Christians in Community

One of the passages I return to continually is Colossians 3:16-17
 
Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  In whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.  (Col 3:16-17 CSB)
 
What a beautiful picture of the church, gathering together in the name of Christ, calling one another to righteousness.  Many of you know that for the past few months, it has been heavy on my heart that one of the greatest dangers present during quarantine was the lack of that fellowship.  Without fellow believers around us to encourage and admonish us, the process of putting to death the old self and putting on the new becomes significantly more difficult.
 
I have seen people turn away from a life influenced by scripture in the past year, partially because they had intentionally removed themselves from the fellowship of believers who would call them to righteousness – how thankful am I that I am surrounded by people who call me to more Christ-like living!  We as followers of Christ are to function as believers in community… which means during Quarantine or times apart we need to be so much more intentional about reaching out to one another.  Be transparent with one another, call each other to sanctified living (and be ready to receive the same input from others), and find ways of building one another up!
 
With many states talking about resuming some of the restrictions, I encourage all of you make time for (social distanced) discipleship together.  Challenge a friend to read through the Gospel of John or an epistle, go through a video series together using a YouTube party app, take a moment to pray specifically for one another – not just a vague prayer but bringing specific requests to God from one another’s life.  This is discipleship.  This is Christianity.  This the way we are called to live.
 
For His Glory,
-Pastor Zach