community: finding joy in the joy in others

It is one of our most important stated values that “relationships are key to spiritual formation.”

We say it like this:

This is where life change happens most effectively- in a small group environment where people are encouraging one another, challenging one another and “doing life” together. When Jesus began His earthly ministry, the first item of business was to gather a group of men and women around him and form community with them. He challenged them to the essential qualities of community life and told them, “people will know that you are followers of me by how you love one another.”

But is it correct to say that life change happens most effectively there? After all, isn't it the Holy Spirit who does the changing?

Yes, but what we are saying is that God chooses to do some of His best work within the environment of relationship. In community, the disciples were transformed. Paul first encountered Christ on the Damascus road, but it was in relationship with Ananias and Barnabas that God finished the work. Paul often finished his letters by expressing his love and gratefulnes for the people who were in community with him.

A physical therapist once told me that your bodies muscles need the proper "environment" to heal and strengthen. In a similar way, we all need proper environments for growth. I believe scripture teaches this environment is in small group relationships.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

God commands us to love on another and to forgive one another and serve one another. Paul links our relationships in biblical community to "complete joy." We find our joy in the Lord, but as part and parcel of that joy is the joy we find in each other. This is why we seek to provide multiple community environments for people to plug into including small groups in recovery, discipleship in homes, ministering groups and mission teams.

Our ultimate aim is to move people into this environment. In fact, we want to become a church OF groups and not just a church with groups. In everything we do, we must seek to love one another and "spur one another on." It is where growth happens, where accountability is found, where people experience depth of meaning and are challenged to new levels of commitment.

It is where we seek the joy of the Lord as we find joy in each other!