WEEK #2

Authentic Biblical Community

Are you experiencing “C”? - Part 2

It doesn’t matter whether you are in an adult Bible fellowship, a small group, or on a ministry team. The question is – Are you experiencing Authentic Biblical Community? The forms may vary but the function is non-negotiable for a Christian who wants to obey the New Testament and experience life as God intended it. The Bible requires every believer in the church to experience on-going authentic relationships with a community of believers who practice the “one another” commands. The purpose of this series of articles is to biblically define ABC, to help the readers accurately assess whether they are experiencing ABC to the fullest and to determine what needs to be improved and strengthened in their present community experience.

The early church was “devoted… to fellowship” (Acts 2:42). The word “devoted” [Gr. proskarterountes] expresses how persistent and steadfast these believers were in practicing these activities together.

The early church knew that this fellowship with one another was unique (Gal.2:9) because it was secured by the blood of the cross (1 Jn.1:6,7). The moment we come to personal faith in Christ we enter into capital “F” fellowship with Christ (1 Cor.1:9). We have a permanent relationship with God through faith in the redemptive work of His Son (1 Cor.1:30). Our relationship as a “child of God” is permanent but our fellowship is maintained by walking in the light, confessing our sins and experiencing the cleansing power of the blood of Christ. It’s the work of Christ in our loves that allows us to experience ABC to the fullest.

In recent years we have found that unbelievers want to experience lower case “F” fellowship with believers before embracing the truth of the gospel. This is a cultural phenomenon. With the fragmentation of the family people are starved for companionship. With Post-Modernism truth is now determined in community. With the fall of TV evangelists all churches are suspect and our credibility has never recovered, but some people are willing to experience ABC first to determine whether the messengers are for real before considering the message.

Old Paradigm

REVELATION REGENERATION RELATIONSHIP

New Paradigm

RELATIONSHIP REVELATION REGENERATION

Are you experiencing ABC that would be attractive to a sincere seeker? Lower case “f” fellowship with believers is a great place for unbelievers to be exposed to the family of God, but apart from a decision to be born again they will never experience our “common” relationship with Christ and one another to the fullest.