September 8, 2007
If you do a word search on the words “encourage” or “encouragement” in the New Testament books of the Bible, what you will find may surprise you.  Over and over again these words are used as it relates to being a part of a community of followers of Christ.

One of the most important truths that God longs for us to understand is that His blessing, His power, His goodness, His wisdom, and His compassion are linked directly to our own relationship-building with other people. The energy, effort, sacrifice, and commitment we put forth in developing relationships are the same cornerstones we use in developing a community together. 

Do you realize when you become part of a small community, an Action Team, you have a chance to look around at the faces of those around you, and that there is a story and a dream attached to every face? That’s part of doing life in community. 

This week, I spoke with a friend who I had spent many years in church ministry with.  I shared with him about how I felt Journey 2L2 was doing.  How we are hitting home runs with loving and serving the community, and how I feel like I did back in our late 20’s when we were trying to understand the call of God to grow a new church with a very different purpose.  Then I launched into how the community groups we had dreamed of years ago were happening now just the way we had dreamed they would when we dreamed of a “church without walls.”  A new community that would believe the very words of Christ to love God and love others and to teach, help, support, and challenge people to partner with God in loving others.  I told him how we called these groups Action Teams, and that we have two groups that were now meeting and a third that was on its way.  I explained to him the reason we call our community groups “Action Teams” is that each community group would always have a purpose outside of themselves. I spoke in very excited terms about how the group I was in involved was experiencing community in a way I rarely have seen in any small group.  

There is nothing in the world like being part of a group.  A community devoted together to a mission, a cause.  A community devoted to loving God and others. There is nothing in the world like that! 

Let me say this in very bold terms, when you get to the end of your life, to have been a part of small group like that will be the greatest treasure you’ve ever known. You will have known deep intimacy.  You will have had the great adventure of thoroughly spending yourself to contribute to the greatest cause in the history of the earth, which is the building of the kingdom of God. You will have been a part of a story bigger than yourself.  This is why this business of community, of life together, of Action Teams is right at the soul of Journey 2L2.  Serving God is about a story and a dream that is bigger than yourself. 

In the New Testament, the scriptures encourage us to all be encouragers.  We are called to challenge each other to be a part of community, to keep other people going when they would otherwise give up.  Never underestimate the power that pulls on people to become de-motivated - which then begins the slow withering of their spirit.

So, the question is, are you in a small community, an Action Team where you can know and be known?  If not, let me know because I don’t want you to miss out on a key component of this great adventure God has put us on.

Bob

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