Nweta yabụ ngwáTogetherIhe Atụ
When I used to swim I was a part of the relay race. This event won a ton of points for the competition and we were a good relay team. But one of the differences between a swimming relay and a running relay is that there is no baton to pass. So during the switch off the racer would swim to the end and the other team member would dive over the racer. Too soon and you would be disqualified or dive on the other person. Too late and you lost precious time for your team. So it took a lot of practice and trust that you and your teammate would start and finish at the right time. In the same way as we engage in our faith the practice of worshiping together helps to knit our communities closer together and closer to God.
We were made for community. In the same way that relays are run together; we live our faith together. As we read Acts 2:42-47 we see examples of how the ancient church spent a lot of time and worship together. We need community today just as much as the old church. In an age where it is incredibly easy to not interact with anyone around you, this practice of praying and worshiping together is not something to be added to our faith, but is the basis of our faith.
Paul harps upon this idea continuously throughout the epistles as he commends those that live in community and challenges those that are not to sing hymns and songs together. Worship is also more than just singing songs together, but can include prayer, fasting, accountability, reading the word together, and practicing the Lord’s supper and confession together.
So as you engage with the Lord, I would challenge you to reach out to your community to read together and pray together. Spend time in joy and mourning with each other. If you are not a part of a community of believers, reach out to people around you and begin building it. Community is not always the easiest thing to build. But the joy that comes from worshiping with other believers overwhelms the difficulties. So how will you worship with your community this week?
What kind of worship could you do as a community outside or singing songs together?
How are you encouraging others in your community to grow?
How are you engaging in your faith in community?
Banyere Atụmatụ Ihe Ọgụgụ A
This series focuses on building three types of community: between you and God, between you and self, and you and others. We will focus initially on the first Christian community found in Acts 2:42-47 which showcases the purity of devotion each believer had to God and each other. As their community grew stronger, so did their faith as God added to their number day by day.
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