URBAN LIFE CHURCH
  • Home
  • About
    • About us
    • Values
    • Values - Spanish
    • What we believe
    • Radstock
  • Blog
  • Communities
    • Urban Life Normanton
    • La Reunion
    • Hangout
    • International Supper
    • Basecamp
  • St Chads Centre
  • Contact
  • Gospel readings

Value #1: BUILDING GOSPEL COMMUNITY

6/10/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
As those who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are committed to encouraging one another with the good news that he came, died for us, rose to new life, and reigns as King - bringing us life. We want to share this news with others. 
We challenge one another to be servant-hearted, risk-taking and flexible, because the good news is more important than our preferences, security and traditions.
 
As we live life, serving together and loving one another, church is encountered as a network of relationships rather than a meeting you attend or a place you enter.
So, yesterday afternoon we began our series looking at our values, and we thought about this first value - being a community based around the good news of Jesus. 

What is community? Why do we desire it? What happens when we don't have it?

People all need community; it's something about the way we are wired - how we are made. We need relationships, to give and receive support, and a sense of togetherness around common aims. When we don't have it, loneliness and isolation is a terrible thing. Indeed, solitary confinement is one of the worst punishments we inflict on someone in our society.

So communities usually have a purpose - there is something that binds them together; something that they do together. For us, this is believing and sharing the good news of Jesus. 
In the bible, the apostle Paul wrote to a church in Philippi, both appealing to them to live in loving community together, and reminding them what the gospel is - what Jesus came to do.

He's saying - come on - live together in loving community around a common purpose:
1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Then he reminds them about the good news what Jesus came to do, both as our core belief, and as our example... being willing to be put out to any lengths in order to serve others and see people become part of his kingdom:
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death--
        even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

This community serves God and is outward looking as well as caring for its members:
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.


Lord, please do this in us.

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Urban Life  - followers of Jesus living life and bringing life in an urban setting! 

    The blog gives a snapshot of our life together as we post things we are learning about; things we believe; songs we love;  readings and prayers to strengthen and help us; and general information about what is happening in our community.

    So here are updates,  reviews, reminders and support for those who are part of our community, and a chance to 'look in' for those who are interested and wondering what we are all about.

    Archives

    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    Bible
    Bill Hybels
    Church
    City
    Community
    Discipleship
    Humanity
    Jesus
    Justice
    Prayer
    Remembrance Sunday
    Rend Collective
    Social Action
    Songs
    The Story
    Trinity
    UL Values
    Video
    War

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly