Life-Giving Community - Brian Weaver
Jesus had a prayer, sometimes called the high priestly prayer:
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one… that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17:20-21a; 23b
42 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
Koinonia.
In the community of Christ, a life-giving, transformative communion with each other can be experienced and deepened.
In the community of Christ, a life-giving, transformative communion with each other can be experienced and deepened.
3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.
I John 1:3-4 (NIV)
Psalm 68:6 He settles the solitary in a home (ESV)
“Friendship is a deep oneness that develops when two people, speaking the t ruth in love to one another, journey together to the same horizon” – Keller
A friend loves at all times
Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
I Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” Mathew 18:20 (NIV)
In the community of Christ, we have a partnership together with a common mission.
In the community of Christ, we have a partnership together with a common mission.
4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
Philippians 1:4-5 (NIV)
I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
~Jesus
Matthew 9: 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples.11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10 - 13 (NIV)
20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Acts 20:20 – 21 (NIV)
In the community of Christ, we have the opportunity to mature and grow as we walk in grace in real time in our relationships with one another.
All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God .
2 Corinthians 5:18 – 20 (NIV)
Let’s be that community.