Christian Foundations 8 - CommunitySample

A NEW COMMUNITY

Back in the old days when surprise bucks parties were the norm, there was one that I attended that really started off with great energy and bravado. We rushed into the guy’s place, grabbed him, blindfolded him, and bundled him into a car. We threatened all sorts of punishments. But unfortunately, we had not planned well. We had no idea what to do next. We then sat around for an hour looking sheepishly at each other. It was very embarrassing. That could easily have happened to the church after Pentecost. The Spirit had come. Lots of people had become Christians. It was very exciting, but now what? Jesus had left no clear instructions on what to do, especially with all the new followers. But these Christians did not hang around looking sheepishly at each other. They quickly forged a new pattern of community as described in this reading.

Read: Acts 2:42-47

Journal

1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?

2. What would I like to discuss/explore further?

3. What do I need to do?

4. List the different activities of this brand new Christian community. Have you experienced community like this?

Reflect

The new Christians quickly realized that they were in this together. That they were not going to make it by themselves. They needed the teaching of the apostles. They wanted to pray together. They benefitted from spending time together. They could support each other in really practical ways. They quickly became one big family. Learning and growing and eating and sharing and praying and worshipping and seeing miracles together. This was Christian community at its best. Just the way God intended. 

It is a pity it did not last. Well not as happily as the form of community described here. A few chapters on in Acts we find the community beginning to crumble at the edges, with the dishonesty and attention-seeking of a few of its members. There were testing times to come. But everywhere in the New Testament, community is emphasized. Just because our community does not quite live up to that first community, doesn’t give us an excuse to follow Jesus by ourselves. Never! You were designed by God for community. You are called to be involved in community. You are at your best in community. You grow most naturally in community.

Maybe you will have the privilege to be part of a community as strong as the one in Acts 2. That is a special blessing from God. But whatever your experiences, God is calling you to community. You need a community of Christians (a church) where you can learn, love, pray, grow, share, serve and worship. Do not let Satan fool you into thinking that you’ll be fine by yourself. You can’t be and you won’t be. If you have not committed to a community, then quickly do so. You need them and they need you. 

Pray

Thanks for my Christian community Lord. It’s not perfect because there are lots of others like me, but you have given me a community in which my faith can be nurtured and I can grow. Please help me to play my part in helping my community be a place where everyone is welcome and real love is experienced. Keep growing us as we become more teachable, more honest, more loving, and more sacrificial. 

Respond

Write a short note to one of the leaders in your community to say that you are committed to your church/community and that you will pray for your community.