Community

// Filed in: One-Another

Community Churches are needed. Serving a defined neighborhood - community. It is where people gather and have time to talk things over, learn from each other, offer/receive help from each other, learn/observe parenting, get to know each other's kids, help other parents out with their kids.

Our society has lost this community fabric and the benefits gained from that style of living. We are fragmented, isolated, disconnected.

But it doesn't have to be this way. A community church can recapture this to an extent.

Geographically, it is to make sure that everyone has a place to go to church in their community. Locals are able to serve their community with needs with which they are aware of.

Culturally, it is so that every personality can find a church family with which they can relate to.

Organizationally, it is so the local body does not have dictates from a “corporate committee” which can stray from true Biblical doctrine. The local independent church is free to govern themselves.

A community church can meet these geographical, cultural, organizational needs.

Ways that a community church can generate neighborhood begin with a love for the people. Specific methods include:
~ be a servant to the community in any way possible
~ meet their spiritual needs even if they aren't part of the church
~ conduct community-creating events
~ during community-creating events, instigate heart-felt conversations about love, life, and faith. Inspire neighbor interactions.

A community church should have an informally defined boundary within an area that neighbors and church members live. The common bond will be the geographical boundary. The community church's primary focus should be for the local people and community rather than regional or national. There is a place and a demand for regional/national churches.

Scripturally, community is the most effective practical way to live out Titus 2

1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;
10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

In other words, if the church is to impact both the unchurched, even unsaved, and the saved and churched—it must be the community-creator. It should have church sponsored events that are nothing more than community-gathering events. Evangelism and discipleship will happen naturally in a comfortable setting because everyone is interacting with each other. Certainly, there needs to be a number of strong witnesses embedded who know how to gently interact and model Christian living.

Amazing Grace Colorado

Set Free—My Chains Are Gone!

Community

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