Set Up Your Community

Do you know that you weren't made to do this journey alone? God has created and called us into relationships.

Not only has he summoned us into a personal relationship with himself, but he invites us to have significant relationships with other humans. When we try to live apart from entering into deep, real relationships, we miss out on the fullness and abundance that God intended. But when we do have real, connecting relationships in our lives, we can know and be known; love and be loved; celebrate and be celebrated; and serve and be served…that’s God’s invitation to us. He has created us for community. Isn’t that what you really want?

Being a part of community is all about surrounding yourself with like-minded people that will encourage and support you on your journey.

Jesus had many disciples, including the 12 and others. Paul had Barnabas, Timothy, Silas, Titus, and others. Community is about engagement, encouraging one another, and safety.

The New Testament has 100 scriptures that mention 'one another'. As believers, we are called to:

• encourage one another (Hebrews 3:13)
• “spur” one another to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24)
• serve one another (Galatians 5:13)
• instruct one another (Romans 15:14)
• honor one another (Romans 12:10)
• be patient with one another and forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32)
• bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2),
• and speak the truth to one another (Ephesians 4:25)

The local church is the place where the Christian community can put all these callings into practice. The Christian community is composed of those who love Jesus and fellowship with each other. When the world sees the church in action, the way we do all of the 'one another' instructions, they should see the true love of Jesus and be drawn towards it!

The word for church in the New Testament, ekklesia, means “gathering or assembly.” Simply put, you can’t be the church on your own! If you are not part of a local church, we highly encourage you to take that step to find a community of believers. And if you are, we encourage you to keep showing up, keep opening up and allowing those around you to speak into your life and grow together in Christ.

Prayer Point:

Father, I thank you that you have not called me to be a Christian without community. I thank you that you would show me where I can get involved in community, joining a connect group or jumping on team at church. I thank you that we are called to encourage one another, to stir one another on, to honor one another and to be the church together. Help me to set up my community for this year and beyond.

As a final note, we at C3 SYD are a multi-site church based in Sydney, as well as being part of a global family of churches. Please reach out to us if we can help you to find a local community of believers and a church to call home!

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