Foundations Blog
We’re in a new series called “Foundations” which builds off of Jesus’ metaphor in Matt 7: “A house built on sand will never be able to stand BUT a house that’s built on the rock will never be able to fall.”
Practice #4 COMMUNITY - Day 8
This week, we’re in Practice #4: Grow in Community. Pastor Aaron Armstrong helpfully coached us through the HOWs of community that God desires for His children. When we look at the way Jesus led and loved, we see that He intentionally focused on commitment, truth-speaking, vulnerability, and prayer & care.
Today, let’s consider how you provide prayer & care to those within your community. Some helpful questions:
- Several weeks back, we discussed prayer as the intimate communication between a person and our Triune God. What adds another dimension is when two or more believers gather to communicate with God together. How has praying together strengthened the bonds in your group or community? What are some ways to prioritize prayer even more than you have previously?
- In Acts 2, we see the early church meeting one another’s physical and emotional needs in generous ways. They took care of one another, often at their own expense. They were truly a faith family, not just a gathering of individuals. Reflect on your community’s care-taking efforts for one another. Is there anyone in need? How can you supply what is needed? How can you foster openness regarding areas of need?
- Take initiative today. Send a text or make a call to someone within your church community. Ask them how you can pray for them and how you can care for them.
Each day this week we’ll close with five intentional minutes meditating on John 15:9-17 (NET).
But, first, it’s good to be reminded what it is to meditate on Scripture. Gail Pitt, in her book “First We Were Loved,” describes the process like this: “Read through the Scripture three times, out loud if possible. Notice any word or phrase that seems to stand out. When this happens, stop and just stay with the word or phrase and see where your heart goes. See where He leads you. Pay attention to your feelings and be honest. He desires honesty and nothing is a surprise to Him. He is sturdy and can handle anything you have to say.”
Here we go:
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Father, make this true of us. Amen.
Published on 10-22-2021 @ 4:52 AM CDT