Why Community?
(Hebrews 10:19-25 ~ Preacher: Ps. Paw Liang)
Why people stop going to Church?
Verse 25 told us that some believers had stopped attending Christians worshp and gatherings. The possible reasons were: fear of persecution. Like today’s situation: lazy. Many believers had stopped making any efforts to grow their faith and Christian life. There are perhaps other reasons, such as sickness, financial problems or relationship problems.
God’s Commandments are for our good and joy.
Through the letter to the Hebrews, God reminds us that we need to work on our relationship with God (vv 22&23) and with other people (vv 24-25). In my observation, three things that attract people to come to a church: good sermon, good performance (music and atmosphere), and good friends/community. What will make people stay are friends or community. The greatest joy that could possibly happen to us comes from relationship. The greatest pain that could possibly happen to us also comes from relationship. God’s command is not for us to be painful but to experience joy. This is the reason He gives us the commandment: for our good – to lead us to joy. Some people have had bad experience and preventing them to seek the joy of relationship and make community living become a challenge.
Through the letter to the Hebrews, God reminds us that we need to work on our relationship with God (vv 22&23) and with other people (vv 24-25). In my observation, three things that attract people to come to a church: good sermon, good performance (music and atmosphere), and good friends/community. What will make people stay are friends or community. The greatest joy that could possibly happen to us comes from relationship. The greatest pain that could possibly happen to us also comes from relationship. God’s command is not for us to be painful but to experience joy. This is the reason He gives us the commandment: for our good – to lead us to joy. Some people have had bad experience and preventing them to seek the joy of relationship and make community living become a challenge.
Why Community?
1. The KEY is: Let’s us consider each other (V 24a)
We are called to look at (pay attention to) one another, think about one another, focus on the other person and seek how I can bless the other person. As the society is getting more and more individualist, the trend is to focus too much on ‘me’ on the ‘self’ and ‘my family.’ We become more and more self-sufficient. The aim is how I can satisfy my need and my family needs. We fail to see that we need others to enrich our lives.
We are called to look at (pay attention to) one another, think about one another, focus on the other person and seek how I can bless the other person. As the society is getting more and more individualist, the trend is to focus too much on ‘me’ on the ‘self’ and ‘my family.’ We become more and more self-sufficient. The aim is how I can satisfy my need and my family needs. We fail to see that we need others to enrich our lives.
2. The AIM is: to stir up each other to love and good deeds (v 24b)
The aim of our life is not just loving and doing good deeds, but helping others become loving people and stirring them up to do good deeds. This is not be enough by attending Sunday services, we need to be intentionally engaging with one another in a smaller and authentic community where people can see and relate to each other on a more personal level. The challenge for us is: instead of asking how can I help others to stay on their faith, or to grow; I demand how can others help me to grow? When the church can’t meet up my need, I will look for other church who can do serve me better.
The aim of our life is not just loving and doing good deeds, but helping others become loving people and stirring them up to do good deeds. This is not be enough by attending Sunday services, we need to be intentionally engaging with one another in a smaller and authentic community where people can see and relate to each other on a more personal level. The challenge for us is: instead of asking how can I help others to stay on their faith, or to grow; I demand how can others help me to grow? When the church can’t meet up my need, I will look for other church who can do serve me better.
Practical steps: 1) Join a small group 2) Practice consideration (think how our words and deeds will affect others), 3) Seek to stir each other for love and good deeds. 4) Set the group values: honesty, loyalty, spirit of camaraderie (friendship)—seek to promote each other to grow together as a loving and godly community. (plt)
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