Great is the Lord,
The Famous One, Famous One
Great is Your fame through all the earth....
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Happy 46th Birthday, Pastor Frank!
We won't discuss his card on my blog.
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Community in the Church
When we answer the question, "What does it mean to be a community?", we answer the question, "What does it mean to be a church?"
Jesus didn't have the same idea as we do about church.
Church is not what is contained in four walls.
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We used to stop by and visit people.
Now people are too busy for company.
We are too busy for community.
From the beginning of mankind, God has warned humanity that it isn't good to be alone.
God has formed the community at New Life and brought people together from all over the place. Satan himself, cannot stop this church; this community of believers.
As we wait for His return, we are to build a community of faith.
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The second commandment is a reflection on how well we are keeping the first commandment. If we are not loving our neighbor, we should not say that we love God.
In Acts 2:40-47, we read how the young church were in community with each other. They were being taught the scriptures; they ate together; they shared their belongings with each other, and they prayed together.
Folks on the outside watched this community with awe and many signs and wonders were done through the apostles. Many were getting saved and the church enjoyed the good will and favor of the local people.
If you took the fellowship out, there would be no awe; no miracles; and no people getting saved. !!!!!!!
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What is our responsibility?
#1-Consistency-be committed.
Consistency is living a life that is consistent before the Lord everyday; you are the same person on Monday and Tuesday as you are in a Sunday service.
Be consistent in friendship-a friend loveth at ALL times.
Consistency in community is about consistency in relationships.
#2-Encouragement-the arm around a shoulder
1 Thess, 5:11-"So encourage and build one another up..."
#3-Authenticity-Be real
Jesus was authentic. He said in the garden that He was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. He didn't hide His need. He needed His friends to be with Him. He needed that arm around His shoulder.
The 'holiness' thing is over-the appearance of 'having it all together'-'holier than thou'
type of aura.
I need your help. I am just a sinner saved by grace.
Alot of groups can be authentic. Bowling leagues can have community and meet on a consistent basis an be completely authentic.
What is the difference between church community and other kinds of community?
#4-The Presence of God
God takes the things we have in the natural and makes them supernatural.
Like the early church,
if we are consistently committed to one another,
if we are full of encouragement towards one another,
if we are authentic and real,
and if we believe in Him and have His presence with us,
then we will experience genuine community.
People will be in awe of our love for one another,
and signs and wonders will follow,
and people will be saved.
The Presence of God in our midst convicts us of anything in our lives that does not line up with His image. He calls us to give account for every idle word. Our words are to be used to build each other up. The look on our faces, our smiles, the arm around the shoulder, our words; all of these things communicate value and respect to those in our lives.
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Amen and Amen.
We don't have to be best friends with everybody.
We don't even have to like everybody.
But we do need to be kind to each other and treat each other respectfully.
If I really love you,
I will want you to increase, even if it means my decrease;
I will smile and say "Hello" even if you don't respond.
I will assume the best about you and pray for you when you seem out of sorts.
I will find that treasure within you and be your friend.
And then we'll have community.
We'll have church.
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Someone just shared this story with me.
It went something like this.
Suppose someone is in the middle of the river of life, trying to navigate themselves to safety, over slippery rocks and protruding branches. We can stand on the bank and call out directions, telling them where to put their feet and what they should hold on to. It would be good of us to help them in this way and we would be protecting our own well-being in the process.
Or, we can get in the river with them, and hold their hand, and risk getting wet and injured and having our own weaknesses exposed. Others might misunderstand what we are doing. But we could get in there and have a real relationship with them and guide them to safety with our presence rather than just our words.
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It costs a great deal to really relate to people.
Jesus gave His life in order to relate to people forever.
I think dying to one's self and relating to people in true friendship have much in common.
Help us be the kind of friend to others that you are to us, Jesus.
And help us be your friend.
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