C3 – Building community in the community while serving the community!

When I was younger, my picture of fellowship was an after-church potluck. I thought fellowship was a group of Christians gathering around food and talking about life… not necessarily spiritual life, but things like baseball, fishing, the weather, family vacations, etc.

My view began to change after I got into a men’s discipleship group when I was a sophomore in college.  I met weekly with a few other guys to study the Bible, pray together, and talk about the issues of life that we were struggling with.  Beyond our official meeting time, we’d hang out at other times, doing things like eating together, watching the Superbowl, or going to the beach for a bon-fire.  Spending time with that group of guys helped address some deeper needs in my life that a potluck never could.  I discovered what fellowship or biblical community really is.

One of my favorite passages on biblical community is found in Hebrews chapter 10.  The writer expounds on how the Old Testament system of sacrifices never took away sin, but when Jesus sacrificed his life, he took away sins once and for all, and we don’t need to make sacrifices anymore.  Then he goes on to tell us that once we are in Christ, we have a new relationship with God, a new hope, and new relationships with other believers:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”         Hebrews 10:24–25

This passage describes a dynamic community of friends engaged in mutual support and encouragement.  I believe that kind of community can’t happen in “the big church” on Sunday, but takes place when people connect in smaller gatherings and intentionally invest in each other’s lives. Here’s what it looks like:

• We help each other live a life of love; love toward God (demonstrated in obedience – John 14:15, 23), love toward one another (1 John 4:11), and love toward those in need around us (1 John 3:16-18).
• We keep each other engaged in the good works that God prepared us to do (Eph 2:10). The reality is, we need others to challenge us to get out and serve or we just stay in our comfort zone!
• We put courage into each other’s life so that we press on to live a life of faith and building God’s kingdom (Josh 1:7-9; Heb 4:12-14).

Early in my ministry our staff team read a book by Larry Crabb called “Encouragement, Key to Caring” which said that every Christian is called to encourage others, regardless of gifting and training.  The point I still remember from the book is that my mindset in being involved in church and ministry should be to encourage others, not for what I could get out of it.  You want to know the amazing thing?  When I focus on building others up, I get encouraged too!

So what's my challenge to you? Don’t think of small groups as just one of many options for involvement at your church. Rather, embrace the idea that you need a community of friends to help grow closer to Jesus, and to bring Pervasive Hope to your neighborhood!

Be strong & courageous – and create community in a small group!

Dave Stewart