Living in Community Message Introduction
Today, we’re concluding our message series “Basic Training.” In this series, we’ve covered many of the basic disciplines that every believer needs to practice in order to be effective for the Lord. Our last message in this series is entitled “Living in Community.” We’re going to be looking at the importance of being connected with other believers in the church community.
To begin our discussion today, let’s think about how a person becomes a believer. Every Sunday, we go over the basics of becoming a believer. First of all to give everyone here an opportunity to become a believer or to recommit their lives to the Lord. Secondly, we go over the basics, so that you will know how to lead someone else to faith in Jesus Christ.
Becoming a believer is something you do as an individual. You are not saved because your parents were believers or had you baptized as an infant. You are not saved because your spouse is a believer. The Bible clearly teaches that each person is saved by their own individual faith and commitment.
So, if we’re saved individually, why do we need other believers? What’s that point of church and the family of God? Sadly, many today are asking those questions and not finding good answers, they are trying to make it on their own without the church. Let’s look at what the Bible has to say in
1 Corinthians 12:12 (NIV) The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
In other words, your body is made up of many parts, eyes, ears, hands, feet, etc, yet it is one body. In the same way, the body of Christ is made up of many individuals, yet together they form the body of Christ, a community of believers in a certain location.
As is taught in 1 Corinthians 12 and as we’ll see today, believers are not interchangeable parts. Each believer is unique and has an important part to play in a community of believers. We need one another for the body of Christ to function properly and carry out God’s purpose.
We need one another because we can’t make it on our own. We need the church family for:
- Protection. There is strength in the church family that protects you and your family.
- Spiritual growth – You will never grow to be the person God created you to be on your own.
- Fulfilling your mission – Teams of believers are required to fulfill God’s missions.
- Worship – There is synergistic power in the prayers of believers praying in unity.
- Encouragement – We all need the encouragement of other believers when times are tough, as well as help in the affairs of life.
We’re going to learn more about the blessings of living in community as we study Ephesians 4 today.
Message Audio, Outline & Study Guide
Basic Training Message Series
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