H7 Story: Biblical Community
Recently, during a re:generation Large Group on Monday nights, Bethany Hodge talked about the importance of biblical community. She shared important and helpful aspects of biblical community and how important it is in the life of a believer.
Some of us believe that there should be no conflict at all in biblical community and that actually a lack of conflict is a marker of healthy relationships. Or that we can defend our sin and argue and dominate our way into “peaceful” relationships. We believe that we can ignore conflict or cut off relationships that we cannot handle. The reality is that to have friendships and relationships is to have conflict. We are all sinners, constantly needing God’s grace and forgiveness. The problem is we don’t easily give the grace we have received to others. We need to believe and expect that each of us is a sinner saved by grace and we need grace every day. It is our job to give that grace, or in other words, the gospel to each other.
Paul’s letters in the New Testament answer the question “What is biblical community?” He had plenty of experience with conflict before and after he became a Christian too! He was a fighter before Christ- even to the point of helping to kill people who didn’t think like him. Talk about lack of grace and control issues. And then he became a Christ follower. His old patterns of control did not just disappear immediately after Christ though. We can see some of our own struggles with conflict and community in the story of Paul and Barnabas, Acts 15:37-40, which ended in a broken relationship. We can see Paul’s growth and our hope to change in Galatians 2:11-19. Paul confronts Peter’s sin and Peter responds in humility and the church is able to move forward without that legalism and their friendship is restored through confrontation of sin, confession of sin and forgiveness. They gave the gospel to each other and resolved conflict the right way.
We see these 7 following characteristics describing biblical community in Paul’s letters:
1. Generosity & Hospitality. Acts 2 describes the early church as having “all things in common.” They shared their belongings, sold possessions to benefit the church, and gave the proceeds to those in need. They were generous and Hospitable. 1 Peter 4:8-10
2. Empathy. The Bible calls us to be empathetic, to try to understand another's feelings, and to feel what they feel. Romans 12:15
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. And Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
3. Humility. Philippians 2:3-16 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. …
4. Unity. Living in unity with each other is actually a way to show the world the spiritual truth that we are all God’s children and in the same family.As we are sinful people, living in unity is not easy. We must ask God for guidance and seek the help of the Holy Spirit. This means letting go of insignificant points and preferences. We must ask ourselves if the things that cause division are preferences or pivotal points in scripture. If they are a preference, consider letting them go. Uphold what is clear in scripture only. Philippians 2:2 says…“…fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
5. Forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
We know from the book of Matthew that we need to go and talk to our brothers and sisters in Christ about the things they have done that offended us to make peace. Not break or fake peace. When we wrong someone, we need to learn humility and be quick to ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness is a response to the cross and living proof of God's love and forgiveness.
6. Accountability Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” As Christians, we are not to bring a brother's or sister's sins to light publicly but rather confront them privately with wisdom and guidance.
7. Brotherly Love. Biblical community is centered on love. Love is to be the main identifying characteristic of Christians. We can only display love in biblical community because God first loved us. Love casts out fear, which causes division, arguments, and doubt.In biblical community, we show brother love with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. This type of love brings together generosity, empathy, humility, unity, hospitality, forgiveness, and accountability.
There are at least 115 passages in the Bible with direct commands for us about biblical community. God cares deeply about Biblical community. He wants us to reflects His nature and design by consistently treating each other like He treats us.
At FCC, we always say "you don't stumble upon community, you create it. If you don't have an active community, we have multiple ways to help you do that.
Paul’s letters in the New Testament answer the question “What is biblical community?” He had plenty of experience with conflict before and after he became a Christian too! He was a fighter before Christ- even to the point of helping to kill people who didn’t think like him. Talk about lack of grace and control issues. And then he became a Christ follower. His old patterns of control did not just disappear immediately after Christ though. We can see some of our own struggles with conflict and community in the story of Paul and Barnabas, Acts 15:37-40, which ended in a broken relationship. We can see Paul’s growth and our hope to change in Galatians 2:11-19. Paul confronts Peter’s sin and Peter responds in humility and the church is able to move forward without that legalism and their friendship is restored through confrontation of sin, confession of sin and forgiveness. They gave the gospel to each other and resolved conflict the right way.
We see these 7 following characteristics describing biblical community in Paul’s letters:
1. Generosity & Hospitality. Acts 2 describes the early church as having “all things in common.” They shared their belongings, sold possessions to benefit the church, and gave the proceeds to those in need. They were generous and Hospitable. 1 Peter 4:8-10
2. Empathy. The Bible calls us to be empathetic, to try to understand another's feelings, and to feel what they feel. Romans 12:15
“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. And Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
3. Humility. Philippians 2:3-16 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. …
4. Unity. Living in unity with each other is actually a way to show the world the spiritual truth that we are all God’s children and in the same family.As we are sinful people, living in unity is not easy. We must ask God for guidance and seek the help of the Holy Spirit. This means letting go of insignificant points and preferences. We must ask ourselves if the things that cause division are preferences or pivotal points in scripture. If they are a preference, consider letting them go. Uphold what is clear in scripture only. Philippians 2:2 says…“…fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
5. Forgiveness. Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
We know from the book of Matthew that we need to go and talk to our brothers and sisters in Christ about the things they have done that offended us to make peace. Not break or fake peace. When we wrong someone, we need to learn humility and be quick to ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness is a response to the cross and living proof of God's love and forgiveness.
6. Accountability Galatians 6:1 “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” As Christians, we are not to bring a brother's or sister's sins to light publicly but rather confront them privately with wisdom and guidance.
7. Brotherly Love. Biblical community is centered on love. Love is to be the main identifying characteristic of Christians. We can only display love in biblical community because God first loved us. Love casts out fear, which causes division, arguments, and doubt.In biblical community, we show brother love with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. This type of love brings together generosity, empathy, humility, unity, hospitality, forgiveness, and accountability.
There are at least 115 passages in the Bible with direct commands for us about biblical community. God cares deeply about Biblical community. He wants us to reflects His nature and design by consistently treating each other like He treats us.
At FCC, we always say "you don't stumble upon community, you create it. If you don't have an active community, we have multiple ways to help you do that.
