Creating community.

The concept of building an authentic, trusting, vulnerable and loving community keeps coming across my path. Just at church this weekend, Ps Ruth Limkin shared a great sermon about what the world/popular culture would have us believe about community versus what Jesus says.

I didn't actually write down most of Ps Ruth's points, instead I've decides to post my interpretations and notes from the sermon. I hope they'll inspire and challenge you, as much as the sermon did for me.

The person who loves those around them will create community.
-  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

1.
The world would have us "pretend" to be something we're not in order to belong.
This only adds to our loneliness and isolation. 

Jesus knows we are broken. And that's why we belong to Him and His community/family.
Human brokenness is the only common denominator authentic community should have. We belong despite that brokenness.

2.
The world would have us be independent, and not burden other people with our needs.

Jesus tells us to carry one anothers' burdens. Not only are we to offer help, but we also need to ask for it. We need to prioritize including other people in our life. We need to intentionally find ways to serve others.

3.
The world would have us plug into a community to fill our own needs. It becomes an idealized place to sooth our lonely soul. We make it about what it does for me. We believe we have the "right" to get what we want out of this community. If we don't get it, we pull away.

Jesus says community will cost us, but also create us. When we get hurt, we can choose to keep loving, we can choose to forgive. Being in relationship matters more than being right.

Love one another.
- Jesus (John 13:34)