Investing our time in a community group is essential because community groups help move us from independence to interdependence in a way that cultivates Christ-likeness...

This week we have been talking about why we believe it is essential for us to be consistently investing our time in a community group. And to do that, we have been looking at a section of a letter that is recorded for us in the New Testament of the Bible called the book of Galatians.

So far we have seen Paul reveal for us the reality that a lifestyle that embraces independence inevitably results in the destruction of our relationships with others. As followers of Jesus, we were created not for independence. As followers of Jesus we were created to live a life of dependence upon God and that live sin interdependent relationships with others in community with others.

However, when we turn the freedom that we have as followers of Jesus into a live that is driven by independence instead of interdependence, we will be driven to live selfish, narcissistic lives. We will be driven to please ourselves and place ourselves above others. And as a result, such a lifestyle of independence and license will eventually destroy and consume the community and connection that we were create for.

Paul then provided the members of the churches of Galatia with a situation: Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass. Paul here is referring to someone who has been caught off guard by the evil and destructive power of selfishness and rebellion and has gotten off track when it comes to their relationship with God because of their irresponsible behavior. 

After revealing the situation, Paul provides the members of the churches of Galatia a command in terms of how they are to respond to the situation. Paul commands those in the churches who are spiritual to restore such a one. When Paul refers to those who are spiritual, he is referring to followers of Jesus that are living their lives in a way that is controlled and influenced by the Holy Spirit and are living responsible lives.

In other words, those who are on track and who are living Spirit-filled, responsible lives as followers of Jesus are to help those who have gotten off track as a result of their irresponsibility get back on track when it comes to their relationship with God.

Paul explained that followers of Jesus have a responsibility to live in community with one another and help one another stay on track and live responsible lives when it comes to our relationship with Jesus. When we see other followers of Jesus get off track, we have the responsibility to lovingly and gently help them get back on track, while at the same time guarding against us getting off track and into irresponsible behavior as well.

Paul also revealed for us the reality that interdependent community enables us to support and encourage one another to live responsible lives. We are responsible to be developing deepening interdependent relationships with one another that strive to support and encourage one another as we live life in community with one another.

When we live in community that is marked by deep, interdependent relationships that strive to support and encourage one another to live responsibly, we reveal and reflect Christ’s character and conduct. We are living in such a way that meets Christ’s standard to love God with our total being and that shows our love for God by how we love and treat others.  However, as Paul continues, we see him confront a potential danger in Galatians 6:3-5. Let’s look at it together:

 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. ⁵ For each one will bear his own load.

Now verse three, if communicated in the language that we use in our culture today, would sound something like this: “Anyone who thinks that they are somebody when they are a nobody is only deceiving themselves. Just because you have not had a problem with being irresponsible, you are only misleading yourself if you think that you are better than others”. You see, a potential danger arises when we begin to compare our circumstances and struggles with others circumstances and struggles. And that potential danger, according to Paul, is that we become full of ourselves and think we are somebody spiritually.

Instead of deceiving ourselves into thinking that we are somebody when we are nobody, in verse 4 Paul commands the members of the churches of Galatia, and followers of Jesus throughout history, to examine his own work. Paul’s point here is that instead of comparing ourselves with others, we are to focus on whether or not we are living responsible lives that reveal and reflect Jesus in our character and conduct. If their close examination of their lives reveals that they are living a responsible life, Paul explains that they can boast, or take pride, in something. But what they can boast in is only in regard to how they are doing when it comes to meeting the standard of Jesus.

Paul’s point here is that if you want to compare yourself with someone, your comparison is to be against the example of Jesus and not other followers of Jesus.  Paul hammers his point home in verse 5 when he states that “For each one will bear his own load.” Paul’s point here is that at the end of our lives, when we stand before Jesus, there will no comparison of how responsible we were with how responsible other followers of Jesus were. Paul is saying “You better focus on your how responsible you are being instead of comparing yourself with others”.

You see, while independence often leads to comparison with others, interdependence leads to cooperation with others. While independence often leads to one being full of themselves over others, interdependence  leads to one being willing to empty themselves for the sake of others.

And it is here, in this section of this letter, that we discover a timeless truth as to why it is essential for us as followers of Jesus to be consistently investing our time in a community group. And that timeless truth is this: Investing our time in a community group is essential because community groups help move us from independence to interdependence in a way that cultivates Christ-likeness.

Investing our time in a community group is essential because while we as followers of Jesus have freedom from the slavery that comes from attempting to keep a list of religious rules for God in order to experience a right relationship with God, that freedom should not lead to independence. Instead, the freedom from the slavery that comes from attempting to keep a list of religious rules for God in order to experience a right relationship with God, should lead to a life of dependence upon God and that lives in interdependent relationships with others in community with others.

Investing our time in a community group is essential because when we live in community that is marked by deep, interdependent relationships that strive to support and encourage one another to live responsibly, we reveal and reflect Christ’s character and conduct. Investing our time in a community group is essential because when we live in community that is marked by deep, interdependent relationships that strive to support and encourage one another to live responsibly, we can help others from getting off track when it comes to their relationship with Jesus and lovingly help those who have gotten off track get back on track because somebody can see what you can’t see.

Investing our time in a community group is essential because when we live in community that is marked by deep, interdependent relationships that strive to support and encourage one another to live responsibly, we are living in such a way that meets Christ’s standard to love God with our total being and that shows our love for God by how we love and treat others.  Investing our time in a community group is essential because while independence often leads to comparison with others, interdependence leads to cooperation with others. Investing our time in a community group is essential because while independence often leads to one being full of themselves over others, interdependence  leads to one being willing to empty themselves for the sake of others.

That is what we are such big believers in community groups here at City Bible Church. That is why we have as a goal that everyone who attends C.B.C. would be investing their time in a community group. Community is not optional. Community is critical, because what you do is not optional, it is critical.

We believe that the circles that are community groups are betters than the rows of corporate worship gatherings because transformational spiritual growth occurs in community with others where those supportive and encouraging relationships can be developed where people can take that next step in their relationship with Jesus wherever you are at in that relationship with Jesus. And, as a church, we believe that the earlier the better when it comes to community groups. That is why we have community groups for every age and stage of life here at City Bible Church.

And here is the thing: If you wait to get in a community group until you need it, you will not have community when you need it. And when you are in close community as part of a community group, community is already there for you when you need them to be there for you.

So with all that in mind, here is a question to consider: When will you take the step to get into the community that you need the most by being a part of a community group?

Because, as we have discovered, investing our time in a community group is essential because community groups help move us from independence to interdependence in a way that cultivates Christ-likeness.