Next Step: Community

The goal of this section of Next Steps Forum is to emphasize the importance of Biblical community and for each person to develop a plan to experience it more fully. The term community grows out of the concept of the Body (1 Corinthians 12:12) and is founded on the issues of unity and love (John 17:20-23; Ephesians 4:1-6; John 13:34-35). Apart from others, we can never fully understand and appreciate who we are created to be.

Unity in community is a foundational characteristic of God’s people. We are bound by a common faith in Jesus and are charged to “make every effort” to develop and maintain this unity.

Community is necessary for the body of Christ because we need other Christians with their unique gifts to assist us down the road of our individual ministries and our Faith in Christ. Jesus never sent the disciples to do anything for Him alone.

"The formation of community is the intricate, patient, painful work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot buy or make community; we can only offer ourselves to become community." -- Eugene Peterson