Community

LISTEN:

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August 18, 2024

Why is Community Important?

1. Community was always God’s plan.

“A person is a person only through other persons; you can’t be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships.” —Desmond Tutu

2. We were instructed to love people.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5 

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8

3. We find belonging in community.

"Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.” —Brennan Manning

4. We find support in community.

“Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:

If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.

Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?

Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

5. We find transformation in community.

Roadblocks to Community

1. Inconsistency divides but consistency builds trust.

“Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” —1 Thessalonians 2:8

2. Sin separates, but confession brings wholeness.

“but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].” — 1 John 1:7 AMP

“Make this your common practice: confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.” — James 5:15

3. Screens distract relationships, but presence fosters them.

4. Hiding builds walls but bearing burdens is love.

Next Steps

1. Practice a rhythm of investing in relationships.

2. Create margin in your calendar - you cannot grow or maintain relationships without time for people. 

3. Consider who you are pouring into. And who is pouring into you.