Coney Hill Baptist Church
Demonstrating God’s Love Together
Tools of Discipleship - Community
Romans 1:8-17
8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you.
11I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— 12that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. 13I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles.
14I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
Intro:
Last week I spoke about the two key ingredients of discipleship, our life alone and our lives together. I called them ‘Practising Solitude’ and ‘Building Community’ and, although I focussed last time on the importance of taking time for ourselves and nurturing our own relationship with God, on its own, that will never be enough, we all need both.
Jesus gathered people around him, the church, as a gathering of people, was never an accident or an unfortunate necessity, it was always the ideal. The story of the New Testament, after the gospels, is the story of people trying to live out the faith that Jesus had inspired them to, together – it’s in the very DNA of Christianity, it is not a solitary faith.
There are some good reasons for that:
Reasons For Building Community:
- Collective faith is Newsworthy (v.8)
People notice people working together
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks – ‘Nowadays it’s hard to find a real community outside the world of faith. Lifestyle enclaves, fan clubs, and virtual networks, linked by twitter and facebook, yes; face to face community, no’
- A Variety of People provides
Something for everyone, varied expressions of faith, means your personal situation gives you a unique opportunity.
Pastoral:
- Sharing Together is Encouraging (v.12)
Building another up is the most gratifying thing
Discipling:
- Good News for Everyone is Powerful (v.16)
No no-go areas means the gospel has enormous influence and significance. As good news is shared, and spread, so its power to transform is released and realised.
Building Blocks of Community:
Qualities of an effective, welcoming community include…
- Relationship, an emphasis on people more than processes. or issues. Paul’s writing is personal and particular
- Forgiveness, the ability to overlook and move on from the many issues, large and small, which you could hold on to and let destroy community/fellowship.
- Hospitality, Paul wants to be present with them, to spend time with them – ‘long to see you’, ‘planned to come to you’
- Selflessness, His concern is for them, not himself.
- Generosity, very practical, help and support was at the root of a lot of this, not complex theology, ‘where will he stay?’ gifts that will be passed on, appreciation for his work.
- Compassion, under-girded by care/concern, love that’s expressed and acted upon.
Conc.
Being a good disciple means using all the tools at your disposal, to nurture your own relationship with God, every day. Both by creating space for yourself and building bridges for others, so that a righteousness, that comes from God, might indeed be revealed, in me and in what I create and contribute to all around me.
Office Address:
Coney Hill Road
West Wickham
Kent
BR4 9BU