A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY If the people of God are unleashed in the Spirit of God with the Word of God for the glory of God in the world, we must do it TOGETHER.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. ” Acts 4: 32 -25 Is this realistic for today?

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY Can we embrace the kind of radical community the early church founded but then write our own story that is radical for our time? Community does not exist for it’s own sake.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY Community is the best part of what God’s people are capable of, in the power of His Spirit. Community both attracts and repels. Being part of community involves risk & obedience.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY Koinonia doesn’t mean to have fellowship, it means TO BE the fellowship. A place for participants, not observers. The focus is not self serving but rather it is a place where people share, care and serve. It has no boundaries in terms of race, gender, age and class.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY Their lifestyle was so radical that the people around them couldn’t help but notice. We act more like jar of marbles that bump into each other than we do a jar of grapes that bleed into each other.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY There would have to be an increased feeling of responsibility for each other. Our approach to community would be far less individualistic and segmented and more communal and inclusive. Infectiously inclusive!

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY It would require a lifestyle shift. We can’t stay the way we are. “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, ” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. ” James 2: 14 -16

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY It will mean a lessening of our attachment to “things” as well as a willingness to sacrifice. When we become more self-indulgent (we make it all about us) than selfsacrificing, we are choosing a lifestyle of less impact.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. ” I John 3: 17 -19

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY Becoming a radical faith community will only happen one life at a time. - To give more freely and openly. - To be less consumed with our own comfort above all else. - To be more about seeing God’s kingdom come to earth than about building our personal kingdom.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY - To see serving as a privilege, not a burden. - To order our lives around an eternal perspective, not an earthly one. We can become more of a radical community of faith when we love well, give generously and serve humbly IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY CHALLENGE: Invite someone (or a couple of someone’s) you don’t know to your house for dinner or dessert in the next couple of months. Not only will you get to know their names, you will get to know their story.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY “One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch. ” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets. ” Luke 5: 1 -5

A RADICAL FAITH COMMUNITY “BECAUSE YOU SAID SO, I WILL. ” B Y S S I W