Cultivating Christian Community

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another . . . (Hebrews 10:25)

Once we understand that we have been saved to be part of a family of faith, we must answer the question, “How do we cultivate community?” The answer is, With frequency! In order to grow our relationships within our family of faith, we must frequently make meaningful contact in genuine fellowship. Growing any relationship takes time, which is why today’s verse encourages us to keep coming together.

Here is something we must keep in view if we are serious about building community: It is not built on convenience, but on commitment and conviction. We can’t just get together when we feel like it, because, truth be told, there are a lot of times when don’t feel like it! We must be intentional and purposeful about setting aside time out of our busy schedules because we know just how important it is to be growing in community. Solitary saints are the number one target of the evil one. He is always on the prowl, like a lion patiently circling a herd of zebras, looking to pounce on and devour those who have strayed away from the community. This is much harder for the enemy to do when you are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses.

One of the keys that unlocks the door to building community is forsaking the self and focusing in on our Savior, who died to give us a relationship with Him and with all those who are His.

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross . . . (Hebrews 12:1-2)

We must be willing to throw off . . .

• Self-absorption
• Self-centeredness
• Self-rule

Remember this, because we are going to be together forever with our family of faith in the new heavens and the new earth: The more time we spend with them in the here and now, the better we will be prepared for the there and then. The church as a whole is far more important than any individual. As my friend Steve Brown likes to say, “All those who belong to Jesus belong to all those who belong to Jesus.” Let that truth set us free to cultivate community with frequency.

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!