Building Authentic Biblical Community: The Original Community
Genesis 1 and 2
14 September 2003
SUBJECT: The Trinity: The Original Community
RESPONSE: Discover that as people made in God’s image community is of vital importance.
HOW TO/HOW LONG: Sign up for a Small group during this series.
Can you name the members of the first small group? Do you know the names of the partners in the first community? Can you identify the players on the first team?
Let me help you: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
For the next few weeks, I will be challenging our church family to commit to Building Authentic Biblical Community. I am hoping and praying that many of you, whether you’ve been coming to the church for eighty years or eight minutes will seriously consider becoming part of our Small Groups (more on that later).
But the place where we need to begin is with the very first community—the original community—the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We start at the beginning—in Genesis:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
--Genesis 1:1, NIV
The Bible begins with God. He is the creator of the universe. We don’t need to prove his existence—we simply believe in him.
Although the word “Trinity” is never used in the Bible, authentic Christians believe that God exists eternally as three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—all of whom are co-equal and of the same essence.
God created the universe. We just need to go down a verse to see the Holy Spirit’s presence:
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
--Genesis 1:2
Okay, we have God the Father; we have God the Spirit; where is God the Son?
We need to fast forward a bit. The apostle John, writing about Jesus, the Word of God, tells us.
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him.
--John 1:10
The apostle Paul agrees:
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
--Colossians 1:16-17
All right—we have the whole team, the whole community—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—God himself, our Creator.
We learn from the opening pages of Scripture, that God exists in community. He is the original community. No wonder God said,
Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…
--Genesis 1:26
Let us—this is more than the royal “we.” God exists in community. Did you notice that God said, “Let us make man in our image?” Did you notice the “us” and the “our”?
Can you imagine the conversation?
“Listen, Son. I have a wonderful idea. We’ve done a marvelous job with the Sun, the Milky Way Galaxy…”
“You’re right Father. I love the penguins we made. They are wonderful. What do you think, Holy Spirit?”
“Well, Father and Son, I think we did an excellent job with the apple trees and the chrysanthemums too!
“But we need something more, Son and Spirit. We need someone who can relate to us. We need someone who will be part of our family.”
“I have it!” they all said together. “Let us make man in our image.”
Gilbert Bilizekian, in his book, Community 101, writes,
Indeed, community finds its essence and definition deep within the being of God. Oneness is primarily a divine mode of being that pertains to God’s own existence, independently from and prior to any of his works of creation. Whatever community exists as a result of God’s creation, it is only a reflection of an eternal reality that is intrinsic to the being of God.
Now you might be asking, “What does that have to do with us?” I’m so glad you asked that!
On the sixth day, God created man in his image. Later that day he said something very significant:
It is not good for the man to be alone.
--Genesis 2:18
Let’s go back to God’s conversation:
“You know, Spirit. He’s not complete.”
“You’re right Son. He’s alone.”
“And that’s not good,” said the Father.
“If he’s not in relationship, how can he truly be like us?” They all said together.
God did not want the pinnacle of his creation living in isolation. So God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, took a rib and fashioned a partner, another person, a community.
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
--Genesis 2:24
Adam and Eve are two in one. God is three in one. The Hebrew word for one, echod, is used for a plurality in unity. It’s the same word used in Deuteronomy 6:4…
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
You see, we are made in God’s image. God exists in relationship, in community, and so must we. Remember; it’s not good to be alone!
That’s why we read,
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
--Genesis 1:27
Theologians throughout the history of the church have written on the imago dei—the image of God. What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Well, it doesn’t mean we look like God physically, that’s for sure. God is a personal being; he has a will, he has emotions, he is creative—so are we.
But I believe there is another dimension for the imago dei. We’ve already seen this dimension in the Scriptures we’ve read. Being made in the image of God means we were created to be relational beings. We were created to be in community. It’s not good to be alone.
The remedy for this “aloneness” is community. John Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, wrote, “Man was formed to be a social animal.”
It is in community that we receive mutual help, understanding, joy, and commitment in each other.
Adam’s responsibility over creation was not a sufficient antidote to his solitude. Only when the woman was created was that need met. Theologian Stanley Grenz points out “…only after the creation of the woman does the narrator suggest that Adam is able to hear ‘the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day’ (3:8).”
You see, we were made to be in relationship. The Scriptures do not teach solitary Christianity. True faith is always committed to community.
What’s the point?
God exists in relationship—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We’ll learn next week that Jesus led a Small Group. The early church was committed to Small Groups.
What would I like you to do? I’d like you to prayerfully consider becoming part of one of our Small Groups. These groups will help you and me in our challenge to be conformed to the image of God. These groups will help us grow to be more like Jesus. These groups will provide a network for care and support. These groups will provide a place for new people coming into our church so that they might truly feel that belong. These groups will provide a laboratory to help you discover and use your spiritual gifts in our church.
If you would like someone to contact you about Small Groups use your welcome card. Just put your name and phone number and put a big “S – G” on the card.
I can imagine one more conversation:
“Father, I understand our children at Central Baptist are starting Small Groups.”
“What a wonderful idea!”
“You’re right, Holy Spirit. I spent so much of my time down there with those twelve apostles. I think it’s the best way to see my children develop and become fully-devoted followers of mine.”
“And Jesus, Comforter… they are like us when they do this. They are a true community ready to accomplish our purposes. Spirit, go encourage them as they begin this exciting journey.”
And they all said, “Amen!”
Remember, it’s the Lord God who said it’s not good to be alone. It’s the Scriptures that challenge us to be conformed to the image of God.
