Define community…. a social, religious, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists
1986 study, McMillan and Chavis identify four elements of "sense of community": 1)belonging, 2) influence, 3) fulfillment of needs, 4) shared emotional connection.
1. Why is community so important? Back to Genesis the only thing that was not good was for “Man to be alone” People are wired for community
Recent studies say that people want to be part of something bigger they want identity.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
There is strength in numbers and we can accomplish many things together.
Problem: People look outside the spiritual community in order to have a sense of community needs met. Teams, clubs, social groups. And in some cases it works. But when real needs surface they fail
This is not necessarily their fault but it can be the fault of the spiritual community because they are being unspiritual and not fulfilling the deepest needs that God has equipped us to fulfill.
2. What is the function of a spiritual community?
Acts 2:42-47 Background for the church, because they were in community it compelled others to enter into that community but more importantly they entered into a relationship with Jesus in His community.
3. So how do we build a spiritual community that pleases God and meets the needs of the people? On a broad level there is much to do. But those are not things that each person here will need to think about. For the next couple of weeks we will talk about the personal level and it is not necessarily what you need to do but more of who each of us need to become.
This is how feel people feel
A group therapist that plays a game called Top Secret with his therapy sessions says the top 2 responses. 1. I feel worthless, why would someone want me and 2. I don’t love others the way I should.
A healthy Spiritual community should teach people to love and be the place where people feel and know that despite their shortcomings they are accepted and loved
Two obstacles to true community
1. We don’t want to share our brokenness
2. We don’t want to accept others for their brokenness.
In The Different Drum: Community-Making and Peace, Scott Peck four stages.
1. Pseudo-community: Where participants are "nice with each other",
2. Chaos: When people move beyond the in-authenticity of pseudo-community and feel safe enough to present their "shadow" selves.
3. Emptiness: When all people become capable of acknowledging their own woundedness and brokenness, common to us all as human beings. Out of this emptiness comes
4. True community: the process of deep respect and true listening for the needs of the other people in this community.
Peck’s basic premise is unless people let down their “shadow” self and show their real self which is a broken wounded person they cannot be a part of a true community.
The example of God in the Trinity- in community, in harmony, in equality, with specific purposes.
God in His Trinitarian community allowed you in when you accepted what Jesus did for you GOSPEL, why would you not let others in when they have accepted His grace as well.
So the spiritual community is based upon individuals admitting they are broken and being accepted in their brokenness and then doing the same for people around them.
Unspiritual community-appears to welcome people but really has some stipulations on the acceptance of the person. James speaks of this.
James 2:1-10 many times we only look to people for what they can bring to the table or add to our church or spiritual community.
Spiritual community accepts and heals
Acts 3:1-10 A place of healing for your soul, the problem is everyone soul has this sin condition and need for community but they try to take care of their sin by doing good works (Religion covers sin concept)
We are wired to live in spiritual community that not only teaches Jesus but lives like Jesus and accepts the people around us regardless of their brokenness.
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