Community w/Insiders
We are in week two of our vital relationships series. In week one we talked about our relationship with God. We talked about the importance of time—nothing can replace time with God—any truly healthy relationship that we have, is that way because of the time we have invested in it. We also talked about the idea of serving others. Jesus said that when we serve others we are serving Him—showing kindness and care toward the ‘least of these’ connects us to God in a profound way.
This morning I want to talk about community with those inside the church—your church family. Why is this relationship important and how do we develop it?
Illustration – Have any of you had the privilege of seeing the giant redwood trees of California? They are the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are as much as 300 feet tall and more than 2,200 years old. You would think that trees that large would have a tremendous root system, reaching hundreds of feet into the earth, but that is not the case. Redwoods have a very shallow root system.
According to the Redwoods Institute…”The roots of a coast redwood are very shallow, growing only four to six feet deep, but spread out from the tree as far as 125 feet. This isn’t much support for a tall, heavy tree—Heavy rains and strong winds can bring even the biggest giant crashing to the ground.
But the roots of individual redwoods frequently grow intertwined with those of their neighbors. By "holding hands" underground, the roots form a network that allows the trees to withstand even great storms.”
With an interlocking root system they support each other; giving each other the strength to endure. The fact is, they desperately need one another to survive. So do we; that is the church—an interlocking root system designed to support one another! Therefore, God has given us His Church, which is the body of Christ here on earth.
When someone comes to faith through Jesus Christ, you become a part of the body of Christ. Through Christ we are bound together in a community of faith—both globally with all Christians worldwide, but more specifically with the church family you commit yourself to. Belonging to Christ means that we belong to each other. Fellowship with Christ means fellowship with each other. Through Christ, God has made us a family, a community of faith. This is our God-given ‘root system’ / support system.
The question is: what does that support system look like? Well in Acts 2 we have a picture of the level of commitment the early church had with each other…the type of support system they had developed. Let’s read Luke 2:44-47…
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:44-47
Our passage this morning tells us that the very first community of believers gathered together on a regular basis for worship, prayer, study and fellowship. Acts 2:44 says, “All the believers were together…”
It wasn’t easy to follow Christ in the first century; Christ had been rejected, not only by the religious leaders, but the masses as well. Times were tough and persecution rampant. The early believers were bound together through fellowship; they created a sense of community. They needed each other; there was strength in numbers.
Though we certainly do not experience persecution like the early church did, it still isn’t easy for us to follow Christ and truly live for Him. We face: discouragement, temptation, apathy, failure, battles with materialism and compromise; pressures from unbelieving family and friends, rejection, doubts and unanswered questions. We face many obstacles in our desire to live for the Lord and too often we think we are alone in our struggle. But the truth is we all have our personal battles, but God has not left us on our own to run the race and fight the battles; He has given us each other.
A Community of Faith
A couple of verses previous to where we started this morning reveals to us the focus of this community of believers. Acts 2:42 says, They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
What united these people was their shared faith; they had entered into a relationship with Jesus and that is what gave them their common ground—just as it does today. No matter how diverse we are as a congregation, what unites us is our faith.
In his book ‘The Connecting Church’, Author Randy Frazee writes, “The experience of authentic community is one of the purposes God intends to be fulfilled by the church. The writings of Scripture lead one to conclude that God intends the church, not to be one more bolt on the wheel of activity in our lives, but the very hub at the center of one’s life…..”(36/995)
Your church is essential to your spiritual well-being. In the New Testament there are no “Lone Ranger” Christians. Believers needed each other and God expected them to be there for each other. Likewise, we need each other and God expects us to be there for each other. God has ordained that we play a vital part in each other’s faith. For that reason we are commanded in Hebrews 10:24-25…
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
God has a purpose for putting us together.
This early church was united in Christ and that is what made them a community; it was their shared faith. But this shared faith was just the starting point.
A Community of Encouragement
As we face the inevitable trials, troubles and tragedies of life, God intends that we be supported, strengthened, encouraged and empowered through the community of believers. As we face the storms and temptations of life we should receive strength from each other. Such is God’s plan.
In the course of his life, the Psalmist David knew his share of difficult, painful times that tested his faith and sometimes caused him to waver. In Psalm 61:2 he cried out to God for help saying, “I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint.”
Overwhelmed by the trials, heartaches and burdens of life he called out to God for help and strength. Then in verse 5 he rejoiced because God had answered his plea. “For you, God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.” God had strengthened his faith and empowered him but it was through the community of shared faith. The fact of the matter is that God frequently works in our lives through other believers.
During those seasons when we are overwhelmed by trials, heartaches and the burdens of life, we too need to be strengthened and encouraged by fellow believers. When we wonder if God really love us, more times than not, we will experience it through God’s people. When we are loved and cared for by another believer, especially during painful times, we gain a new sense of God’s love at work through them for us.
Author Gary Burge says “When God ‘s love feels distant or non-existent, the body of Christ’s love is real and tangible….” That is why we cannot afford to stand alone; to go it on our own. We need each other; we need the community of faith. Too many of us ask the wrong question when it comes to our church; we ask: What’s in it for me? But we should be asking: Who needs me? How can God use me?
Illustration - Our neighbors have some cedar trees along the fence. Where the trees were up against each other they were able to withstand the snow and ice. But where they were exposed, they bent over—almost touching the ground. {pic 2}
When the storms of life hit—and they will hit us all—not a single one of those trees went unscathed, we need to be standing close to other Christians. We need each other; we can’t stand alone. Unfortunately, some of us go into isolation—which is probably the worst thing we could do. The more you dislike the idea of showing up to church, is probably the more you need it.
The closer we stand in community, the more we will be able to hold up. Throughout our lives and especially during tough times, God desires to strengthen and empower us through the community of believers. He expects us to support each other during the storms of life. That is why we need to be an active part of a community of faith. We need others and they need us.
A Community of Care
The community of faith is crucial to our spiritual well-being because it is the place where we find special opportunities to minister. Our union with Christ creates community responsibilities. We are called to minister and serve each other. We all have a God-given responsibility to reach out and minister God’s love.
Verse 44 says, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
• They cared with their material goods
Their ministry to each other included sharing of material goods to meet temporal needs. The early church shared much more extensively as a result of economic and social sanctions that were imposed upon the early believers. It was Christian sharing at its best. This is still God’s plan for meeting the needs of His hurting children. If we are not ministering to one another through a community of faith then many needs go unmet and many reach the erroneous conclusion that God doesn’t care about them.
• They cared with their time and abilities
This idea of caring for each other became far clearer through the teaching of Paul and Peter. It was not just about charitable giving—ministering to the physical needs of others—Paul taught concerning God’s spiritual giftings that they have been given for the common good… “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:7
Peter said that we are to use are giftings to serve others… Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
Often times, money is the easiest thing to give; but that is not the plan of God. He doesn’t only want us to make our resources available but He wants us to make our time and talents available also. He wants us to use the gifts, talents and abilities to minister to His church…your family.
And I know, there are a million reasons to say no, to not get involved, to not commit yourselves, but Jesus saved you to do good works. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Eph 2:10)
You know, we have some great people who have committed them to serve others in this church. We have people who, every week minister to our children and to our youth, greet and usher, lead us in worship, make us coffee, fold our bulletins, lead small groups, and on and on I could go. Church happens because people are willing to serve their church community. And trust me, it is not always easy to find people who are willing to commit time—it is much easier to ask for money—but a healthy church needs both.
Moving beyond Facebook
Unfortunately, many of us treat the church the same way we treat Facebook. Facebook gives us the illusion of connection but without commitment. Though it can be kind of fun and you probably communicate with more people than you would without it, it really only presents the illusion of community. We look at it when it is convenient to us, to read what we want, ignore what we want; if we don’t like something we can simply hide it, we can share us much or as little about our life as we want to (some people share way too much). But does that really mean you are experience true community.
True community requires commitment, vulnerability, love, openness, compromise and so much more. And that is the church. Being a part of the is not just about participation when convenient, no, being part of the church is about investing yourself into the lives of others. It is about being committed to others even when it costs you. It is about being open and vulnerable—allowing others to speak truth into your lives, and you into theirs.
I want to leave you with this question: How invested are you in your church community?
• Financially? Do you give purposefully or is it about whatever is left over?
• Relationally? Are you committed to growing friendships and mutual accountability and support?
• Time and Talent? Does your church family impact the way you calendar? Is the important to you that you are investing your time and God-given abilities into the lives of others?
