What are the characteristics of authentic Christian community?
Acts 9:31The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
1 Corinthians 12:5There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.
Ephesians 3:6This is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
Authentic Christian community has Christ—and Christ alone—as its focus and center. The people gather to encourage one another in the faith, to serve, and to spread the Good News to those who need to hear it.
John 13:34“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”
John 15:12“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”
Romans 12:10Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.
Hebrews 13:1Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.
1 Peter 1:22You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
1 John 3:18Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
1 John 4:19We love each other because he loved us first.
A community of believers loves one another.
Psalm 133:1How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
John 17:21“I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”
1 Corinthians 1:10I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
1 Corinthians 10:17Though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.
2 Corinthians 6:15What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?
Galatians 3:28There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:16Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
Philippians 4:2Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.
1 Peter 3:8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
A community of believers, though made up of many people, finds a way to be unified in thought and purpose. There is harmony with one another.
Acts 12:5-7While Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him. The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists.
A Christian community prays together. There is special power in the prayers of believers gathered together.
Psalm 22:22I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.
Psalm 26:12Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the Lord.
Psalm 35:18Then I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.
Psalm 40:9-10I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
Psalm 68:26Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
Psalm 111:1Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.
Hebrews 2:12For he [Jesus] said to God, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.”
An authentic Christian community praises God together. There is power in united praise.
Nehemiah 9:2-3Those of Israelite descent . . . remained standing in place for three hours while the Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.
Acts 19:18Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices.
A genuine Christian community mutually supports its members in dealing with sins and problems. At times, believers must confess our sins corporately as a means to accountability and right living. There is deep resilience in mutual support.
Deuteronomy 5:1Moses called all the people of Israel together and said, “Listen carefully, Israel. Hear the decrees and regulations I am giving you today, so you may learn them and obey them!”
Nehemiah 8:1-3All the people assembled with a unified purpose at the square just inside the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given for Israel to obey. . . . He faced the square just inside the Water Gate from early morning until noon and read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.
Nehemiah 8:18Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God on each of the seven days of the festival. Then on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, as was required by law.
An authentic Christian community delights in reading and hearing God’s Word together. When people come together to joyfully hear God’s truth, they open their hearts to God’s work.
Acts 2:42, 46-47All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. . . . They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
1 Timothy 4:13Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them.
An authentic Christian community studies God’s Word, fellowships together, shares in the Lord’s Supper together, and prays together. Believers experience spiritual growth together as God adds to his church.
1 John 1:3We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:7If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
Authentic Christian communities are marked by wonderful fellowship with one another and God.
