Community with other believers in a local church should be something that is very important to us. But developing connections is often difficult. So often we try to build community through temporal means such as like personalities, hobbies, life seasons, or family dynamics. But Jesus teaches us in John 15 that believers (branches) are only truly connected through Him (the vine). And it is that unity that will stand the test of time and trials. How then do we as a church seek to build community through a common love for Jesus?
Prioritizing Jesus in Building Church Connections
Episode 128 of the Building a Podcast discusses connectedness in the church. It emphasizes the importance of Jesus as the primary point of connection, highlighting the analogy of Jesus as the Vine and believers as branches. The episode addresses challenges in fostering connectedness, encourages focusing on Christ, and suggests practical ways to nurture connections. Ultimately, it encourages seeking connections grounded in a shared love for Jesus and viewing friendships and partnerships through that lens.
Key Points:
- The foundation of community in the church is based on the eternal fellowship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Jesus is the primary point of connection in the church, and believers are united in Him as branches connected to the life-giving Vine.
- Building connections solely on secondary factors will eventually fail. Yet, when our connections find their center in Christ, they grow deeper and endure longer.
- Practical pathways to nurture this sense of connectedness encompass heartfelt prayers, earnest study of the Word, and uplifting one another in spiritual growth and the pursuit of our individual callings.
- Connections based on a shared love for Christ lead to deep friendships and partnerships within the church.
Noteworthy Quotes:
- “Jesus is our primary point of connection in the church. Jesus is who brings us together and connects us together.“
- “The picture of the church is what connects the people of God. We are all in Christ; That’s our connection point.“
- “The things that we will try to relate to one another through … anything that’s not Jesus, eventually is going to fail us.“
- “Jesus is the only point of connection in the church that will never change.“
- “It’s really about getting our attention off of one another and getting our attention onto Christ with one another.“
Primary Takeaway:
The primary takeaway from this episode is that Jesus is the ultimate source of connectedness in the church. Relying on superficial things to build connections will eventually crumble. By nurturing connectedness through prayer, worship, studying the Bible together, and partnering in the mission of spreading God’s love, we not only grow closer to Jesus but also forge deep and significant bonds with one another.
