There are very few things sweeter or more rewarding then walking in true, gospel-centered community. Knowing and being known, having men and women that surround you with encouragement and push you to be all that the Lord has for you. However, there is also nothing more painful or messy then walking in true community, because it is here that our pride and self-dependency is challenged and meant head on. I believe that this is why so many of us shy away from true, real, gospel-centered friendships, we all want to be view perfect, despite the fact that we know that we are not, we would rather walk the way that we want to and abstain from being challenged, because then we don't have to confront the real issues in our lives.
I believe in community, I believe that it is more then Bible study, it is doing life together, sharing in the joy and hurts of authentic relationships. I believe this is what the church needs, to be effective ministers of the Gospel in culture today, we need each other, and not just casual relationships, but grace-driven friendships and that move us closer to Christ and deeper in sanctification.
We see this worked out in Acts 2, as they were together and as they didn't pretend that everything was always good, as they dove into the work together, as they shared good food together, as they fellowshipped around the table, and as they shared their lives with each other, the Gospel began to be seen and heard by the world around them and Acts 2: 47 says, "And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved."
PEOPLE GOT SAVED!!!! That is the point of the whole thing, that through our lives, through authenticity, we make the gospel of God known and God saves men and women, for His glory, and our excitement.
So today ask yourself this question, and I BEG you be honest, if you are not involved in community, why not? What is hindering you, and what steps can you take to begin to cultivate gospel-centered relationships?
And if you are involved, take time to take stock, how is it going, how has my life been different over the last six months, how has the Lord used community to grow me and how can I duplicate this to others in need of authentic relationships.
LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE
About Me
- Fellowship Church Lubbock
- We are not perfect, but we have been saved by the one who is. He did it by grace alone, through faith alone, on the basis of Christ alone, for the glory of God alone, revealed infallibly by the Scripture alone.
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