Doing Community in a less-than-perfect world
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” Isaiah 53:6 NIV
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” Romans 3:23 NLT
1. WE ARE ALL FROM THE “AS IS” DEPARTMENT
“At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” Genesis 3:7 NLT
2. WE ALL LONG FOR CONNECTION
The LORD God said, “It isn’t good for the man to live alone. I need to make a suitable partner for him.” Genesis 2:18 CEV
“Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.” Matthew 18:20 CEV
3. RECOGNIZE THAT GOD USES PEOPLE IN MY LIFE
a) Growth
“As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.” Ephesians 4: 16b
b) Comfort
“…so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 2 Corinthians 1:4 NIV
c) Wisdom
d) Repair
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
4. BE DISCERNING IN RELATIONSHIPS
“The kingdom of heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer’s servants came to him and told him, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!’” An enemy has done it!’ the farmer exclaimed.” ‘Shall we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. “He replied, ‘No, you’ll hurt the wheat if you do. Let both grow until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.’” Matthew 13: 24-30
5. PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTION
- Learn to ask for help
“You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:2
- Make time for getting together
“They met together daily” Acts 2:46
- Know your boundaries
- Invite the truth about yourself
“Search me, O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
- Learn to give and receive forgiveness
- Recognize that we all engage in community in different ways
- Give something back
A Prayer:
“Dear God, you instructed us to love one another, but we need your help. We are fallen people in a fallen world. Help us to continue to work toward the ideal of community, reaching toward one another, forgiving one another, making time for one another. We all long for connection; help us embrace the way you use people in our lives, stretching us, helping us grow, bringing comfort, wisdom and healing. Give us discernment as we interact with each other, so that we do not hurt each other. Instead, help us see the image of God in one another and give us Your supernatural love to embrace one another with the love of Jesus. Amen.”
Recommended Books:
Everybody’s Normal Til You Get To Know Them, by John Ortberg
Safe People, by John Townsend & Henry Cloud
Sour Survivor, by Philip Yancey