"One Anothering" Part One
I'm going to post my thoughts as I'm preparing a sermon on "One Anothering", exploring a set of scriptures that addresses how we are to treat one another and build community in The Church.
This last weekend, I had a discussion with some folks about building community in Church. The church I attend has long been hallmarked by it's family like community, yet criticized for being a 'lousy church'. I often describe my church as "a community of people building a church as opposed to a church building community". If you want a community of people, Christians, that will pray for you, care for you, come along side of you, encourage you, empower you...That's us. If you want top notch music, finely honed preaching, charismatic leadership...well, you'd be disappointed. That's not to say that our worship isn't genuine, or that our preaching isn't biblical, but our Sunday morning gatherings are more like Sunday dinner than 'Church'. That doesn't mean we are perfect, or that we are the standard by which all should judge what 'church' is, but I believe that we have something to offer others who a struggling with building community.
One of our guiding principles is:
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
See, the people who stay with us often stay because they feel the love we have for one another. They feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. They come hurting, needing, lonely, have their needs met, and often meet Jesus. I'm humbled to be part of the leadership of such a church.
Often times, people think "building" when they think "Church". They think stained glass, organs, choirs, hymnals, Sunday school, services...but that isn't the church. The Church is the body of believers, both locally and universally. If you are a disciple of Christ, you are a part of the Church, much more so than brick and mortar.
And as a collective body of believers, do people recognize you as "His" by the love you have for one another?
This last weekend, I had a discussion with some folks about building community in Church. The church I attend has long been hallmarked by it's family like community, yet criticized for being a 'lousy church'. I often describe my church as "a community of people building a church as opposed to a church building community". If you want a community of people, Christians, that will pray for you, care for you, come along side of you, encourage you, empower you...That's us. If you want top notch music, finely honed preaching, charismatic leadership...well, you'd be disappointed. That's not to say that our worship isn't genuine, or that our preaching isn't biblical, but our Sunday morning gatherings are more like Sunday dinner than 'Church'. That doesn't mean we are perfect, or that we are the standard by which all should judge what 'church' is, but I believe that we have something to offer others who a struggling with building community.
One of our guiding principles is:
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
See, the people who stay with us often stay because they feel the love we have for one another. They feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. They come hurting, needing, lonely, have their needs met, and often meet Jesus. I'm humbled to be part of the leadership of such a church.
Often times, people think "building" when they think "Church". They think stained glass, organs, choirs, hymnals, Sunday school, services...but that isn't the church. The Church is the body of believers, both locally and universally. If you are a disciple of Christ, you are a part of the Church, much more so than brick and mortar.
And as a collective body of believers, do people recognize you as "His" by the love you have for one another?
