Building Community In Christ
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." - Hebrews 10:24-25
We were never meant to live the Christian life alone. God designed us for community, for relationships that challenge us to grow and support us when we're weak. Yet in our individualistic culture, many believers are trying to follow Jesus in isolation.
The writer of Hebrews understood something that many modern Christians have forgotten: we need each other to become who God wants us to be. The phrase "spur one another on" comes from a word that describes what a rider does to motivate a horse to run faster. It's not always comfortable, but it's necessary for progress.
True Christian community isn't just about fellowship and potluck dinners, though those things matter. It's about being committed to each other's spiritual growth. It's about speaking truth in love when someone is heading in the wrong direction. It's about celebrating victories and sharing burdens. It's about creating an environment where people can be honest about their struggles without fear of judgment.
Notice that the writer says we need this "all the more as you see the Day approaching." As we get closer to Christ's return, as our culture becomes more hostile to Christian values, as temptations increase and pressures mount, we need community more than ever. Isolated Christians are vulnerable Christians.
Evaluate your level of involvement in Christian community. Are you just attending church, or are you actively building relationships that spur you toward spiritual growth? Identify one person you can encourage this week and one person you can ask to hold you accountable in an area where you need to grow.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for designing us for community. Forgive me for times when I've tried to live the Christian life in isolation. Help me to be the kind of friend who spurs others toward love and good deeds, and surround me with people who will do the same for me. Build Your church to be a true community of believers who support and challenge each other. In Jesus' name, Amen.
We were never meant to live the Christian life alone. God designed us for community, for relationships that challenge us to grow and support us when we're weak. Yet in our individualistic culture, many believers are trying to follow Jesus in isolation.
The writer of Hebrews understood something that many modern Christians have forgotten: we need each other to become who God wants us to be. The phrase "spur one another on" comes from a word that describes what a rider does to motivate a horse to run faster. It's not always comfortable, but it's necessary for progress.
True Christian community isn't just about fellowship and potluck dinners, though those things matter. It's about being committed to each other's spiritual growth. It's about speaking truth in love when someone is heading in the wrong direction. It's about celebrating victories and sharing burdens. It's about creating an environment where people can be honest about their struggles without fear of judgment.
Notice that the writer says we need this "all the more as you see the Day approaching." As we get closer to Christ's return, as our culture becomes more hostile to Christian values, as temptations increase and pressures mount, we need community more than ever. Isolated Christians are vulnerable Christians.
Evaluate your level of involvement in Christian community. Are you just attending church, or are you actively building relationships that spur you toward spiritual growth? Identify one person you can encourage this week and one person you can ask to hold you accountable in an area where you need to grow.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for designing us for community. Forgive me for times when I've tried to live the Christian life in isolation. Help me to be the kind of friend who spurs others toward love and good deeds, and surround me with people who will do the same for me. Build Your church to be a true community of believers who support and challenge each other. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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3 Comments
Thank you Pastor Ed. It’s what I’ve always wanted to be my whole life. Most of it I just wasn’t really able to. But with the Holy Spirit and all these instructions you and others have been teaching me from the good book we have I have been able to get better at it. It’s so nice to have a winning mentality instead of whatever it was before. Building others up and being there for others. After awhile even other people started to notice and say things to me about it. Someone even called me a really great guy the other day. Shook my head for a minute on that one. God is soooo good. And thank you for continuing to teach us Pastor Ed.
Amen
amén!