Community

The Church that’s just like God!

Acts 2 gives us a perfect example of a community with a mission that has been formed by the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

Peter is preaching a sermon at Pentecost.

32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

  • God is Trinity, 3 in one: Father, Son & Holy Spirit who have eternally existed as 3 persons yet are, in essence, one God!
  • We are made to be like God is – He is a community within Himself.
  • We have been made to desire, reflect, support, live in and be empowered by community! E.g: marriage, family, church…
  • Roles, relationships and responsibilities are different, shared and lovingly inter-dependent!

We are united under the Lordship and centrality of Jesus! (34 – 41)

  • The Gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful and saves souls!
  • The Spirit is hovering, convicting and saving hearts!
  • The fruit of the Word and the Spirit follows:

The Fellowship of the Believers (42 – 47)

  • The Church – A new society, different to the world, for all nations!
  • They devoted themselves!
    • Apostles Teaching – The Gospel supported by the Old Testament
        • Walking with God and each other in light without darkness
        • Participation – with the same mind as Christ
        • Sharing – in suffering and in glory, lives and heart.Fellowship (Koinonia) means:
        •  Contribution – Cheerfully giving finances, selves, time… Community = Commitment = “Money!” (Tithes and offerings)
    • Play a Part – being a part & doing your part (2 Corinthians 8 & 9)
    • Partnership – working together for the Gospel
    • Breaking Bread – We encourage this in life groups but often in our Sunday meetings.
    • Prayer – At every level, all prayers, requests, supplications, intercession, thanksgiving…made to God.

“The weakest individual in community, is stronger than the strongest individual that is isolated”

How do we do Community at the Crossing Church?

The Way, the Truth and the Life Group! Doing life together with Jesus!

“Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 5:42)

“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.” (Acts 20:20)

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.… 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, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42-47) 

The 2 main lungs that God has given the church with regards to meetings are Sunday Meetings & midweek small group gatherings – Follow this LINK to find the Life Group closest to you

The Way

  • Relationship and fellowship are the intention.
  • Proper caring can take place among the fellow believers and leaders are assigned for closer contact shepherding.
  • Opportunity is given for service, sharing and exercising of spiritual gifts.
  • There is a place for accountability and growth as disciples.
  • Breaking of Bread is practiced, along with meal times and socials.

The Truth

  • Here we aim to bring application and deeper understanding of the Word that was preached on Sunday.
  • Jesus often took His disciples deeper in the small group context.
  • We don’t want to be professional spectators of the preached Word, but those who practice it.
  • Each person’s testimony grows everyone else’s experience of Jesus

The Life

  • Great encouragement comes to and through members of a life group.
  • God’s Presence is often felt in very meaningful ways through the believers.
  • Not only does God use you for others, but God will also use others for you!
  • Doing life together in Christ takes on so much more meaning
  • Many souls have been saved into life groups and grown the church.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. When we do things His way, according to the truth that He has revealed, we experience the Life of God together

All verses taken from the New International Version unless noted otherwise

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