The podcast discusses the importance of church community and its role in personal spiritual growth. It emphasizes the value of authenticity, collaboration, unity, and problem-solving within the church. The hosts also explore finding a good fit in a church community and the commitment required to foster a strong and unified community.
Living in Christian community is vital for personal growth and authenticity in our relationship with God.
Christian community is not just about loyalty and having each other's backs. It goes beyond personal preferences and focuses on loyalty to Christ and His Kingdom.
Being part of a Christian community requires personal growth and stretching, challenging us to grow in humility, love, selflessness, and service.
Deep dives
Importance of Living in Christian Community
Living in Christian community is vital for personal growth and authenticity in our relationship with God. It helps us be honest and transparent and grow in our faith. Community is not just about feeling good; it's about pursuing biblical truth together. The Church is designed as a family, and being part of a local church community is a blessing and a privilege. It may be challenging, but it provides opportunities for mutual growth and achieving the goals of the Church.
Understanding Christian Community
Christian community is not just about loyalty and having each other's backs. It goes beyond personal preferences and focuses on loyalty to Christ and His Kingdom. It is a family of believers who are united in their love for God and their desire to represent Him faithfully. In a Christian community, the goal is to build up the body of Christ and encourage each other towards righteousness. Loyalty to Christ takes precedence over personal preferences in a healthy Christian community.
Growing through Christian Community
Being part of a Christian community requires personal growth and stretching. It challenges us to grow in humility, love, selflessness, and service. In this community, we confront our own sinful tendencies and learn how to love and support others in their growth. It is a journey that involves practicing biblical problem-solving, resolving conflicts, and pursuing unity. The Church provides opportunities for spiritual growth, learning from leaders, mutual encouragement, serving together, and engaging in disciplines like prayer and Bible study.
The Role of Authority and Submission
Christian community involves understanding and submitting to biblical authority. God has designed the Church with order and structure, and submitting to leaders is part of that structure. It is important to appreciate the provision and protection that comes from submitting to leadership within the Church. This requires humility, trust, and a recognition that ultimate loyalty is to God. Personal growth happens through submitting to authority, solving problems, and facing conflicts with the goal of unity and God's glorification in mind.
Making the Most of Your Church Community
To truly benefit from your church community, it is important to engage actively and participate in its various aspects. This includes recognizing the value of purposeful, accountable conversations about spiritual growth, known as conferencing. Serving and practicing hospitality within the church allows for growth and unity. Problem-solving, forgiveness, and conflict resolution are essential skills for deepening relationships within the community. The commitment to the community involves submitting to authority, participating in the body's goals, and persevering through challenges for the sake of personal and communal growth.
The New Testament repeatedly calls the church community the body of Christ. That sounds simple enough, but it takes hard work to develop loving, Christlike relationships in our church community.
Listen to this episode as Janet and Jocelyn discuss the importance of being involved in a church community. They discuss the different ways that a church community can help us all grow more like Christ in our journeys.
Joyful Journey Podcast is a ministry of Faith Bible Seminary. All proceeds go to offset costs of this podcast and toward scholarships for women to receive their MABC through Faith Bible Seminary.
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