Day 19 Message

      
Day 19 Readings

Day 19 - Cultivating Community

Fellowship is truly developed in a community. A community is a group of people committed to each other. It takes God's power to develop a loving Christian community, but he allows our choices to affect whether that community grows or dies.

If we want a community, we have to learn to be honest. We must learn that we have to open up and share some things, and we have to be honest to our fellow Christians when we see them in trouble. This does not mean we say what we want when we want, but we must not be afraid to do these things out of love and concern, and for our growth.

A community takes humility. We must admit we need help. We all do. We can't get help until we admit we need it. The more we admit our imperfections to ourselves and others, the more we can open up to growing and getting past our problems.

Community needs courtesy. We are all different. Every one of us has things that someone else might think is weird or wrong. Some people seem really difficult for us to be around. We need to understand that we appear that way to others as well, and learn to overlook things that don't matter.

We need confidentiality to build a community. Confidentiality simply means that we don't tell secrets that don't need to be shared. The Bible calls that gossip, and it is a sin. It tears the church down and hurts people, and what hurts the church and Christians hurts God directly. 

A community needs to meet frequently. A community can't be built by meeting once a year. We need to meet often, and be committed to it, so we get to know each other and grow.

This isn't going to happen overnight or by accident. A community takes time and effort, but it will be worth it. A community that fellowships will bring us closer to each other, closer to God, and help complete God's purposes in our lives.

Thinking about my purpose:
Know. Community requires commitment.
Remember. "We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers." -1John 3.16 (GWT)
Think about it. What do I need to do to be a part of a real community that pleases God?

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