the guy who rebuilt the kitchen. Ask a group leader.
The most important investment you make will often not FEEL like the most important investment. It will feel like an inconvenience.
Real community is built by people who show up, who don't let others down, who change their schedule to help, to love, to lend a hand, to give money, to grieve and pray...
What is your heart orientation to the church?
Do you desire to build up the community of Christ, to create an atmosphere marked by the love, care and presence of Christ?
3. True community is for the world
look at the world and the culture, the decline of institutions has rapidly increased a sense of loneliness. There is very little that deeply holds people together
people want total freedom and total belonging and the two are mutually exclusive.
John 17:21
21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.
"by this all men will know that you are my disciples..."
The world is in need. But in need of WHAT? Not another big church. Not another great program or a nice sermon.
Its in need of a place where people come and witness the love and presence of God in how ordinary people accept, care and welcome them.
"Come to me all...."
That invitation is directed through the body of Christ.
Our calling is not to worry about what the world will think of us. Its on building such a beautiful life together that others will find it irresistible.
So much worry about how to fight back the hyper work liberals in politics. So little energy to building place where the love and wisdom of Christ compels them to come and want a taste.
Questions:
• Do you feel a deep sense of belonging to the church family? Is your heart wide open to the church family in your life? What are the barriers to that?
• Do you enjoy the church? Do you strive to make it a place that others enjoy as well?
• Do you see yourself as someone who is actively building the life of the church?