The church is the family of Jesus.  As his family we should be united amidst our differences and amidst offenses.  But we should not only have unity, we must also be a community.

Community Together

Healthy families spend time together.  They do things together.  They build relationships with each other together.  They simply are together.

When Jesus chose the 12 disciples, he brought them into a community together.  For three years they ate together, traveled together, simply were together.  As the foundation of the church, so the early church was a community together.  They devoted themselves to the apostles preaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer – in the context all things they did together (Acts 2:42).  They “were together” and were “attending the temple together” (v44, 46).  They were a community together.

The church today needs to be a community together.  We need to spend time together, do things together, build relationships together.  Indeed the one another commands require us first to know one another.  The more we know one another, the more we can love one another, care for one another, serve one another, encourage one another, and pray for one another.  The more we know each other, the more we will share our real needs with one another, and the more we will know how to meet the needs of one another.

We must know each other.  We need to be a community together.  Many church activities are designed to help people get to know each other at some level or another.  And the church needs to continue to find ways to encourage people to grow in relationships.  But real relationships can’t be forced or programmed.

Nor can they be rushed.  Real relationships require time.  Our world has become so busy that deep relationships are hard to find – and the hustle and bustle has come into the church.  We must rethink our priorities, re-adjust our lives, and simply slow down.

We must make it a point to build relationships in our churches.  Get together with another family.  Meet at the park, invite them over for a cookout, have a game night, do something together.  Real relationships are built informally as we simply take the time to be with each other on a regular basis.  Don’t wait for a church program or someone else to act.  Just start.  I know some are shy, and I’m not the most outgoing person either.  Perhaps get a couple families together – that takes the pressure off any one individual to carry the conversation.  Doing something together can help too.

Finally, don’t just consider people that are just like you.  Remember that the family of Jesus includes unity amidst differences.  Include “different” people.  Look for people in your church that look lost, who need a friend.  When I speak of families, I mean not only married couples with or without kids, but also singles.

We are the family of Jesus.  We must be a community together.  May God help us to build relationships with each other for his glory.

(The conclusion tomorrow)