THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY

Season 2 of life group is around the corner and I wanted to take some time to write this small blog on the importance of community in our spiritual walk.

If you go to Urban Poiema Church, you have heard me say several times; if you are not connected, you are not protected. I use this axiom to show how deeply important it is to have protection through connection.

So, what are we protecting ourselves from?

1. Inaction in our faith: Life group is the place where we can keep each other accountable for the theology that we are learning on Sundays. It is the place where we flesh out the questions behind the theology and have the liberty to create conversation and community around it, in a safe atmosphere. Pastor, Ed Seltzer once said: I find that a lot of Christian discipleship deals with what you need to know, not who you need to be with.
2. Lack of personal revelation: The one thing the devil tries to do is to keep us in isolation because God cannot heal that which we try to hide. Christians can give into perfectionism and pride easily if we think that we can handle our spiritual life in isolation. First person discovery happens in community, small groups. On Sunday it’s easy to chuck the things we are learning on somebody else (“I hope, so-and-so is listening, syndrome”). However, in community you begin to compare stories and begin to discover that you aren’t by yourself in this journey of faith.
3. Hiding in big crowds: Let’s face it, we are growing. Just last Sunday we broke another regular service attendance record. The larger we grow the more we hide. We become the check-in and check-out Christians. This breaks the flow of the Christian community. There aren’t any Christian silos, just communities. This was Jesus’ plan for Christianity and the reason why even God in human flesh, decided to hang out with 12 friends. Growth only happens in community, silos are only good to store things, not to grow things. Smaller communities of faith are more effective than large crowds.
4. Lack of friendships: Lack of friendship in the church is a dangerous proposition. If all your friends are from the world, then your focus will automatically be of the world. If you have a healthy balance of friendship in church, and a place to foster those friendships in bible centered discussion the more likely you will influence others, rather than others influencing you. Also, when people know you, REALLY know you, your life becomes far more transparent, including your sin. Even though we want to hide everything, there’s no change or real life when we don’t have accountability. Real friendship help you keep it real.

Community matters enough to be prioritized. It needs to be more than an afterthought, but needs to be part of our focus.
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We often say there is not more important ministry in the life of our church that our life groups. It's that important.

Whatever your plan or program for life groups, keep these principles in mind. Understand why groups are good and take advantage of the good they can bring into your church.

In His Service, Pastor Juan

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