Community that is Christian (part one)
Scenario: Twenty five people find themselves stranded on a small island. They have enough room to build twenty-five isolated huts. What do you think they will do? Where will they build?
Movie Memory: The movie Castaway with Tom Hanks has him stranded on an island with only some washed up packages from his cargo plane. Do you remember the ball who became his friend Wilson? He was craving for some companionship. He found companionship with a ball. In an older movie I remember the comedian Richard Pryor becoming friends with a rat in a prison cell in Viet Nam.
The Point: People need relationships. People need to connect in meaningful ways with others.
Why? That’s why we are studying about Christian Community tonight.
Discussion: When you hear the words “Christian Community” what are some thoughts that come to your mind?
1.
2.
3.
Theological Foundations for Community
• In Genesis 1:2; 1:26-27
? The Spirit of God, The Father, and Jesus (or the Word).
? Look at the words “Us” and “Our” in these verses.
? Plurality in Oneness – like here at Airport Freeway.
• Many people but one unified congregation of believers.
• We are plural but we are singular
– Some think this is not God/Jesus but II Peter 1:20-21 (says the writers moved by HS)
– When Genesis was written, an understanding of Jesus was not necessary to write what was written. If that was the case, how could the creation account ever been written.
• By understanding the creation account, we see that God is Community.
• John speaks of Jesus as the agent of creation (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-20)
God himself lives and works in community and since we are created in God’s image, then we too are created in and for community.
Let us concentrate a little more thought on Genesis 1:26-27
• All humans are image bearers of God.
• We are made in the image of God (who is Community, i.e. Father, Son, Holy Spirit).
Discussion: Let us review. When you think in Christian terms, what is Community?
Fact: We are all made in the image of God.
Because of this fact:
• We crave relationships.
DNA
– how many of you have blue eyes?
– Why do you have blue eyes? (ANSWER: it’s in our DNA)
– Well, we have been given a community gene or chromosome by God
– To crave relationships is in our genetic make up. (Elaine may do better explaining this)
Time and again God laments Israel forsaking a relationship with him while still going to the Temple and doing their “good Jewish duty” – sacrifices, offering, etc. (throughout the prophets).
• Amos 4:4-5; 5:4-5
o God’s people misunderstood the nature of true religion
o God wants us to seek him (he craves relationship not ritual)
• We are created in His image
• Thus, we want relationship with others. This is a natural feeling. Consider those who have opposing feelings.
o The loners
o The desperate
o The hopeless
– Has anyone ever chewed your ear off? Do you know what I mean? My example then McCain.
Example: As a POW, John McCain was separated for a long and brutal time from his fellow prisoners. When reunited, he craved the companionship he found.
“I was overwhelmed by the compulsion to talk nonstop, face-to-face with my new cellmate.”
• John McCain was created in the image of God and so are we.
• Humans are ravenously relational.
o We meet someone of the opposite sex, we court them, and we marry.
o We prize families, friends, and relationships that are loyal, safe, and loving.
Discussion: Can you name many people or any people you know who have never wanted to marry, never wanted a friend, never craved to be in a group.
More Discussion:
Please name one or two small groups of people in which you interact.
Type of Group(s)
Retirement Age: ____________________ , __________________, _________________
40s-50s: ____________________ , __________________, _________________
20s -30s ____________________ , __________________, _________________
1. Why do you meet with your group or groups?
2. How often do you meet?
3. Do you understand the theological reason you meet with your group?
Discussion: Is our individualistic society opposed to God’s plan for man and to God’s nature?
– What are the negatives of living in a society that treasures individualism over community?
The Trinity
• The concept of the trinity is not specifically documented in the Bible.
Some people may never fully understand the concept of the Trinity (God in three persons).
• Muslims actually believe we worship three gods while they only worship one god.
An understanding of the Trinity is important. However, not so we can get regurgitate the right answer on a test.
• We should understand the Trinity to realize we should act in like manner…. In community
• The following verses show the interconnection between the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.
o John 14:9 – Jesus portrays the father.
o John 5:30 – Jesus seeks to please the father.
o John 16:14 – The Spirit glorifies Jesus
o John 16:7 – Jesus sends the Spirit.
o John 14:30 – Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus.
The Timeless Truth:
• Since we are made in the image of God (the ultimate example of community) we too should join God and others in community.
This has been simply an overview of Community
Next Week: Biblical examples of Community.
Maybe the next week could be: How to replicate Community today.
