Committed To Community

As today’s technology, values, and crises continue to further fragment our society as well as the church, the Bible calls us to an unwavering commitment to Christ-centered community. In this week’s message, Graham calls us to faithfully practice the one another’s of Scripture, while highlighting the blessings of pursuing and persevering in community.

Graham’s Main Points

  • To be a Christian is to live in biblical community with other Christians.
  • The community of God’s people should walk in His ways.

Key Takeaways

  • We have a new life in Christ. We are set apart from the world and encouraged to take off the fleshly parts of our former life.

  • We don’t naturally possess what we are called to put on in Colossians 3:10-17. We must intentionally humble ourselves to Christ and to Christian community each day,  while striving for unity as Christ was willing to suffer and die for us.

  • When it comes to God’s Word, you cannot give someone what you do not possess. We disciple one another with the Word of God and must encourage one another with the Gospel because that is where hope and freedom are found.

  • We need accountability to see our blindspots and for others to point light onto our darkness.

  • Speaking truth requires trust and trust requires time.

  • We must become fans of feedback for the purpose of becoming more like Christ and love each other enough to speak up when we see something contrary to God’s Word.

  • Christian community should be marked by acceptance, encouragement, accountability, and care.
    1) Acceptance: Come as you are, in the midst of your brokenness, because we love you enough to not leave you that way.

    2) Encouragement: Remind each other of who you are in Christ, who God is and what His promises are for you.

    3) Accountability: Living in the light, sharing our struggles and sharing our victories together in order to grow in dependence and trust in the Lord and experience freedom from sin.

    4) Care: Recognizing the needs of others, whether physical, spiritual or emotional, and striving to help meet those needs.

  • From Graham’s experience, the one another’s of Scripture happen in the greatest density within the context of community groups.

Discussion Questions/Application

Personal application:

  • What is your current attitude towards community? Is there anything hindering your group’s unity that you need to confess to God and to your group.
  • What is your next step to more fully commit to Christ-centered community?

Discuss with your community group:

  • Discuss how your group is doing when it comes to acceptance, encouragement, accountability, and care as well as how you can excel still more in these areas.
  • In light of each member’s current trials, how can you intentionally encourage one another with the Gospel today?

Additional Passages Referenced 

Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42-47; Colossians 3:5-17; Psalm 1:2-3; Matthew 22:37-40; Romans 12:10; Romans 15:7; Romans 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11; Hebrews 13:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 John 1:7; James 5:16; Ephesians 4:25; 1 Corinthians 12:25. One another’s of Scripture.