Growing in Community

If you take the short drive up into the nearby Sequoia National Forest you can visit the majestic giant sequoias. These trees are among the largest living things on the planet. They are the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are three hundred feet tall and over 2500 years old. These massive trees have survived incredibly harsh conditions over the centuries. Think of all of the severe winds and treacherous storms these trees have weathered. How can they still be standing? The secret to not only their survival but their ability to thrive under duress is found in their root system. Their root system is actually interlocked. They are all tied in with each other. And in that root system they support and sustain each other. These amazing trees were actually designed by their creator to need one another. That’s how God created us as well!

As we enter this next season of 2019 our focus turns toward the importance of each of us, living in community with other believers. To be spiritually healthy and to reach your potential in Christ you need to be fitly joined with the body of Christ. Simply put, we’re all much better together. Acts 2 tells us this about the early church ... They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42- 47

You see, it wasn’t easy to follow Christ in the first century. Times were tough and persecution was rampant. But those early believers, like those giant sequoias, were bound together in community. They were going deeper in the truth. They were growing close through fellowship. They were gaining clarity in their purpose, and as a result they operated in greater power in the world. What they accomplished together they could have never accomplished alone!

I can say this with absolute confidence, true Christian community provides us with some things that we will find nowhere else . . .

It strengthens us for the journey!

In this life we will all face storms, trials and troubles. None of us are immune because we live in a sin marred world. But when those stormy times come, when you lose the right perspective in life, when you’re discouraged, your relationships with strong believers will be of immense strength to you.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

It provides wisdom that we would otherwise lack.

The community of faith, relationships with people who are farther along on the journey, can provide us with an invaluable resource of wisdom.

Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13

It allows us to experience friendships that sharpen us.

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17

There are few things in life that support and strengthen us like Christian friends. We all need Godly friendships in our lives.

The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray. Proverbs 12:26

Your growth, your effectiveness, you fulfilling your God given purpose in life are all connected to the community of people you surround yourself with.

The early church flourished in the face of tremendous adversity because the Holy Spirit was at work among them as they spent time together both in the temple courts and house to house. The community they shared strengthened them just like the root system on those giant sequoias.

Theologian Francis Shaffer wrote these words, “Unless people see in the church not only the preaching of the truth but the practice of the truth, the practice of love and beauty in relationships, they will not listen and they should not listen. Our relationship with each other is the criterion the world uses to judge whether our message is truthful or not. Christian community is the final apologetic.”

Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. Colossians 3:15-17 (Message)

Let’s make this next season of 2019 a time of growing stronger in community!

Wendell Vinson, Pastor