LIVING TOGETHER: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY
Grace Episcopal Church, Sheboygan
LIVING TOGETHER: AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
IN THE 21ST CENTURY
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LIVING TOGETHER: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY
Community ( secular definition)
A unified body of individuals: as
d : a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger
society <a community of retired persons>
e : a group linked by a common policy
f : a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political
interests <the international community>
g : a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger
society <the academic community>
Community (etymology)
from Latin communitatem (nominative communitas) "community, society, fellowship, friendly intercourse;
courtesy, condescension, affability," from communis "common, public, general, shared by all or many”.
Community (in Scripture)
 Hebrew: leom, as in “my people” [the LORD’S] (Exod. 3.7). The people of Israel, the chosen. “I will take
you for my people, and I will be your god …” (Exod. 6.7). Definition with reference to relationship.
 Greek:
• ekklesia, “assembly”. The people gathered together (e.g., in prayer) (Heb. 12.23).
• plethos, “community” (Acts 6.2), which may be translated as “body” (i.e., people connected
to each other):
―Faith is something that we do together: Matthew 18.20
Two resources:
1. Dietrich Bonheffer (trans. J. W. Doberstein), Life Together (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1954).
2. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, The Meaning of Christian Brotherhood (San Francisco: Ignatius, n.d.).
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LIVING TOGETHER: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY
Behold, how good and pleasant it is, when brethren live together in unity! (Ps. 133.1)1
 Community is a privilege. Jesus lived in the midst of His enemies.
• God’s people must dwell amongst unbelievers:
―Scattered “into all the kingdoms of the earth” (Deut. 28.25)
―Sown among the peoples that “they may remember me in far countries (Zech. 10.9)
―And yet gathered as redeemed (Zech. 10.8-9)
 It is only by God’s grace that we live together in visible fellowship.
• Our fellow Christians are to be a source of joy and strength.
• We belong to one another only through and in Jesus Christ.
―Every Christian needs another Christian: to speak God’s Word to him
o Christians bring to each other the message of salvation.
o Christians look upon a brother as one united with him in Christ. One is a
brother to another only by and through Jesus Christ.
 Our community consists solely in what Christ has done to/for both of us.
• Community is not founded on who/what we are as individuals, but on who/what we are
in Jesus Christ.
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References throughout use the terms “brother[s]” and “brethren” in the inclusive sense without reference to gender.
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LIVING TOGETHER: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY
“[Y]ou have but one teacher, and you are all brothers …” (Mtt. 23.8).
 Christians are related to each other as brothers/common heirs in a brotherhood of the Spirit.
• The Christian ethos is one of fraternal bond under a common Father.
―This is not an impersonal ideal of God’s fatherhood, nor a vague sentiment of paternity,
but a fatherhood mediated by the Son, lived in union in/through the Son.
o Community is realized in the knowledge of the fatherhood of God, joined with
Jesus Christ.
 Union with Christ involves union with each other, the removal of barriers (e.g., of class, race, education,
history, wealth, gifts). The ethos of brotherhood transcends natural divisions.
 Christian community removes barriers within the community, but creates a new barrier—that between
believers and unbelievers.
• We are citizens of heaven, and here only resident aliens (1 Pet. 2.11)
• We are called out of this world (John 15.19)
• We are to bring light to the world, with the corollary being that the world is dark (Mtt. 5.14; cf.
John 3.19). Once we were in darkness; now we are in light (Eph. 5.8).
 We are brothers of each other, but not of those in the world.
• We owe to those outside the Church (all men are created in God’s image) the duty of self-giving
love, but the duty of brotherhood is one within the community to build up the community.
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LIVING TOGETHER: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY
“[Y]ou have but one teacher, and you are all brothers …” (Mtt. 23.8).
 We are brothers of each other, but not of those in the world.
• We owe to those outside the Church (all men are created in God’s image) the duty of self-giving
love, but the duty of brotherhood is one within the community to build up the community.
―The Christian community is not an esoteric brotherhood separated from the world.
―We are intended to serve the whole.
o We stand not against the world but for it.
›› This duty is fulfilled through self-giving love, missionary activity, and suffering.
Christian community is not an ideal, but a divine reality.
 God is the God of truth, not of emotion. We enter into community not on the basis of what we
desire but of what we give.
• In true community we are thankful recipients.
―We do not complain about what God does not give us, but are thankful for what He does.
o We must give thanks for small things in order that we may give thanks for great
things.
―Spiritual love is love of the other for his sake. Love serves the other for Jesus Christ’s sake.
 We recognize community as part of a greater whole, of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
• We share actively and passively in the sufferings and promise of the whole Church.
• Community exists within the whole of the Church, with the diocese, within the parish, and in
voluntary small groups.
―Community requires an act of will, to live into the divine reality.
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LIVING TOGETHER: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY
Doing: The Day with Others
 Prayer with others: That’s why it is called common prayer.
• Whether we pray at home or at the church, prayer with others builds community.
―We pray for others, whether we know them or not.
―We thank God for the community He gives us.
―We pray by Jesus through the Psalter.
―We lift each other up before God, whether or not we know the others needs.
o Exercise: Liturgical workshop:
›› How to use the prayer book and lectionary.
How are small groups formed and sustained?
 Natural and intentional groups: Dynamics of formation and intentionality.
• Prayer-centeredness and group maintenance.
• Trust and openness.
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LIVING TOGETHER: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY
MINISTRY TOGETHER
 Levels of community: Small group ministry (discipleship groups, prayer partners).
• How do we form a small group?
• How do we walk together?
―Mutual accountability
―Mutual encouragement
―Mutual support and care
• How do we live in covenant with each other?
―Group formation/dynamics.
 Small group exercises:
• How to pray as a family.
• How to engage Scripture.
• How to share my faith with others.
 We bring each other the Word of God, with daily reading of Scripture.
• Consecutive reading (e.g., The Bible Challenge) is a useful discipline.
• We give thanks for how God’s help is demonstrated not in our lives, but in the life of Jesus Christ.
―This “spiritual posture” changes perception and practice.
 Outside the church we seek to share Christian fellowship with others. Inside the Church we gather in
the fellowship of Holy Eucharist.
• Fellowship requires mutual obligation.
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LIVING TOGETHER: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY: MINISTRY TOGETHER (continued)
The ministry of holding one’s tongue (Jas. 3.2 ff.; 4.11-12).
• Communication in community is to edify (Eph. 4.29) and comfort.
―Just as the weak need the strong, so the strong cannot exist without the weak.
 Humility/meekness is a matter of perspective. We are to recognize that we all stand by the forgiveness
of sin by and through Jesus Christ.
 Listening is a ministry.
• The first service owed to others in fellowship is listening.
―Listening must be active.
o Active Listening exercise
 Helpfulness as a ministry. We must not wait to be asked.
• Brothers are burdens, each to each, because they are Christians together.
―We are to bear each other (small group discussion exercise).
o We cannot dismiss the other (1 Cor. 12.11).
o In bearing each other we bear the cross.
›› The freedom of the other as a burden. We are not autonomous.
›› The principle ministry of bearing is in forgiveness.
o Mutual trust is built through confession and accountability.
›› We have no authority of our own, only the authority of Jesus Christ.
 We are to proclaim the Good News to each other. This includes correction (1 Cor. 13.6).
• We must always be open to others proclaiming the word of truth to us.
True Christian community is prayer-centered, sacramental, living under the Word.
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LIVING TOGETHER: CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY TODAY
Doing: The Day Alone
 The one who cannot be alone must beware of community.
• The one who is not in community must beware of being alone.
 Cultivate quietness/stillness.
• Remove the background noise of TV/radio, busyness.
• Be still before the Word of God.
―Set aside regular times for prayer, for meditation, for the study of Scripture.
o Lectio divina provides a useful model/practice.
o Intercede for those in community with you. Use the parish directory.
o Pray for yourself, and then listen to God.
 How do we cultivate community when we are alone? How do we relate to the community when we are
alone?
True Christian community is prayer-centered, sacramental, living under the Word.
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