A Loving Community Making Disciples of Jesus Christ Part 2

We all have seasons of life where we spend a lot of time with some people. It might be a sports season where we sit in the bleachers with the same parents two nights a week. It might be an office where we sit back to back in cubicles. At the end of the year banquet, or the retirement party, the relationship is over. This is expected to an extent and certainly no one can keep close relationships with everyone. But, if the church is going to accomplish the great commission, we must change our thinking about relationships in the church. We must think like family, not like acquaintances. We spend time with family just because they are family. This is the desire of Faith Bible Church. We want to be a loving community making disciples of Jesus Christ.

In my last blog post I started with two marks of a loving community. 1. Daily Trusting Christ, and 2. Transparent repentance from the heart. (Read Part 1) How we relate to Christ who first loved us and how we set aside self-centered sin to be others centered are the roots of a loving community.

I want to follow with two more marks of a loving community.

3. Continuing demonstrations of love and commitment
Christians must make a mega shift against American culture. We must move from relationships based on shared activities to shared activities based on relationships. It’s moving from “Welcome I am glad you are here” to “Let’s do something together.” The New Testament churches were brimming with demonstrations of love and commitment that valued the person.

• Demonstrations of affection: Greet each other with a Holy kiss (Romans 16:16). Give a holy hug, a hearty handshake or a friendly fist bump when you gather after the week’s break.
• Thoughtful words, service, gifts. Do not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). Take notice of what people are interested and need. Resolve once a week or once a month to go out of your way to write a note, give a gift, or show up to help with a needed project.
• Sharing meals: Eating together in each other’s homes is one of the most ancient and effective ways to create and keep community. We eat 21 meals a week. Americans have great food options. Share a meal and talk about spiritual life. Of course “getting coffee” together is the American low commitment version of this. It may be a good place to start. Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
• Repeat!

4. Purposeful and patient shepherding
When relationships are regular and affectionate, the possibility of real heart shepherding takes place. We throw around the word “shepherding” at FBC because it pictures the patient and watchful care of a shepherd with his sheep. Interestingly, we are mutually responsible sheep-shepherds. We watch out for each other so no one goes astray. Matthew 18:12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. Jesus then launches into the call to help each other not fall permanently into sin. Here are some ways to be a purposeful and patient shepherd.

• Pray regularly. The members of a loving community grow in persistent prayer for each other. Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).
• Go and give grace. If you see someone suffering or struggling in sin, go to them and find out what is needed. If hope, then give hope. If challenge then give challenge. All needs to be done to give grace. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29).
• Be patient. Wait for change to take place (2 Timothy 4:2).
• Watch the back door. Contact people you haven’t seen in a while. There is almost no such thing as over communicating and expressing care. If they are not doing well, offer prayer, service or counsel. If they say they are not coming back, tell them that the door is always open.

Families pay attention to the likes and wants of other family members. They know what to buy at birthdays and Christmas. They organize reunions at holidays. When they haven’t seen each other in a while they give hugs hold each other tight. They are family. They are committed for that reason alone.

Dan Jarms

Dr. Dan Jarms is teaching pastor and team leader at Faith Bible Church in Spokane Washington, as well as associate dean at The Master's Seminary in Spokane. He has been married for over 30 years to Linda, and has three adult children. He earned his B.A. in English at the Master’s College, B.Ed. at Eastern Washington University, M.Div and D.Min in Expository Preaching at The Master’s Seminary. His other interests include NCAA basketball, woodworking, and art.

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