EMBRACING COMMUNITY

Acts 2:44-47 (NIV) 

⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

1 John 4:16-21 (NIV)

¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

FOUR WAYS TO BUILD COMMUNITY

1.  Will I accept people as flawed human beings as I am a flawed human being, OR will I pronounce judgement on them and act superior?

2.  Will I enter into competition with people viewing them as a competitive battle, trying to beat other people and always comparing myself to them OR will I choose to build people up and not make life a comparison with others?

3.  What will I do with my stuff, time and resources. Will I share generously what I have OR keep it to myself?

4.  As people come into my life, will I listen and pay attention to them OR ignore them and look the other way?