Inside look to early Christian community•
Lived in a world of oppression – the inhabitants weren’t all “Roman” – they were from MANY different nationalities. Forced to serve and worship Caesar.
• MOST didn’t enjoy citizenship or security – they were strangers in their own countries. Aliens in their own homes.
• These Christian communities soon formed all over the know Roman world – a world where the Caesar claimed to be divine and carried the title “Lord”
o Note the subversive nature of the Christian writers who call Jesus – LORD. (King of Kings and Lord of Lords)
• In a letter to Diognetus at the end of 2nd century, it was noted that "Christians are not distinguished from the rest of humanity by country, language, or custom. For nowhere do they live in cities of their own, nor do they speak some unusual dialect . . . They live in their own countries, but only as aliens; they participate in everything as citizens, and endure everything as foreigners. Every foreign country is their fatherland, and every fatherland is foreign . . . They live on earth, but their citizenship is in heaven . . .
• Ephesians 2:19 – Paul says – “no longer foreigner and aliens” – but members of God’s household
o Oikos – Household - place of belonging (had leader(s), extends to aunts, uncles, cousins, grandkids and slaves – a household could even extend to different buildings.
• Minucius Felix - "[Christians] recognize each other by secret marks and signs; hardly have they met when they love each other; they indiscriminately call each other brother and sister . . ."
• Rumors of it being sexual in nature
• The community was so meaningful… The devotion to God became so important… Marcellus
• Tell the Marcellus story 298 AD – martyred because he couldn’t worship Caesar and worship God.- he denied his allegiance to the ‘divine’ Caesar.
o - Marcellus appeared before the governor Anastasius Fortunatus who demanded, "What was your intention in violating military discipline in this way?" Marcellus responded: "I declared clearly and publicly before the standards of this legion that I was a Christian, and said that I could not serve under this military oath, but only for Christ Jesus, the son of God the Father almighty."
It’s because of these radical communities of faith that the Christian “church” grew 40% per decade in the first 300 hundred years.
COMMUNITY is like…
1. A FAMILY: Matthew 12:49-50 , Ephesians 1:5 – God’s unchanging plan (predestined) has always been to ADOPT us.
• Truly known, protected, needs supplied, everyone contributes.
2. A BUILDING: Ephesians 2:20-22
• You can be in the building and not be part of the building.
• You can be in the community and not a part of the community.
• There IS a place for you to contribute.
3. A BODY
Romans 12:4-8, Ephesians 4:25
• Connected, count on each other, all parts and functions are needed and important.
3. things to remember about being in community.
1. You are unique. You will not lose your uniqueness, your personality, style, etc. by being in this community.
2. Nobody gets a free ride – everyone contributes.
a. Contribute means more than attendance. It's Time, abilities and Money.
3. Community means that these people mean more to you than the random person you pass in the grocery store.
A NEW HUMANITY
Ephesians 2 – Talking to 2 distinct groups
• Jews and gentiles – different customs, clothes, background, types of food and skin color. Yet, in the same community of faith.
• Paul makes amazing claims… about joining the 2 groups and the eternal significance.
Ephesians 2:14
• Jesus is our peace
o It’s HIM that made the 2 groups into one,
o He destroyed the barrier… by abolishing the law. – no longer about rules and regulations (remember the Greatest rule? Love God, Others, and Self)
• 1 group (Jews) – They know all the right bible verses to tell you when you’re sick or lonely – they know the words to all the songs, etc.
• 1 group (Gentiles) – EVERYTHING about this new faith is new to them. They are learning ‘christianeese’, where to meet? What to do when you get there.
• Both groups are trying to orient their lives around following the ways of Jesus.
Verse 15: now there is ONE man (mankind)… through cross. Creating a “new humanity” out of the 2 groups.
POINT:
• 1 body. No division.
• Connected intimately not because of ourselves, but Jesus.
Notice who is listening to this – reading this letter.
• Ephesians 6:5 slaves
• Verse. 9: Masters.
Galatians 3:26
• No jew, greek, slave, free, male, or female
• All ONE in Christ
• The first writer in the history of humanity that argues that all people are equal.
NO rich, poor, Nerd, smart, corporate, etc. No color, race, long hair, short, etc.
Ourspace, our community actually becomes a new humanity. A new way of living. Ourspace becomes THE main way to re-paint a picture of God to a world that desperately needs to see Him for what He is.
We believe that we were created to live deeply with one another, to carry each other’s burdens and share our possessions, to pray for and confess our sins to each other, to suffer and celebrate together. It’s in these sacred relationships and honest, loving communities that God transforms us. The way of Jesus cannot be lived alone.
The challenge for us - can we take this as seriously as the bible makes it? What actions should we do individually to participate in building a community? What actions should we do corporately to build a real community?
Can we go beyond mental ascent? - knowing in our head that this is a good thing, and make the neccessary adjustments in our lives needed to build this community.
Would you consider:
1. Giving your time.
- There is a place for you to work here... we are currently organizing ourselves.
- Attendance at ALL of our meetings are vital - in the beginning especially.
- The Scattered events ARE church... don't think of them as less important or less spiritual
2. Giving your money.
- There is no money tree.
- Simply put, it takes money to do ministry.
- Our heart is where our money is... is this (or can it be) YOUR community?
3. Inviting people.
- a characteristic of a healthy church community is one that is growing.
- we desire to make an environment/experience that won't embarass you or any guest you may invite.
