Monday, February 23rd

This week, how do we have a conversation about something we don’t necessarily want, yet desperately need? How do we have a conversation about something we are fearful of, yet is the catalyst for growth? How do we have a conversation about something we have been hurt by, yet is the avenue of healing?

The truth is you CAN’T follow Jesus alone. The entire point of the spiritual journey is to become a person of love. Wasn’t that the ultimate question Jesus was asked?

Of all the laws, of all the ways to God, of all the “hoops” that needed to be jumped, Jesus was asked, “what is the greatest commandment?” His answer? Love God and love others. Jesus called love the greatest commandment.

Eugene Peterson, in his book Generous Savior, and author of the Message version of the Bible puts it this way. “There can be no maturity in the spiritual life, no obedience in following Jesus, no wholeness in the Christian life, apart from an immersion in, and embrace of, community. I am not myself by myself." Read that again, slowly.

Eugene Peterson who translated the entirety of Scripture, knows the ins and outs of spiritual truth and doctrine, says there is no spiritual life, obedience, or wholeness apart from community. You can’t follow Jesus alone.

To reinforce the tension of this truth. Read 1 John 4:19-21- 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

You want evidence of your love/relationship with God, how are you loving in community with others? Because if you hate (strong word) your brother or sister, you are a liar. Which means you say you love, but you really don’t.

We’re in a series called Faith Essentials, what are the essential elements of our faith journey; what it means to be with Jesus, be like Jesus, and do the things Jesus did. Based upon that, Jesus is saying, community is essential for your faith journey. Being in relationship with others, giving and receiving love is experiencing the richness of who God is and how we were created.

When we talk about community, we can name it a few different things and for today’s purposes I’m going to name it in two ways. Community is giving and receiving love to people around you and people beyond you.

Community is the people around you and the people beyond you. The people around your table, in your circles, those you have close consistent contact with. That can be friends, family, co-workers, it can be those in this room, if you call New Life your church home. Community also means the people beyond you. The people that are in a different socio-economic position, different ethnicity, different voting block, different spiritual belief system. We are talking about community as giving and receiving love to people around you and beyond you.

Today, as we introduce the invitation and the struggle of community, what resonates with you? What challenges you? Where do you get a case of the “yeah butts”?

Take a moment with God and be honest with him about how you see community and the reality of relationships.