You can live in a community and not be part of a community.

Over the next few posts, I will be sharing with you some of the lessons that I have learned these past few weeks.

Six years ago we moved to a new country and to a city where we knew one person so basically, we knew no one. We knew that there were a large Bible-preaching church and a large number of international students. We found a house to rent near the church and began attending the church. It didn’t take long and we were involved in various things – international student work, small groups, and children’s programs. We invited people over for meals, we went out for coffee and went on walks.

Now six years later we are part of a community here and have given and gained so much from the community. We have been blessed in ways beyond what we could imagine.

 

Why do we need Christian Community?

God created us to be in a relationship. As we read the beginning of Genesis, it is clear that God created us to be in a relationship with himself and with those around us. A community is built on relationships.

We live in a world that is opposed to our Christian beliefs. The world wants to ignore the truth of the Bible and will mock those who hold to that. The world does not have the same values. Living in this environment, we need a Christian community to encourage us to hold fast to the truth.

We are called to live with one another and so we must live in a community. Through the New Testament there are various commands of how we are to live and relate to one another – serve one another, love one another, care for one another, and more. Living in Christian Community is a way we can obey these commands.

 

What is the foundation for Christian Community?

The foundation for our community must be God. That is what makes this community different from other social clubs. God gives us an example of what it means to live relationally. God’s Word gives us the principles for how to relate to one another.

The example of how we should live in a community comes from Jesus’ ministry here on earth. Jesus interacts with those needing healing and he heals. We might not be able to heal but we can interact with the sick. Jesus provides for the needs of those around him by feeding the hungry. In all of this Jesus pointed to the spiritual needs.

The early church gives us an example as well. They had everything in common. They were meeting one another’s needs and sharing among themselves. Acts 4:32 says, “There was not a needy person among them.” (ESV)

This is a challenge for us to live our lives in that type of community.

 

The Goal of the Christian Community

The Christian community should be encouraging one another (Hebrews 10:24). We need encouragement to continue to walk with God even when it is difficult. We need other Christians to walk beside us encouraging us to continue on.

The Christian community does not exist just so each individual has their needs met and can live happily ever after. As a community we need to proclaim the gospel to those who need to hear. The gospel is proclaimed through our words and our deeds.

Our love and care for one another will be a testimony to the world. Some of Jesus’ final words were, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 (ESV)

How to Build Christian Community

If you are not part of a strong Christian community, I challenge you to begin building one. If you are part of one, look for ways that you and support and help others.

Begin with your small group or Bible study. Study the Bible today and pray as that is the foundation for your Christian community. These two things will encourage you to keep going with Jesus when it gets hard.

The Christian community needs to be local, not an online community. You might have friends in other areas that encourage you and even challenge you but community implies that it is the same area and has a common interest.

Then look for practical ways that you can encourage one another. When you hear a need either big or small, look at ways that the community can help.

Let people serve you and help you. Let people know how they can help you.  I have a Chinese friend that will pick up my daughter from dance some weeks when I don’t have a car. I mentioned this need to my small group and she offered to help.

Set up a way to communicate needs and ways for people to volunteer. There are various websites for taking meals to people. Use technology but remember we need to be in our local community.

Set up a WhatsApp group or other community texting group so people can communicate. I set up a WhatsApp group when I was in the hospital for testing and was bored. That group changed to become my prayer warrior group where I shared specific prayer requests but also practical needs like needing a prescription picked up or needing milk.

Set up a closed group on Facebook for sharing. We have a group here where we borrow and share. When I needed a ladder, I asked and someone had one I could borrow which saved me having to buy one.

Here are some practical ways to help build community

I think most of these are ways in the past few months that people have blest us

• Meals – either taking meals to those who need them or inviting people into your home for meals. How fast could you prepare a meal for someone in need?
• Offer to do shopping or errands for someone. I will often let people know when I am heading to Costco and pick up items for others. There is a guy on our Facebook group who would often tell us when he was going to Ikea and would buy small items.
• Go to appointments with someone. Sometimes it is nice to have someone drive you or just sit with you at an appointment.
• Babysitting can often be a help to families. I have kept some toys that my children have outgrown just so when little friends come, I have things for them to play with. It can be as simple as taking an ill friend’s children to church.
• Practical help – It could be yard work, help moving house, house repairs, or even mending. I was able to use my sewing machine and mended a friend’s curtains. Another friend mended my daughter’s knit cardigan for me.

Building a community takes time. It does mean getting involved in other people’s lives. This is what God wants us to do.

Your attitude needs to be one of serving the Lord. You might not be thanked and it might take longer than you planned. You might even be taken advantage of but when you view this as serving the Lord, you will be blessed.

 

I am truly thankful for the community that we are part of here. Honestly, I do not know how we could have gotten through the weeks and months of tests, procedures, surgery, and recovery without the help and support of the community. The people here have shown God’s love.

This community gives me just a taste of what heaven will be like as we are together we worship around the throne, people from every tribe and nation.