Hannah Burkle, director of Rapha House Cambodia, shares about the importance of community in life and ministry. Learn more about Rapha House at raphahouse.org
If you have a question about this message, text your question to 307-316-2023 and look for our Tuesday Q&A video on our Facebook page.
For study and reflection, personally or with family, friends, or your small group:
To help get you started, think about who or what in your life is life-giving. Would you describe yourself as independent, someone who lives in community, someone who likes the balance of time alone and time with people? Do you believe community is important? Why, or why not? Describe the type of communities you are a part of? (Family, sports team, life group, Sunday School class, Team environment at work, etc.)
From Genesis 1:1&2 and John 1:1
-
- Why is it important that the Godhead was in community from the very beginning?
- If the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have lived in community from the very beginning, do you believe it is important for us to continue to live in community?
- What is life-giving about living in community?
You were created for community, be vulnerable. Take a few minutes this week to simply reflect on the people you live in community with. Pick up a pen and paper and make a list of those who you feel you can be vulnerable with. Is being vulnerable with others difficult for you? Consider why it is difficult to be vulnerable. Ask God to reveal to you someone or something specific about that you need to be vulnerable about in your life. Ask God to prepare your heart to share and to find the freedom in vulnerability.
You were created for community, build life-giving community. Read Matthew 18:19&20. Ask God for life-giving community. Consider the people you are living in community with. Reflect and ask God if they are life-giving relationships. Ask God to direct you towards like-minded believers who can help and support you in growing in your faith. Also, ask God to give you opportunity to share your faith in community.
You were created for community, become accountable. Read Ecclesiastes 4:12. Consider your relationships, is God the center or the third strand in those relationships? Read John 8:31&32. Talk about a how God uses Scripture or other people to hold you accountable. Why is accountability healthy and helpful for your life? Read John 8:34-36. Share how you become a part of God’s family and the freedom that came with being His son or daughter. As His sons and daugthers, we are accountable to Him and He to us, what does this mean to you and your faith?You were created for community, NEVER WALK ALONE. God never intended for us to walk alone, consider the steps you want to take to be vulnerable, to build community, and to become accountable. Remember that our God has lived in community since the very beginning, how powerful that He wants that for us in return. Even in or possibly especially in our brokenness God never expects us to walk alone. He is with us, and He has created us to live in community together.