Community is a mystery

Community is a mystery?

Community is often difficult to understand…or explain

Community is a mystery… often difficult to understand…or explain… especially as we talk about the New Community in Christ

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-47

New Community in Christ:

Worshiped together

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The New Community,

shared…

Fellowship “koinonia.”

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…He did not regard equality a thing to be grasped, But emptied himself…he humbled himself By becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

Do nothing from selfish or empty conceit; but with humility of mind

regard one another as more important than yourself.

Philippians 2:3

The 1923 COB Pastor’s Manual offered a traditional interpretation,

identifying the meaning of feetwashing as “love humbling

itself for service…such a brotherly love that one is willing to make a sacrifice for the sake of making one’s brother purer and better.

Carl Bowman, Brethren Society

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:12-17

Having now experienced the grace of God

and confessing Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord,

we joyfully and sincerely covenant:

That mindful of the teachings of our Lord,

we will walk together in love, be slow to take offense,

be ready for reconciliation, participate in each other's joys

and sorrows, and with Christian care and

sympathy bear one another's burdens.

That we will love temperately, be just in our dealings,

faithful in our engagements, and do unto others as we would

have them do unto us.

That in keeping with Christ's great commission;

"Go and make disciples of all nations "

we will use every opportunity of word and deed

to bring kindred and acquaintance to the knowledge

of Christ.

With humble faith and the help of God,

we accept this covenant with the earnest prayer that is

set before us, and so live that we may be

prepared for the life everlasting, which is our hope in Jesus

Christ. Amen!