Community

Community Residents of the United States live in a nation founded on a Declaration of Independence. Independence is a wonderful gift so long as it does not keep us from the right sort of dependence. Jesus taught his followers that they were part of the family of God. They were not meant to be lone rangers but part of a living organism, Christ’s body, the church (1 Corinthians 12). No part of the body functions by itself, nourishes itself or serves itself alone. Every part is for every other part—whether hurting or rejoicing. I am amazed how hitting my thumb with a hammer can send my whole body to the rescue. My mouth opens, my eyes, water, my neurons run back and forth with messages from thumb to brain that says, “This hurts! Help the thumb.” The family of God is not simply a utilitarian concept; it is a loving organism where every part belongs and finds its health in right relationship to every other part. No part is meant to function alone. Paul vividly describes this reality of belonging in 1 Corinthians 10:17: “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” We belong together, not apart. God is not a bachelor who lives alone. He is a holy community of three. And we express his nature best when we are in a community committed to growing and being transformed into Christlikeness. Henri Nouwen writes in Making All Things New: “Community as discipline is the effort to create a free and empty space among people where together we can practice true obedience. . . . To create space for God among us requires the constant recognition of the Spirit of God in each other.” God’s family is meant to be the “show and tell” of what true belonging and love looks like. Sadly, our Christian life together can be a disappointing misrepresentation of who Christ is. Nevertheless, God’s one plan for reaching the world is rooted in the community of broken people who gather with a desire to love him and bring in his kingdom. We will never be perfect people; but imperfect people committed to a radical Spirit-empowered love can change their relationships and their world. The discipline of community can be practiced in many ways. You will find material on small groups, covenant groups, hospitality, spiritual friendship and prayer partners in this book. Each of these is a unique expression of body life. Reflection Questions What is appealing or unappealing to you about being an independent operator? How do you respond to the words dependent independent interdependent How does your response affect your experience of Christian community? What kind of connection does Christ want you to have with Christian brothers and sisters? How does the life you are leading reflect the value Christ places on belonging to the family of God? When has the body of Christ nurtured and sustained you? What was it like for you? What gifts do you bring to the body of Christ? Spiritual Exercises Choose one of the “one anothers”—“love one another,” “serve one another,” “pray for one another,” “forgive one another”—(see appendix 6, “One Anothers”). Practice living one particular “one another” every day for a week. • What is this practice like for you? Have a “We Celebrate Your Birth, O Beautiful Child of God” party. Write notes of gratitude to the person. Write prayers of desire for his or her life. Put all these in a scrapbook. Ask someone to tell you their story. Listen to the story as deeply as you can. Tell the person how much it means to you to hear the story. • How does the story give you a deeper understanding of your friend, of God and of yourself ? Include others in family gatherings. Practice what it is to belong to God’s family—not just your nuclear family. Begin a thank-you list. Thank God for the people in your life who have helped you grow. • Write a song or poem about God’s good gift of family. If you have something against a brother or sister in Christ, go to that person and make peace with them. • Meditate on Romans 12:18. Journal your response. Join a church, a small group, a mission group. Become part of a community of faith and see how this imparts Christ to you in new and deep ways. Resources on Community The Safest Place on Earth by Larry Crabb “No one person can fulfill all your needs. But the community can truly hold you. The community can let you experience the fact that, beyond your anguish, there are human hands that hold you and show you God’s faithful love.” —Henri Nouwen Covenant Group DESIRE to enter into authentic, confidential and healing relationships with a committed group of fellow pilgrims DEFINITION A covenant group is composed of people who commit themselves to helping and encouraging one another, as each prayerfully seeks to live out God’s will in their lives. SCRIPTURE “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.” (Romans 12:10) “For as long as it’s still God’s Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn’t slow down your reflexes.” (Hebrews 3:13 The Message) “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.” (Hebrews 10:25) PRACTICE INCLUDES sharing your story and your authentic self with a small group who listens with you for God’s word for your life confessing the truth to others who can encourage and help you stay the course practicing the “one anothers” of Scripture in the context of a committed community having ongoing, long-term prayer for others and their transformation allowing others to know you well enough to speak the truth to you gathering with others who help you live by intentional rhythms that shape your character into the image of Christ GOD-GIVEN FRUIT keeping company with Jesus and others journeying with others in transparent and authentic ways that lead deeply into the reality of being God’s family experiencing the gifts of the body of Christ in ministry to one another building appropriate interdependence on others gathering around the person of Christ and sharing his Word and Spirit with others merging into community rather than emerging into independence committing to a long-term journey with others practicing the biblical “one anothers” developing discernment

Community

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