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I started a series a few weeks about the values of our church community. Here at Kfirst, our mission is our passion:  We make it simple for people to find and follow Jesus. And our values guide us towards that goal.

Check out last weeks by clicking on the value statement:

Week 1 – Everyone is Significant.

Week 2 – We are Contributors. 

This week…God Works in Community.

In the book of Genesis, we see the beginning; the creation story. Each day brings newness, and each day we are told that what was created was very good.

Of all of the things that are referred to as “good,” there was one specific element that was, according to God, “not good” (Genesis 2:18).  Man was alone. Man was searching for connection. And he found no community.

Relationships are of high value to God. In other words, community is necessary. From Old Testament to New Testament, God shows his desire to move in and through community. Even in cases of dealing with individuals, it was to impact one to go and connect and affect all of the people.

The Christian life was not designed to be lived out in isolation, but rather to be lived out in the context of a community (such as Kfirst). Like any other Christ-centered church, we are designed to be a complete body of believers. Each individual contributes his or her own giftedness, passions, and strengths to complement others.  Peoples’ weaknesses are complemented by other’s strengths. Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, you need other people to contribute to you. We need one another, because, together, we create community…

…AND it’s how God desires to move in us and through us.

It’s why I say so often,

“The Enemy works in isolation; God works in community.”

The word “community” is both comforting and challenging. Why? With this one word, we are comforted that we don’t have to traverse through life on our own. Regardless of the season of life we are dealing with, the Church is meant to provide the avenue for which God can move. If there is a need, our “community” can reach out and be the hands and feet of Jesus. If someone is hurting, our “community” can be the arms to embrace and the shoulder to cry upon. Church community helps become the tangible reminder of the words of Jesus who said, “I will be with you always.” There are times I needed the tangible touch of God in my life. And that touch-point came through The Church.

But with the same word, “community,” there is a challenge: to work together as members of a greater body. 44% of the New Testament letters teach us how we to get along with one another. “One another” statements occur 59 times as commands in the Bible, love one another, accept one another, be devoted to one another, live in harmony with one another, build up one another, care for one another, be patient with one another, list goes on. Community becomes the place where we exercise forgiveness and grace. It’s the place where we learn humility and patience. Is it challenging? Absolutely. Because community is where our lives our shaped. And as we are shaped, so is the community.

We can’t do life alone. Healthy relationships are at the heart of all we do. Because it’s through relationships, God builds a community to help reach the world around us. Is it a comfort? You better believe it. Is it challenging? I’ll say, I’m better because of it. I love the Church and think that the best is yet to come. Not because of any one person but because life is better with friends.  Life is better with community.