{"id":1181,"date":"2024-02-20T21:16:40","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T21:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/articles\/?p=1181"},"modified":"2024-02-20T21:16:43","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T21:16:43","slug":"the-secret-to-finding-christian-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.championforest.org\/articles\/2024\/02\/20\/the-secret-to-finding-christian-community\/","title":{"rendered":"The Secret to Finding Christian Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people? Making friends and finding a community is daunting, especially if you’re an introvert like me. What if I told you that \u201cfinding a community\u201d isn\u2019t as complicated as we make it out to be? I think you might already have one. Let me explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alone in a New City<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A little over a year and a half ago, my husband and I packed the last of our belongings into our white Chevy Impala (that we affectionately named \u201cVanna\u201d). We said goodbye to our quaint home in smalltown Bellbrook, Ohio, and drove away teary-eyed but excited to embrace the next season of life and ministry God had called us to in Houston, Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We decided to make the 17-hour road trip from Ohio to Texas more fun by stopping in Louisville, Nashville, Birmingham, and New Orleans. We had fun exploring coffee shops and bookstores in each city along the way, but somewhere between Birmingham, AL and New Orleans, LA, it hit me: We aren\u2019t going \u201chome.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We drove hours and hours away from the only town I\u2019d ever called \u201chome,\u201d our families we adore, and a rich community we prayed desperately for just years prior. I bombarded my husband with frantic questions: “What if Houston doesn\u2019t feel like home?” “What if no one in Houston wants to know me?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, we were welcomed in Texas by a warm and loving church family, and my fears subsided day by day, but I still wondered if I would ever find a community like the one we left behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Life Together<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While wrestling with homesickness and \u201ccommunity sickness\u201d weeks later, I continued working on my ThM thesis, a long paper I chose to write about Dietrich Bonhoeffer\u2019s concept of \u201csociality\u201d and a biblical theology of siblingship in the New Testament. It sounds complicated, but it\u2019s really pretty simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sociality is the \u201cuniversal human capacity to give and receive relationships.\u201d1<\/a><\/sup> In other words, humans were created to know and be known, and a desire for community is natural and normal. In the church, we give and receive relationships most often as siblings, from brother to brother, sister to sister, or brother to sister, and vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basis of this connection to one another as siblings (or fellow believers) is inextricably linked to the image of God that all people bear and the union with Christ believers experience after salvation. Bonhoeffer argues, \u201cWe [believers] have one another [other believers] only through Christ, but through Christ we have one another, wholly, and for all eternity.\u201d2<\/a><\/sup> He also argues, \u201cJesus Christ stands between the lover (the believer) and the others he loves (other believers).\u201d3<\/a><\/sup> The people of God have community with others and shall continue to have community with others only through Christ.4<\/a><\/sup> Christ is the source of our community with God and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this is true\u2014that Christ made me one with him and, by virtue of this union, one with my fellow believers\u2014then I already had the community I longed for. Christian community wasn\u2019t an ideal I had to \u201cfind,\u201d but a reality God already created for me to participate in.5<\/a><\/sup> Christian community was established ages ago in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, and I was incorporated into it at the moment of my salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reality Check<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I was looking for community in the right place (the church), but I expected to find a group of friends I could immediately \u201cclick with.\u201d These people would be the same age and in the same season of life, and they would share my love for ice cream, theology, thrifting, traveling, and running. I expected community to look like an ideal person (exactly like me), and I was missing the community God had already created and established for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, and interests, I already had community\u2014in the older women who emailed me biweekly to let me know they were praying for me, in the young mom who invited me to join her for a coffee date, and in the 42-year-old male Life Group leader who just so happens to enjoy theology as much as I do. The Christian community I longed for was self-existent all around me; I just needed to approach and participate in it differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Found and Ready for You<\/strong> Too<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a true Christian community, we don\u2019t have to share everything in common to experience the richness of Christian relationships. We have Christ in common. We also never have been, and will never be, alone. There is no concept of a believer who is isolated from Christ or isolated from their brothers and sisters. We always have one another, wholly and for all eternity.6<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, will you ever find community? If you are a believer, you already have it. You must pursue it, though. Here are a few practical ways you can pursue Christian community this week:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Engage Your Brothers and Sisters in Weekly Worship Services<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t just attend a worship service and leave without saying a word to a fellow believer. Next time you attend the weekly worship gathering, introduce yourself to the family sitting in front of you or the elderly couple walking next to you in the hallway. You might ask these questions: (1) How was your week? (2) What do you enjoy about Sunday mornings? (3) How can I pray for you and your family this week? Make a point of finding this individual, couple, or family the following week and follow up on the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, it\u2019s ok if they are older or younger than you are, male or female, in a different season of life, or from a different background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join a Life Group<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I once heard Life Groups described as the \u201crelationship greenhouse\u201d of the church. Life Groups are a safe and intimate space to meet your brothers and sisters and to fulfill the \u201cone another commands\u201d described in Scripture (pray for one another, encourage one another, admonish one another, bear one another\u2019s burdens). If you aren\u2019t sure where to meet other believers, start with a Life Group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can find more information about Life Groups at Champion Forest at https:\/\/rock.cfbc.org\/LifeGroups<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attend Midweek Activities<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

There are even opportunities to meet other believers at Champion Forest outside of Sunday mornings. You could attend a weekly Bible Study or special event, or, if you are a young adult, visit The Grove. Each of these Midweek activities will place you in close proximity to other believers pursuing Christian community and Christlikeness just like you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

If you find a fellow believer that you would like to get to know more or learn from, ask them to grab a meal or cup of coffee with you at some point during the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serve<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

You learn a lot about people when you serve in the trenches alongside one another. Serving together is one opportunity to \u201cget your hands dirty\u201d together and make an impact on your church or community. I encourage you to consider serving at church on a Sunday morning or during Midweek activities, at the Community Ministry Center, with a local ministry partner, or on a short-term mission trip. There are always opportunities to serve alongside your brothers and sisters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s hard to feel alone in a room full of people when you know you are connected to them for eternity. It\u2019s even harder to feel alone in a room full of people when you know you are in Christ and the Holy Spirit is with you as you go, helping you experience the community he already prepared for you. Step closer to that community this week and enjoy the benefits of knowing others and being known by them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n
  1. Gregg R. Allison, Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World <\/em>(Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2021), 73. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  2. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community<\/em> (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1954), 26. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  3. Bonhoeffer, Life Together<\/em>, 26. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  4. Bonhoeffer, Life Together<\/em>, 25. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  5. Bonhoeffer, Life Together<\/em>, 30. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li>
  6. Bonhoeffer, Life Together<\/em>, 26. \u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Have you ever felt alone in a room full of people? Making friends and finding a community is daunting, especially if you’re an introvert like me. What if I told you that \u201cfinding a community\u201d isn\u2019t as complicated as we make it out to be? I think you might already have one. Let me explain. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1193,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

    Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I remember the first time I stood up to teach the Bible to a group of women in my local church. I was terrified. Yes, I studied the passage diligently and spent hours preparing pages of notes, but I wasn\u2019t sure if my preparation was effective. Is my teaching structured well? Will the women be interested or learn anything new? Have I interpreted this passage correctly?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Many women who are asked to teach a Sunday School class, speak at a Bible study, or lead a small group experience similar fears. They often have little or no training specific to teaching Scripture and feel unequipped and insecure in their preparation. Even so, the abundance of resources available on the subject of teaching Scripture can be paralyzing for a new Bible teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s why we need books like Empowered and Equipped: Bible Exposition for Women Who Teach the Scriptures<\/em><\/a>. Julia Higgins, assistant professor of ministry to women at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, seeks to provide women with the tools they need to faithfully and effectively teach the Word of God to other women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Empowered and Equipped: Biblical Exposition for Women Who Teach the Scriptures <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    \u201cJesus commissioned disciples to teach the nations, and women of the church must take his call seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Men and women alike are given the spiritual gift of teaching, yet few resources are designed specifically for women who exposit the Scriptures. In Empowered and Equipped<\/em>, Julia Higgins steers women through the steps needed to faithfully interpret, apply, and teach a passage of Scripture. By examining both the principles and practices of teaching of Bible exposition, Higgins seeks to prepare women in the local church to make and mold disciples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    B&H Academic. 224 pp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Should Women Teach the Bible?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    First we must ask, Is a book that encourages and equips women to teach Scripture necessary or even appropriate? There\u2019s much discussion today about whether the Bible permits women to teach at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In an effort to submit to Scripture\u2019s teaching, many have unfortunately moved beyond what God\u2019s Word prescribes to impose unbiblical restrictions on women. To argue that women shouldn\u2019t teach Scripture in any formal setting misunderstands God\u2019s design for discipleship. Higgins argues that all followers of Christ, including women, are included in the Great Commission and its call to teach other disciples everything Christ commanded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Furthermore, as Higgins explains, \u201cSome may conflate the spiritual gift of teaching with the office of pastor\/elder and draw a false conclusion that only men are to exercise the gift of teaching. While qualified men are responsible to teach and oversee the local church, that does not negate the fact that both men and women are given the spiritual gift of teaching.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    All followers of Christ, including women, are included in the Great Commission and its call to teach other disciples everything Christ commanded.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Spiritual gifts, including the gift of teaching, are given for the common good (1 Cor. 12:7<\/a>) and for building up the church (1 Cor. 14:12<\/a>). It follows that women are not only permitted to teach in appropriate settings but are needed for the growth and maturity of the body of Christ. This pattern is exemplified in the women in Scripture who are called to teach and commended for their teaching ministries, many of which Higgins references.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In light of the biblical call for women to teach, Higgins writes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The end of the matter is this: women should be given a context where they can teach the Word in the local church. Why? Because Christ\u2019s church will grow and others will be discipled in the faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Her book, therefore, provides \u201ca pathway for women to exercise teaching gifts in the local church,\u201d and specifically focuses on training women to teach women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Helpful Foundation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Higgins provides an accessible yet substantial foundation for teaching Scripture. She incorporates principles and strategies from some of the most highly respected Bible teachers of our day, giving readers a well-rounded introduction to teaching Scripture without information overload.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Higgins has a high view of God\u2019s Word and a Christ-centered approach that highlights the overarching storyline of the Bible. Readers will gain essential tools for expository teaching, learning to base the central teaching focus, supporting points, and application on the main point and structure of the text itself. Higgins even encourages this kind of verse-by-verse teaching for topical messages, so that the teacher is always communicating the text\u2019s intended purpose rather than taking passages out of context as proof texts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Empowered and Equipped<\/em> walks teachers through the process of creating a Bible exposition, from understanding the nature of Scripture all the way to writing an expositional outline. Higgins covers a wide range of content from theoretical to practical, including information on biblical genres, basic doctrinal issues, and hermeneutics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    She spends a large portion of the book giving instruction on studying the Bible inductively, including specific strategies for observation, interpretation, generalization, and application and for how that study translates into instruction. The scope of the book makes it suitable for beginners\u2014although they may want to work through it more slowly\u2014as well as for those who have been studying and teaching Scripture for some time but are looking for a process to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    While Empowered and Equipped<\/em> covers an impressive amount of ground in a surprisingly manageable page count, readers may leave with unanswered questions. For example, the book includes almost no discussion of incorporating meaningful illustrations or transitions. On other topics, such as the discussion of genre or the overview of theological doctrines, Higgins gives only brief introductions. Anything more, however, would make the book overwhelmingly dense, and readers can continue to explore these topics in more depth as they see fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Empowered and Equipped to Teach God\u2019s Word<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The church needs gifted women who not only speak on a short list of \u201cfemale-friendly\u201d topics stereotypical of women\u2019s conferences or retreats but who teach the whole counsel of God for the good of the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

    The church needs gifted women who not only speak on a short list of \u2018female-friendly\u2019 topics but who teach the whole counsel of God for the good of the body.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Higgins appeals, \u201cThis call for women to be teachers of the Word arises from a place of care and concern for over half of the body, so that the church might grow in love for God and his Word, passing it along to others, so that they too might go and make disciples of all nations to the end that Christ\u2019s commands are observed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    As this book makes its way into the hands of more and more women who treasure the Bible and long to see it elevated and proclaimed, I pray the church will be edified and God\u2019s glory made known. I pray the teachers it equips will grow in their love for Christ even as the women they teach develop new excitement for God\u2019s Word. I pray that instead of feeling insecure and unprepared, women will be empowered and equipped to teach the Scriptures.<\/p>\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"[{\"content\":\"Gregg R. Allison, Embodied: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World <\/em>(Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2021), 73.\",\"id\":\"66537fb0-ae2d-4068-83f1-241d20f396aa\"},{\"content\":\"Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community<\/em> (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1954), 26.\",\"id\":\"5143d44b-bbee-47a5-bacf-9fd36c113b9e\"},{\"content\":\"Bonhoeffer, Life Together<\/em>, 26.\",\"id\":\"d7d60c51-10b5-4a8a-b144-a7af1d590dc1\"},{\"content\":\"Bonhoeffer, Life Together<\/em>, 25.\",\"id\":\"65f60ead-7f20-413f-9492-3a2f8c3ecb09\"},{\"content\":\"Bonhoeffer, Life Together<\/em>, 30.\",\"id\":\"1cd5dda8-257a-4530-aab4-3dfc557d5e38\"},{\"content\":\"Bonhoeffer, Life Together<\/em>, 26.\",\"id\":\"e7ed3239-e29d-4d61-a3b8-81660bd806f8\"}]"},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-church-life","et-has-post-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Secret to Finding Christian Community<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What if I told you that \u201cfinding a community\u201d isn\u2019t as complicated as we make it out to be? 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