An ABC of Faith

Our word for today is Community

There is a lovely paraphrase in The Message of Matthew 9:37-38 “Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”

How would you define community; possibly a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common - the condition of sharing or having certain attitudes and interests in common.

If we take these definitions and read it alongside Matthew’s words we discover that a real community is one made and centred upon Jesus. 

Mike Ayers, Professor of Leadership Studies at College of Biblical Studies, Houston, suggest the marks of a Christ centred community are:-

1. Where its members are fully devoted to Christ and His cause.
2. Where each has a real Anticipation of God’s Work in the world.
3. Where all have strong commitment to one another
4. Where there is an outpoured generosity in meeting needs
5. Where laughter and fellowship are clearly shared
6. Where there is a sense of shared destiny from God

The issue for many is that a Community is made up of individuals and unless each individual shares the community spirit, or should that be a community of the Spirit, no community of faith can exist.

May we be able to sing:

Here we are gathered, one family in the Lord;

His life is the bond that we share.

Although we are many, we are in one accord,

And as the members, know the family care.

Refrain

And blending with the saints we know,

Our joy has just begun;

We blend together and we blend as one.

And blending with the saints we know,

The building has begun;

We build together and we build as one.

When we’re together our joy is made so full;

The love of the Lord fills our hearts,

And we all partake of the Spirit bountiful.

We’ve found, here in the family life, a part.

Here we will stay, Lord, according to Your plan,

For here in the church life we’re one;

And we will be built up to be the corp’rate man

To consummate the New Jerusalem.