Living in Community
Living as a New Creation: What It Means to Follow Jesus Together
When we think about following Jesus, our minds naturally drift toward the personal and individual. We imagine our private prayer time, our personal Bible reading, our individual commitment to Christ. And while these personal disciplines are absolutely vital, they only tell half the story of what it means to be a Jesus follower.
The other half? Community.
Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. From the very beginning, God designed us for relationship—first with Him, and then with one another. The question isn't whether we need community, but rather: What does authentic Christian community actually look like?
The Blueprint: Acts 2 and the Early Church
To understand what genuine Christian community looks like, we need to look no further than the early church described in Acts chapter 2. Here we find believers who "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). This wasn't casual acquaintance or surface-level interaction. This was deep, intentional, Christ-centered community.
The early church faced tremendous persecution. Following Jesus could cost them their livelihoods, their families, even their lives. They had every excuse to fade away, to stop gathering, to protect themselves by keeping a low profile. Yet they persevered. They grew. They planted new churches. More and more people came to Jesus.
Why? Because their community was so compelling, so attractive, so filled with authentic love that others couldn't help but be drawn in.
Six Qualities of Authentic Christian Community
1. Devoted to Divine Fellowship
The fellowship described in Acts 2 wasn't about potluck dinners and small talk—though there's nothing wrong with those things. Their fellowship was centered squarely on Jesus. They gathered to learn from the apostles' teaching, to break bread together in remembrance of Christ, and to pray.
When we gather as believers, are our conversations centered on eternal things? Do we encourage one another in our faith? Are we helping each other grow deeper in relationship with Jesus? Divine fellowship means our time together strengthens our faith and draws us closer to God.
2. Generosity in Action
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need" (Acts 2:44-45). This is radical generosity—not giving out of abundance, but giving sacrificially because they genuinely cared for one another.
Christian community is marked by open hands and open hearts. When we see a need, we respond. When someone is struggling, we step in. This generosity isn't just about money; it's about our time, our resources, our very lives being available to serve others.
3. Joyful Unity
Picture this scene: "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 favor of all people" (Acts 2:46-47).
Can you hear the joy? Can you feel the unity? Their community was so infectious, so genuinely joyful, that "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." People were drawn to them not because of slick programs or impressive buildings, but because of the evident joy and unity they experienced in Christ.
When others look at your church community, do they see joy? Do they witness unity? Is your community so attractive that people naturally want to be part of it?
The Love Chapter—Not Just for Weddings
First Corinthians 13 has become synonymous with wedding ceremonies, and for good reason. But this famous "love chapter" wasn't written for couples—it was written for the entire church. It's a blueprint for how believers should love one another in community.
4. Love in Action
Paul makes a startling claim: "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1). He goes on to say that even if he has prophetic powers, understands all mysteries, has mountain-moving faith, gives everything to the poor, or even surrenders his body to be burned—without love, it's all meaningless.
This is a sobering reminder. We can be incredibly active in church, serving on multiple teams, attending every event, giving generously—but if love isn't our motivation, it's all just noise. Love is the true measure of spiritual maturity, not our activities or accomplishments.
5. Christ-Like Love
What does this love look like in practice? Paul gives us a detailed description: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
This isn't natural human love—this is Christ-like love. It's supernatural love that only comes through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. When we practice these virtues as a community, we mirror Christ's character to a watching world.
6. Eternal Love
Paul concludes with this powerful statement: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Prophecies will cease. Tongues will be stilled. Knowledge will pass away. But love? Love is eternal. It's the one thing that will last forever. If love is the greatest, then love must be our greatest ambition and expression in community.
The Challenge Before Us
Living in authentic Christian community isn't always easy or convenient. There will be frustrations, delays, and disappointments. We'll be tempted to fade away, to find somewhere easier, to prioritize our comfort over community.
But Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). The world is watching. They're not primarily looking at our buildings, our programs, or our theological precision. They're watching how we treat one another.
As we grow—whether in numbers, facilities, or influence—the critical question remains: Are we growing in love? Are we becoming more like Christ in how we relate to one another? Is our spiritual maturity expanding alongside everything else?
An Invitation
If you've been on the sidelines of Christian community, now is the time to jump in. Commit to divine fellowship. Practice radical generosity. Pursue joyful unity. Let love—patient, kind, eternal love—be your motivation in all things.
The early church changed the world not through political power or cultural influence, but through their radical love for one another and for those around them. When we follow their example, when we truly live as a new creation in community, there's no limit to what God can do through us.
The question isn't whether we need community. The question is: What kind of community will we be?
When we think about following Jesus, our minds naturally drift toward the personal and individual. We imagine our private prayer time, our personal Bible reading, our individual commitment to Christ. And while these personal disciplines are absolutely vital, they only tell half the story of what it means to be a Jesus follower.
The other half? Community.
Following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. From the very beginning, God designed us for relationship—first with Him, and then with one another. The question isn't whether we need community, but rather: What does authentic Christian community actually look like?
The Blueprint: Acts 2 and the Early Church
To understand what genuine Christian community looks like, we need to look no further than the early church described in Acts chapter 2. Here we find believers who "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42). This wasn't casual acquaintance or surface-level interaction. This was deep, intentional, Christ-centered community.
The early church faced tremendous persecution. Following Jesus could cost them their livelihoods, their families, even their lives. They had every excuse to fade away, to stop gathering, to protect themselves by keeping a low profile. Yet they persevered. They grew. They planted new churches. More and more people came to Jesus.
Why? Because their community was so compelling, so attractive, so filled with authentic love that others couldn't help but be drawn in.
Six Qualities of Authentic Christian Community
1. Devoted to Divine Fellowship
The fellowship described in Acts 2 wasn't about potluck dinners and small talk—though there's nothing wrong with those things. Their fellowship was centered squarely on Jesus. They gathered to learn from the apostles' teaching, to break bread together in remembrance of Christ, and to pray.
When we gather as believers, are our conversations centered on eternal things? Do we encourage one another in our faith? Are we helping each other grow deeper in relationship with Jesus? Divine fellowship means our time together strengthens our faith and draws us closer to God.
2. Generosity in Action
"All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need" (Acts 2:44-45). This is radical generosity—not giving out of abundance, but giving sacrificially because they genuinely cared for one another.
Christian community is marked by open hands and open hearts. When we see a need, we respond. When someone is struggling, we step in. This generosity isn't just about money; it's about our time, our resources, our very lives being available to serve others.
3. Joyful Unity
Picture this scene: "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 favor of all people" (Acts 2:46-47).
Can you hear the joy? Can you feel the unity? Their community was so infectious, so genuinely joyful, that "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." People were drawn to them not because of slick programs or impressive buildings, but because of the evident joy and unity they experienced in Christ.
When others look at your church community, do they see joy? Do they witness unity? Is your community so attractive that people naturally want to be part of it?
The Love Chapter—Not Just for Weddings
First Corinthians 13 has become synonymous with wedding ceremonies, and for good reason. But this famous "love chapter" wasn't written for couples—it was written for the entire church. It's a blueprint for how believers should love one another in community.
4. Love in Action
Paul makes a startling claim: "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1). He goes on to say that even if he has prophetic powers, understands all mysteries, has mountain-moving faith, gives everything to the poor, or even surrenders his body to be burned—without love, it's all meaningless.
This is a sobering reminder. We can be incredibly active in church, serving on multiple teams, attending every event, giving generously—but if love isn't our motivation, it's all just noise. Love is the true measure of spiritual maturity, not our activities or accomplishments.
5. Christ-Like Love
What does this love look like in practice? Paul gives us a detailed description: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).
This isn't natural human love—this is Christ-like love. It's supernatural love that only comes through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. When we practice these virtues as a community, we mirror Christ's character to a watching world.
6. Eternal Love
Paul concludes with this powerful statement: "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Prophecies will cease. Tongues will be stilled. Knowledge will pass away. But love? Love is eternal. It's the one thing that will last forever. If love is the greatest, then love must be our greatest ambition and expression in community.
The Challenge Before Us
Living in authentic Christian community isn't always easy or convenient. There will be frustrations, delays, and disappointments. We'll be tempted to fade away, to find somewhere easier, to prioritize our comfort over community.
But Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35). The world is watching. They're not primarily looking at our buildings, our programs, or our theological precision. They're watching how we treat one another.
As we grow—whether in numbers, facilities, or influence—the critical question remains: Are we growing in love? Are we becoming more like Christ in how we relate to one another? Is our spiritual maturity expanding alongside everything else?
An Invitation
If you've been on the sidelines of Christian community, now is the time to jump in. Commit to divine fellowship. Practice radical generosity. Pursue joyful unity. Let love—patient, kind, eternal love—be your motivation in all things.
The early church changed the world not through political power or cultural influence, but through their radical love for one another and for those around them. When we follow their example, when we truly live as a new creation in community, there's no limit to what God can do through us.
The question isn't whether we need community. The question is: What kind of community will we be?
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