Building Community

 

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess”

—Hebrews 10:23a

What does it take to build a community? I’m not thinking about a city, town, or village. I’m thinking more about the community that is supposed to exist within the Body of Christ—the church.

Most of the time, our churches seem to be a gathering of disparate groups of people who just happen to come together once in a while for worship or, possibly, to receive the sacraments. While this type of church has become commonplace in our current culture, I’m not at all certain that is what God intends when His children gather in one place to share the substance of their lives.

The church should be a place where we can laugh with each other, cry with each other, pray for each other, help each other, and generally do those things that would extend the very hospitality of the Lord Jesus Christ to one another in His Name.

One of the key elements of building a community is creating an environment of trust. It’s a very hard thing to fashion a climate where people who come from a variety of different backgrounds, circumstances, races, and other distinguishes differences can build trusting relationships with each other.

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews seemed to understand the importance of building trust within a faith community when he wrote these words in Hebrews 10:23-25:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

In our churches, we need to consider how we can build trust with one another. Perhaps we need to start in small groups where relationships can form over the study of God’s Word and prayer. Then, as these groups begin to experience a sense of community, it is quite possible that idea of extending the hospitality of Jesus to one another can spread throughout the church.

For once community has spread throughout the church, the Holy Spirit may very well draw others from those outside the church to see the value of such a community of faith.

And, wouldn’t that just be grand.

 

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