The Bible reveals that the one God is expressed in three forms, rather like (to put it very simplistically), H20 can be found as water, steam or ice.  1000 years ago, Anselm, Bishop of Canterbury wrote 'God is within Himself a sweet society'. The triune Godhead is a living, loving, productive community. We, being made in His image, are also made for fellowship; and without it, we feel a deep sense of loss.
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For this reason, one of the rhythms the Spirit will want to build into our lives in order to develop our experience of divine rest is a regular experience of life-giving community.

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY

The good news of the Gospel is that there is not only healing for our separation from God, but also for our separation from other people. The greatest divide in Jesus’ day was between Jew and Gentile. On the cross Jesus bridged that gap for ever [Ephesians 2:11-22], bringing both groups near to the Father—and therefore to each other—by His shed blood. And every other separation has been spanned in the same way; the walls which separate us from our fellows have been demolished.

The Gospel is all about grace; the unmerited favour of God. We have that favour because we have been forgiven for all of our shortcomings [see MISSING THE MARK]; and if I am forgiven everything, how can I not forgive those who have wronged me? (Remember the Lord’s Prayer?) How can I hate, despise or resent others when I have received so much grace? How can I be bitter when I am so loved? How can I be irritated at my neighbour’s weaknesses when my own shortfall has been blotted out by Jesus?

QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK…
What does authentic church look like?
Is being part of a community of believers important?
HAVE YOU GOT A QUESTION?​

MY QUESTION

​We may not be able to change other people’s actions, but we can change our own—by His enabling. And it’s amazing that when grace starts to flow from us towards those we have issues with, we often see a change in them too.
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[It is important to say here that there’s a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and we need to use godly wisdom—I might forgive a fraudster, for example, but I won’t give him access to my finances, without being sure there has been true repentance, and a period of re-training and accountability in integrity.]

See below for a PDF help-sheet on exercising the grace of forgiveness.

COMMUNITY OF GRACE

​In the New Testament, the emerging church was the community of Christ. The Greek word used to describe how it functioned is 'koinonia' which has the meaning of ‘fellowship and intimacy’ [Acts 2:42-47]. The early churches participated in the divine koinonia, and demonstrated the same grace in their relationships, person to person.

KOINONIA UNDER THREAT

​Today koinonia in the community of believers is frequently submerged under the demands of church programmes and practices. Practical, emotional and spiritual support  were features of the shared life demonstrated in the early church, but there are many in present-day congregations who are lonely, or crying out to be 'seen'. 'Fellowship' can so often be reduced to a quick hug on a Sunday morning.

WE ARE THE CHURCH

​Church is not somewhere we go, but who we are. For my husband and me, for many years church has been the people we do life with. As well as praying, learning and worshipping together, we have played, eaten, laughed (a lot), cried with, stood with, contended for, and partnered with our friends—all in the presence of God. And we have worked together to bring others into this community of grace; for godly community is not exclusive, but inclusive, and people often have to belong before they believe—after all the disciples did!

WHAT IF I’M AN INTROVERT?

In modern understanding, an extrovert draws life from being with people, an introvert from solitude. While this may be true, there is another factor at play in the experience of a Christian: it is the Holy Spirit who is our primary source of life; and He delights in both community and solitude. So, although there will generally be a bias towards either extroversion or introversion, according to personality, the whisper of the Spirit beckons us to sample the alternative as well, in order to make us complete.
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To develop God’s gift of rest in our lives, the Holy Spirit in us will continually be nudging us to live according to our original design. The desire that rises up in us for koinonia is His desire manifesting in us; let’s listen to Him, and allow Him to guide us to life-giving relationships.

STEPS INTO COMMUNITY

Meditate over the following possibilities with the Holy Spirit. We are meant to live from inside-out, rather than from outside rules and checklists; so ask Him to cause the response that is appropriate to you to rise up from within.
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Start with family: Find the good and celebrate it: even in the awkward toddler, the surly teenager, the difficult father-in-law, the neglectful partner. The Bible is full of promises for families, seek them out and pray them over your household. Punctuate life with celebrations. Make happy memories to provide a bed-rock for later life. And if your family is far away—use video calls, write letters and emails, send photos, cards, or words of encouragement. And above all, pray!

Be 'family' to others: Adopt lonely people. A recent survey from Relate found that 1 in 10 people are lonely, and 1 in 5 feel unloved. (To put it in real terms, in a village of 300, there are 30 lonely people, in a town of 40,000 there are 4,000!) That means someone in your neighbourhood needs you! An elderly neighbour, a single mother, a resident in a care home…

​And if we are the lonely ones? It is a principle in Scripture, that we reap what we sow—so why not start sowing friendship and see what happens!

Ask God for people to 'do life with': these may be people in your local community of believers, but in these days of communication ease, it doesn't have to be restricted by distance.

We were designed for 'koinonia'   community—let's not settle for less!

SEEKING SOLITUDE?

THE RHYTHM OF SOLITUDE

​The opposite to community is solitude. We need both—click on the picture to find out more:

SPIRIT-LED WITHDRAWAL: THE RHYTHM OF SOLITUDE

*RHYTHMS OF GRACE:

​HEAR & RESPOND to the voice of God
Take time before the Lord to listen to Him…
If you need to forgive, download the PDF PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS below, to help:
 
GET IN THE FLOW of His Spirit
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you with your relationships.

*For more information on how the term ‘rhythms of grace’ is used on this website, please see the INTRODUCTION TO RHYTHMS OF GRACE: A JOURNEY INTO REST AND PEACE.

RESOURCES

PDF file to download and print: 

PRAYER FOR FORGIVENESS OF OTHERS

Church is not somewhere we go, but who we are 

www.rhythmsofgrace/spirit-led-gatherings/rhythm-of-community
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​[Photo credits:  Priscilla du Preez (ladies chatting);  Jens Lelie (divergent paths);  Aaron Blanco  Tejedor (hand clasp);  Cynthia Magana (sunset group);
​James Baldwin (feet);  Frank McKenna (beach at sunset) @ Unsplash, with thanks]