This is a subject that seems to be talked about by EVERYONE , but lately I've been thinking about it a lot & thought that I could possibly put it into a different perspective. Community, in some sense, has been taken out of context and skewed. When we normally think about community we may think of a gathering of people or a block of houses, or maybe a certain type of culture together in one place. But it's time to change those thoughts...
The kind of community I want to talk about is first our community with Christ & secondly our community with our spiritual brothers & sisters. I've found that there are essentially 4 things that come from having pure community in Christ and with our spiritual brothers & sisters.
The kind of community I want to talk about is first our community with Christ & secondly our community with our spiritual brothers & sisters. I've found that there are essentially 4 things that come from having pure community in Christ and with our spiritual brothers & sisters.
COMMUNICATION
The first essential part or piece of community is communication. Communication is the start of all relationships. Any type of feeling, emotion, point or position you want to express or say has to flow from you --- to the recipient.
This is communication.
Prayer, is the divine communication from something that is far from perfect (humans) to the one who is Perfect (God). If we want to express to God that we are happy, sad, in need of anything at all...then we must pray. Prayer is the only way to have an intimate relationship with God. In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about the Lord's Prayer but before He gets to the actual prayer He says:
This is communication.
Prayer, is the divine communication from something that is far from perfect (humans) to the one who is Perfect (God). If we want to express to God that we are happy, sad, in need of anything at all...then we must pray. Prayer is the only way to have an intimate relationship with God. In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about the Lord's Prayer but before He gets to the actual prayer He says:
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
This is showing us that not only are we not supposed to "show off" our prayer as though we're above anyone, but we are supposed to connect with God in a secret or intimate way. When you read that verse, you almost have to ask "umm why is God in secret?" But the reason God is "in secret" is because he wants you to actually communicate with him. Communication with God is about growth, as people in general we have to keep growing not just physically but we have to mature. If you want to mature and grow in Christ, you have to talk to Him. You have to put forth an effort to talk with God, I'm not saying you have to get down on your face & start crying; but in order to talk with the Creator of the universe you actually need to show effort. I don't know about you but I'm pretty sure he's worth it.
Communication with God through prayer is the key to being divinely connected with the Almighty. But to communicate with a person, it's just a matter of speaking. When I was younger I was a pretty shy kid. I didn't really want to meet a whole bunch of new people because then I'd have to open my mouth & talk to them, and then I'd have to go through a list of question & answer time to get them to shut up.
As I've grown I've come to realize that communication is not just rambling on about nothing, it's a means of connection & growth with people. In community, if there is limited or no communication then there is NO community. Communication is the first and foremost connection between one person & another person. If you aren't willing to communicate then you aren't willing to connect & grow with others...oh and just a side note: listening is a key to communication ;).
In the next post I'll go in depth (once again) on the second essential for community which is Commitment...
Communication with God through prayer is the key to being divinely connected with the Almighty. But to communicate with a person, it's just a matter of speaking. When I was younger I was a pretty shy kid. I didn't really want to meet a whole bunch of new people because then I'd have to open my mouth & talk to them, and then I'd have to go through a list of question & answer time to get them to shut up.
As I've grown I've come to realize that communication is not just rambling on about nothing, it's a means of connection & growth with people. In community, if there is limited or no communication then there is NO community. Communication is the first and foremost connection between one person & another person. If you aren't willing to communicate then you aren't willing to connect & grow with others...oh and just a side note: listening is a key to communication ;).
In the next post I'll go in depth (once again) on the second essential for community which is Commitment...
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