Hi how are you today? I am well and have just had a great weekend in my home town. I saw my best friend and went to an author day at the Christian book shop. It was fun! The best part is, other than selling books, is catching up with my writer friends.
So today’s blog is on community and the importance of it.
If we think about our lives, most of us are involved in many and varied communities. It could be church, work, hobbies, sport , school or a number of others. Some communities are structured and some are like a friend group. Community should provide us with opportunities.
The most well known community in the Bible is Jesus and His disciples. Jesus picked these twelve men to walk with Him for three years. They didn’t know it would be so short as He said- follow Me and they did.
But what was it about this community being successful that can teach us in relation to the communities that we are involved in?
1. He taught them the Word of God
Matthew 6 is where Jesus was sitting on a mountaintop teaching the people and His disciples which He did often. But there is at least one occasion where He taught the disciples privately.
Matthew 13 verses 10 and 16 to 17 in the Message Bible state:
10 The disciples came up and asked, “Why do you tell stories?”
16-17 “But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance.
This is one time where Jesus taught His disciples exclusively. It is good to be in church but it is also good to be in small groups or community where we can learn even better and also help others.
2. He taught them to minister to others
Jesus sent out the disciples to minister to others. We find that in Luke 10:1-2 and in the Message Bible it states:
10 1-2 Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. He gave them this charge:
What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands
Jesus sent them but you can read verses 3 to 16 to see what else He told them before He sent them. He didn’t send them out when they first became a disciple. He sent them after they had been following Him for a while. They learnt by example, by watching and by listening.
If we sit in church and our small group and never do anything with it, that is not loving others. We are taught how to live for God so we can teach and be an example to others- whatever that looks like for you. Mine is teaching through my blogs.
Community always increases as more people are reached. It should never diminish. However, once a community is too big, it should form more little communities.
3. He sent them out
This has been referred to in number 2.
However look what happened when they came back. In verse 17 of the same chapter above, it states:
17 The seventy came back triumphant. “Master, even the demons danced to your tune!”
They came back victorious and possibly more amazed than ever. Now it wasn’t only Jesus ministering but they were also participating in it.
This is what community does- it trains and disciples so the work can be expanded.
4. He cared for them
Most of us know the story of how Jesus fed the 5000 men in addition to women and children, with five loaves and a few small fish. But have you ever noticed what Jesus did with the leftovers. He didn’t disperse them to the crowd but kept them for Him and the disciples. Jesus cared for those who followed Him.
John 6: 12-13 in the Message Bible states:
12-13 When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted.” They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.
This is what they took with them- more than they started with.
In community, it is important we look after each other’s physical needs. We can provide a meal when someone is sick, a cake when someone is not doing well etc. It is a symbol of I see you and I care. Jesus modelled that for us.
Some other things Jesus did in community were:
- He prepared the disciples for the future
- He spoke destiny over them
- He led by example
- He prioritised His time
- He showed them that interruptions happen
- He restored them
Being in community has lots of benefits but it also carries great responsibility. Jesus knew that community was important and if He created a community around Him, as Christians we likewise should be involved in community.
This week- take a stocktake of your life. Are you involved in community? If not, please find a Christian community. It will be so beneficial.
Bless you and keep living the life God intended.
Karen
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