It’s About… Community

they had everything in common

ACTS 4:31-35

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

WE PREACH THE WORD
Expository preaching involves the exposition, or comprehensive explanation, of the Scripture; that is, expository preaching presents the meaning and intent of a biblical text, providing commentary and examples to make the passage clear and understandable. The word exposition is related to the word expose—the expository preacher’s goal is simply to expose the meaning of the Bible, verse by verse.
WE DISCIPLE GOD’S PEOPLE
Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the indwelling Holy Spirit to overcome the pressures and trials of this present life and become more and more Christlike. This process requires believers to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to examine their thoughts, words, and actions and compare them with the Word of God. This requires that we be in the Word daily—studying it, praying over it, and obeying it. In addition, we should always be ready to give testimony of the reason for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15 ) and to disciple others to walk in His way.
WE COUNSEL THE HURTS
Biblical counseling consists of lovingly confronting people out of deep concern in order to help them make those changes that God requires.
Biblical counseling is an attempt to return to a strictly biblical method of problem-solving. As such, it is Bible-based, Christ-centered, and local church-oriented.
The premise that the Bible is God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16 –17) and is totally sufficient for meeting the mental, spiritual, and emotional needs of mankind. Effective counseling depends on the Holy Spirit to change the believer, using God’s Word to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

WE EDUCATE OUR KIDS
God created the family. His design was for a man and a woman to marry for life and raise children to know and honor Him (Mark 10:9 ; Malachi 2:15 ). Adoption is also God’s idea, and He models this in His adoption of us as His children (Romans 8:15 , 23 ; Ephes ians 1:5 ). Regardless of the means by which they enter a family, children are a gift from God and He cares about how they are raised (Psalm 127:3 ; Psalm 34:11 ; Proverbs 23:13–14 ). When God gives us gifts, He also gives clear instructions about their use.
WE ENGAGE OUR YOUTH
Our God has already given us everything pertaining to life and godliness, including the principles and models of ministry in the Scriptures. If our goal is not to grow a youth group, but to see the first-century church ideals and convictions reproduced in the context of twenty-first-century teens, then Scripture does indeed contain sound principles for youth ministries within the church.
WE REACH THE LOST
One line in the familiar hymn “Amazing Grace” says, “I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.” We may have sung it a thousand times without realizing what lost means. The term lost is used in the Bible and in Christian circles to refer to people who have not yet found eternal life in Christ. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10 ). Those who are spiritually lost are separated from God and unable to find their way back to Him.
We make it a commitment to open our doors to the lost.

WE HELP THE POOR
The Bible says we are to care for the poor, which involves feeding the hungry. God is pictured as feeding the hungry. “He has filled the hungry with good things,” Mary sings (Luke 1:53 ). “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry,” the psalmist sings (Psalm 146:7 ). If we are to be godly people, then, we must also seek to feed the hungry.
WE VISIT THOSE IN JAIL
There are two types of people in jail or prison: those who were wrongfully accused and victimized by an unjust system, and those who are guilty and whose punishment is just according to the system of law they have broken.
The Bible has something to say to both the innocent and guilty who are in jail/prison. To the guilty, the Bible recommends truth and submission to the laws of the government, and it offers freedom from the spiritual prison of sin—freedom that comes through the person of Christ (Romans 6:18 ). To the innocent and wrongfully accused, the Bible offers peace, patience, and hope in difficult circumstances, as well as the hope of heavenly reward.
WE EMBRACE THE HOMELESS
The Bible acknowledges the fact of homelessness and instructs us to help those who are poor and needy, including those in homeless situations.
God expects His people to help those who are homeless. The Law directly addressed care for those in need. In Leviticus 25:35 God commands His people to help support those who have no home and cannot support themselves: “If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you” (see also Deuteronomy 15:7–11).
The Lord rebuked those who kept the outward form of religion yet did not care for the poor: “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: . . . to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6–7).