The Power Of Christian Community

I’ve been wrestling with God lately on some things, battling depression, anxiety, even questioning God, his will and purposes.

And I’m so grateful for my wife who has been there day in and day out challenging my poor thinking patterns. Reciting God’s word to me. She brings the truth up, and just keeps saying God loves you so much Justin.

So many people, members of the body of Christ, have encouraged me, Dennis and Barbara came over for Bible study last Thursday and that meant a lot to me. Yesterday my DC called and just talked with me and encouraged me. Not 15 minutes later the pastoral care officer for our area called to pray with me. My brother in law texted me some encouraging words. My friend Heston and I talked for about an hour on the phone.

I’ll tell you this, we need each other.

What if I didn’t have my wife, didn’t have my friend, didn’t have my fellow Christian leaders, my church members, what if? I would be in a much darker place.

We’ve talked about faith, healing, redemption, holiness, and service. Now we talk about community.

Too many Christians today operate as lone wolves. They are an easy target for the enemy. But, when we surround ourselves with Christian community, we put ourselves in a position for success.

In Romans chapter 12 we see the apostle Paul telling us what it means to live in Christian community, and how to do it successfully.

The very first thing Paul does is give us a warning, he says this: “3 Because of the privilege and authority[c] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

The very first thing to remember in Christian community is to live at a radical level of humility.

Why does Paul mention this first?

It’s easy to get proud. It’s easy to want to show off. Its too common in the church. Instead, let’s choose to be very humble, serving each other gently.

It says be honest in your evaluation of yourself. Don’t get puffed up. Evaluate yourself based on where you’re at in your faith.

Next Paul writes in verse 4-5 “Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.”

Secondly, we all have unique functions in the body of Christ. Your job isn’t the same as mine. You have skills I don’t.

You have a job to fulfill. You have an area where you can serve. And we need each other. We belong to each other it says.

What if we in this church really felt, we belong to each other? How would we serve each other differently?

Next in verses 6-8, “6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.”

These are gifts. Wrapped up in beautiful paper with golden bows, and placed at your feet when you became a Christian. And God says, use this gift I’ve given you. Use it for each other. Isn’t that beautiful?

Is your gift prophesy? What an amazing gift. Use it to speak truth in love to each other.

Is your gift serving others? Then serve people earnestly.

Is your gift teaching? Then it’s time to take up your role as a teacher.

Is your gift encouraging others? I love the gift of encouragement. Use it generously.

Is your gift leadership? Be a godly humble yet strong leader.

Is your gift giving? Give generously.

Is your gift showing mercy? Show mercy to people that are hard to love.

Let’s Pray: Father, bring to mind and heart which of these gifts are for us. And keep it in our minds, prompt us again and again to use the gift you’ve given us. We are willing God, in Jesus name, amen.

How else do we go about living in community together?

We are the army of God! We’ve got to learn to march together as one. And we’re getting our instructions.

Verse 9, “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them.”

It’s easy to pretend to be nice. It’s easy to pretend to love someone. Just smile, say some nice words, and say “I’ll pray for you.”