5 Reasons why community is so important in the Christian life.

(I’m currently working through Ephesians and also am helping lead the community teams ministry of our church this year. These points come out of some considerations in working through those subjects. )

1. Individual growth is a community project. Our growth comes through speaking the truth in love, supporting each other, and building each other up in dependence upon Christ.

“15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Eph 4:15-16

2. Loving life-on-life interaction within community is the way Christian’s learn together and comprehend the love of Christ.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,” Eph 4:17b-18

3. We are called to receive the filling of the Spirit as a community through displaying a Christ-like pleasantness to our fellow believers, speaking true words of encouragement, with a praising heart, and thankful attitude.

“Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,” Eph 5:18b-19

“21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Eph 2:21-22.

“15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Col 3:15-16

4. God’s mission is achieved through the witness of community love, fellowship and prayer.

34″A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:24-25

“19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,” Ephesians 6:19

5. In our life-on-life relationships within the church we are called to “be patient, bearing with one another in love” and “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4: 2-3.

Some other bigger picture points:

The church is being built together as a holy temple for the dwelling of God by His Spirit.

21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Ephesians 2:21-22
The church is God’s chosen means of displaying His glory through Christ (our head) and His body (the church).

The church is God’s chosen means of displaying His glory through Christ (our head) and His body (the church).

“22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” Eph 1:22-23

“10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:10
“10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,” Ephesians 3:10

The church exists and grows through life-on-life relationships in community.

15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Eph 4:15-16