“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Acts 2:42 (NIV84)

What makes a true community?

People use the word community to describe all sorts of social groups. But what constitutes a “true” (real, authentic, fully realized) community? If we are born into the same race or family, does our membership in the same tribe equal true community? What if we wear the same colors, tattoo our bodies, endure the same initiation, does our gang become a true community? What makes a true community?

Psychologist and author, Scott Peck, says that most people have only experienced true community in accidental ways and that, usually during crisis. He says that most groups that people think of as communities are really just “pseudo-communities.” He believes that true community requires going through a four stage process of deepening relationships and connection.

These four stages are: (From A Different Drum, M. Scott Peck, M.D.)

1. Pseudo-community: Where participants are “nice with each other”, playing-safe, and presenting what they feel is the most favourable sides of their personalities.
2. Chaos: When people move beyond the inauthenticity of pseudo-community and feel safe enough to present their “shadow” selves.
3. Emptiness: This stage moves beyond attempts to fix, heal and convert found in the chaos stage. Here, people become capable of acknowledging their own woundedness and brokenness, common to all human beings. Out of this emptiness comes the possibility for true community.
4. True community: At this stage the process of deep respect for others and true listening to the stories of others takes place. Peck describes this true community as “glory.” He believes that it reflects a deep yearning in every human soul for compassionate understanding from one’s fellows.

Peck’s description of true community as the “deep yearning in every human soul” is what drives us to tattoo ourselves and identify with tribes. We all have a deep desire for true community.

The Bible teaches us that God made us with this “deep yearning.” He made us relational. He made us to be in relationship with Him and with others. That’s why Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love God and to love others as ourselves. In other words, God designed us to be in true community with Him and with HIs people.

As I look at any community that approaches the level of being “true,” they always have a certain “DNA” in common. The first century church described in the book of Acts certainly had this DNA. They had four traits in common. These four traits were a devotion to the apostle’s teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread and to prayer. Restated, they might be 1) a common belief, 2) a common identity, 3) a common practice, and 4) a common dependence.

This coming Sunday we’re launching a new 4-week sermon series entitled “The DNA of Real Community.” We hope you’ll be able to hear every one of these important messages. But more than that…

… we hope you find the true community that is found in Christ alone.

(This article is an edited version of the original written by Gary Combs in September 2008.)

“But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'” (Matthew 20:25-28 ESV).

“Pastor, you’re always talking about how God gives us spiritual gifts and a call to serve, but I don’t know what my gifts are and I don’t really feel especially called to serve anywhere.”

“Hey pastor, I know you keep saying that we need more workers in the nursery, but I don’t feel called to serve there.”

“Hey PG! I noticed there’s a need for more greeters during the second service. I think I can add that to my Sunday routine if I can just be 10 minutes late for my tech booth duties. Of course, I’m also helping with Lord’s Supper every 5th Sunday, so I couldn’t do it on those days. But…”

These are just a few of the types of comments that I receive from WCCers on a regular basis. There are those who are unsure of their gifting and don’t know where to serve. There are those who always feel that their gifts are somewhere other than where the greatest needs are. And then there are those who do too much, wearing themselves out trying to answer every need.

How I answer depends on the person, but there’s an ideal balance that we advise everyone to follow.

Serve in two places: One according to gifting and one according to need.

This answer satisfies all concerned. It encourages the one who doesn’t feel gifted to get started and try something. It corrects the one who feels that some jobs are someone else’s duty and never theirs. It also helps the one who takes on too many jobs to limit themselves to only two.

The idea of serving in two places also accomplishes two things in the one serving. Using their giftedness in the first place of service edifies them and the church. They will burn with passion and grow in the use of their gift. The church will be built up as they serve in their sweet spot.

Serving in the second place of need will teach them humility and make them more like Jesus. Sweeping floors, picking up trash, changing diapers, serving coffee… serving in the second place refines their servant’s heart.

And it also shows others a little bit more of Jesus, “who came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven'” (Matthew 19:14 ESV).

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” The teacher asked her first graders.

“I want to be a police officer!” Shouted a little boy down front, while frantically waving his hand for the teacher’s attention.

“Next time, wait until I call on you Johnny.” The teacher admonished. “But wanting to be a police officer is a good thing. I bet you would be great at it!”

Johnny smiled and nodded his head at the teacher’s approval. He was happy that she liked his career choice.

Good teachers and parents want to affirm their children’s aspirations. They don’t want to “hinder” their dreams.

Yet, we often “hinder” our child’s spiritual receptivity. Whether intentional or not, we can be a hindrance to our children coming to Christ.

Here are just a few ways that we can “hinder” our children in coming to Jesus:

• Having an attitude that children are beneath your “adult” talk of faith.
• Your own lack of belief or poor example.
• Any false teaching that casts doubt on God’s Word
• The weight and priority that you give to following God.
• The kind of example you give of a father (Earthly fathers affect a child’s view of their Heavenly Father).
• (In the church) A lack of committed teachers and volunteers for children’s ministry.
• (In the church) Not enough space and resources given to children’s ministry.

The truth is that children are more receptive to believing in God than adults. Growing older and being more exposed to worldly things does not increase their spiritual receptivity. It lowers it.

Children are the most open to the gospel of all people.

How do you think you are doing at “letting the little children come” to Jesus? How do you think our church is doing?

Do you see any hindrances?

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:3-6 NIV).

We’re proud of our Guatemala Mission Team. We sent 13 of our very best WCCers to work, serve and teach in a Church school in Guatemala City. They’ve been there all week. They will finish up their 10-day trip and return to the States this Saturday.

I’ve loved reading their daily blog posts and seeing the photos of our team. I can’t help but be moved spiritually and emotionally as I read about their experiences with the children and school teachers.

I’ve also been moved hearing how close this team has grown to one another. There is something powerful about being “partners in the gospel.” There is a joy and a oneness that the Holy Spirit causes to bubble up inside when we work together for the sake of the gospel.

Before our Guatemala Team left, we commissioned them. In my commissioning prayer, I prayed that they would get so “messed-up” for Jesus on this trip that they would come home and get us “messed up” too.

“Messed-up?” You ask.

Yes, I’m praying that God so messes up their comfort zones, their worldviews, and their hearts, that they bring their messed up selves back home and can’t go back to their normal lives. I’m praying that they are ruined for this world and only have eyes for the Kingdom of God.

Looking at the faces they’ve been posting… I think my prayers are already being answered.

“Do good things for the city where I sent you as captives. Pray to the Lord for the city where you are living, because if good things happen in the city, good things will happen to you also” (Jeremiah 29:7 NCV).

We had church at the ballpark last night. I’ve agreed to be the team chaplain for our local baseball team, the Wilson Tobs. The Tobs play in the Coastal Plain League, a NCAA sanctioned collegiate summer baseball league. They have college players from all over the U.S. spending their summer with us in Wilson.

Last night, I had the honor of throwing out the first pitch. Catcher, Heath Holliday (#5 talking to me in the photo above) made me look good, saying, “Good pitch Pastor. That one definitely caught the inside corner!” Heath is from Oklahoma City, OK.

Around 100 WCCers showed up in the sweltering heat (+90 degrees) to support the team. Our worship band, led by my son Stephen, offered an hour of worship music as people entered the stadium before game time. I preached a short sermon on the Lord’s Prayer from home plate to those gathered in the stands. Our own Talia Jernigan sang the National Anthem. And after the game, Bobby Pittman led a WCC crew that provided a postgame meal of chicken pastry for both teams.

“Have you ever had chicken pastry?” I asked my new friend Heath from Oklahoma.

“No sir. I can’t say that I have.” He answered.

“Oh, you’ll love it.” I said, while patting him on the shoulder.

Some might wonder why we would take our church to the ballpark on a Wednesday night, but we love taking our church to the city. Sure, it was hard work and terribly hot and we’re not sure if we made an impact or not. But we do know that we did our best to “do good for our city.”

We are praying to the Lord for our city. We want people to come to Christ in Wilson. When we see all of these young baseball players from all over the U.S. coming to our city, we sense an even more strategic call to share the gospel with them. They could carry the good news to their home towns too.

Tomorrow I’m returning to the ball field to hold a short devotion with the team before another home game. I’m praying that these young men will be open to spiritual things and that God will speak through me. I think it might be easier now that they’ve seen us having church in a ballpark.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:31-33 ESV).

Paul says that there is a “profound mystery” surrounding the “one flesh” concept of a husband and wife in marriage and the way it illustrates the relationship between Christ and His church.

This past Saturday, June 2, Robin and I celebrated our 33rd anniversary. We have held fast to one another and have learned this mystery of which Paul speaks. We know this oneness.

We often finish one another’s sentences. We can sit quietly for hours, me reading, her stitching and then suddenly we both start talking at the same time… about the same thing. Weird? Maybe. Mysterious? Absolutely. I cannot imagine life without her.

Now, don’t misunderstand. We may be one, but we’re not the same. She’s a morning person. I’m a night owl. She’s sweet. I’m spicy. She’s a push over with the kids and grandkids. I’m a disciplinarian. She normally likes to play it safe. I tend to be a risk taker.

In most ways we are complete opposites, yet God has made us one. The Word says that when we commit to faithfully cling to one another, and continue to love and respect one another, that we in some way experience the mystery of this oneness.

For Paul the word “mystery” is not a puzzle for us to solve. It is more like a “secret” that must be revealed. What is this secret that marriage is supposed to reveal? It is that Christ wants us to be one with Him as He is one with the Father, that He wants to be our head while we become His body and that He wants to love us as His bride. That’s the mystery of marriage.

But for me there is one other…  And that’s the mystery of why my normally cautious wife decided to take a leap of faith 33 years ago and marry me!

May God be glorified as Robin and I give Him thanks for this mysterious oneness that we now have with Him and with one another.