This pastoral passage was written for LRBC for November 3rd 2024

The experience of church as a family and a community is one of the most important things in Christianity. It helps inquirers come to a commitment to Jesus, and it helps followers of Jesus grow strong and stable in the faith they have committed to. Believers in Jesus come from all kinds of backgrounds, and with that comes all manner of struggles which can make one or another aspect of Christian faith or faithfulness costly for them. This is where the value of church as a loving family and an encouraging community really shines. 

For our church community to have this value, we need to offer each other and new people both depth and stability in this community. Conversations that develop deep spiritual roots in ourselves and others don’t come from shallow topics. It isn’t easy at times to have meaningful conversations. Perhaps it might help if we can pre-prepare a few good conversation starters to have up our sleeves—a verse to share or a question that opens something up. Stability in community comes from the unexciting regularity of commitment. By being there for others you affirm that showing up at church or home group is important, and it means we are available for others.

Something else that is important to remember is that a certain flexibility can be required. Being open to changing something in our church gatherings or home groups might be what is needed to foster an even better experience of our church as a family (rooted in a place, committed to a mission, together!). It may help us to open up new redemptive relationships with new people who are interested in Jesus and the life he calls them to. It may be that in something simple that Jesus’ challenge to self-denial proves quite challenging, but potentially fruitful.

Can I ask you to pray about and consider something? Reflect prayerfully on your involvement in your home group and in our wider church community. What could you do to help foster a deeper and stronger shared experience of our church as a family, and one that makes room for growth?