Growing Together in Christ

“I’m a Christian, but I don’t like going to church!” Have you ever heard somebody express this sentiment? One of the most difficult aspects of any group, organization, or association is that it involves PEOPLE. Whenever people are involved, you are inevitably going to encounter division, hardship, pain— drama. In the Christian life, community is not simply a core value, but an integral characteristic of how we LIVE FAITH. It is easy to throw around terms like “fellowship” and “community,” but what do we really mean?

When have you been part of a COMMUNITY? What comes to your mind when I use the term? A community can describe the people who live near you. “I appreciate our community because everybody keeps their houses looking nice.” A community can also describe a group of people that share a particular affinity or habit. The dozens of other parents who spend their Saturday mornings at the soccer field cheering together for our daughters— we form a community. It can be a group that comes together for knitting, walking, meals, sharing childcare, watching sports, or any number of similar activities. Community is when people come together with intentionality and purpose.

I use the phrase on Sunday mornings when our church family gathers. We are not merely a “community” because we are in the same place, but hopefully because we share similar hopes, desires, and passions. Perhaps these stem from our morals and ethics. Maybe our priority comes out of our passion for family. We use the phrase “community” often because it is significant, but hopefully this frequency doesn’t cheapen its impact. There are opportunities we offer within our church for COMMUNITY. Our Sunday morning social hour gives people a chance to know and be known by others. Small groups like Sunday School, Adult Education, Bible Study, Choir, etc. give people the chance to gather for a specific focus.

As we consider the ways that we live out our faith together, I encourage you to imagine the types of opportunities that might appeal to you. In what ways is God calling you to help us grow our community? Many things are happening. Dozens of efforts have been made in the past. There are many possibilities, but what would YOU like to see? What type of opportunity would appeal to YOU, personally? Because the chances are, you’re not the only one. There are other people like you. All it takes is a spark, or a small ignition point, and who knows what God might do next.

Blessings to you all and I look forward to seeing you soon.  

Very truly,

Pastor Adam