Download October 2, 2016 - Park Street Brethren Church

Community
Community
Desire
Definition
Scripture
Practices
To express and reflect the self-donating love of the Trinity
by inviting in and journeying with others.
Christian community exists when believers connect with
each other in authentic and loving ways that encourage
growth in Christ. They engage in transparent relationships
that cultivate, celebrate, and make evident Christ’s love
for all the world.
I Timothy 3.14-15; Colossians 3.15-16
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Fruit
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Practicing the biblical “one anothers”
Cultivating authentic relationships that connect
you to God and His plan to serve and love
Exercising your gifts in fellowship with others
Engaging in hospitality that promotes honest
sharing and caring
Participating in a small group or ABF
Engaging on mission with others
Keeping company with Jesus in everything that
does and doesn’t happen in your community
Working against the spirit of isolation and
independence
Moving away from self-centeredness into othercenteredness
Growing in love and concern for others
Having a relational identity rather than a
functional identity
Practicing Matthew 18.15 by forgiving and being
forgiven by others
From Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun. IVP Books, Wheaton, IL 2005
Desire
Definition
Scripture
Practices
To express and reflect the self-donating love of the Trinity
by inviting in and journeying with others.
Christian community exists when believers connect with
each other in authentic and loving ways that encourage
growth in Christ. They engage in transparent relationships
that cultivate, celebrate, and make evident Christ’s love
for all the world.
I Timothy 3.14-15; Colossians 3.15-16




Fruit








Practicing the biblical “one anothers”
Cultivating authentic relationships that connect
you to God and His plan to serve and love
Exercising your gifts in fellowship with others
Engaging in hospitality that promotes honest
sharing and caring
Participating in a small group or ABF
Engaging on mission with others
Keeping company with Jesus in everything that
does and doesn’t happen in your community
Working against the spirit of isolation and
independence
Moving away from self-centeredness into othercenteredness
Growing in love and concern for others
Having a relational identity rather than a
functional identity
Practicing Matthew 18.15 by forgiving and being
forgiven by others
From Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun. IVP Books, Wheaton, IL 2005
Reflection Questions
Reflection Questions
1. What is appealing and unappealing about living life
independently?
1. What is appealing and unappealing about living life
independently?
2. What kind of connections do you believe Christ wants
you to have with others?
2. What kind of connections do you believe Christ wants
you to have with others?
3. How does the life you currently live reflect the value
Christ places on belonging to the Family of God?
3. How does the life you currently live reflect the value
Christ places on belonging to the Family of God?
4. When has the Body of Christ sustained or nurtured you?
4. When has the Body of Christ sustained or nurtured you?
5. What gifts do you bring to the Body?
5. What gifts do you bring to the Body?
Spiritual Exercises
Spiritual Exercises
1. Choose one of the “one another” verses in Scripture.
Practice it daily for a week then reflect on the experience.
Repeat it with another verse.
1. Choose one of the “one another” verses in Scripture.
Practice it daily for a week then reflect on the experience.
Repeat it with another verse.
2. Ask someone to tell you their story. Listen as deeply as
you can. How does the story give you a deeper
understanding of your friend, of God, of yourself?
2. Ask someone to tell you their story. Listen as deeply as
you can. How does the story give you a deeper
understanding of your friend, of God, of yourself?
3. Include others in your family gatherings. Practice what it
means to belong to the family of God above and beyond
your nuclear family.
3. Include others in your family gatherings. Practice what it
means to belong to the family of God above and beyond
your nuclear family.
4. If you have something against a brother or sister in
Christ, go and make peace with them. Meditate on
Romans 12.18 and journal your response.
4. If you have something against a brother or sister in
Christ, go and make peace with them. Meditate on
Romans 12.18 and journal your response.
5. Join a small group or ABF. See how joining this kind of
community imparts Christ to you in new ways.
5. Join a small group or ABF. See how joining this kind of
community imparts Christ to you in new ways.