What is a biblically-functioning community?
Lots of pastors and teachers talk about the “biblically-functioning community.” It’s a great term, coined, I believe, by Dr. Gilbert Bilizekian, and taught to Bill Hybels, now Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois while Bill was a seminary student.
It has a great ring to it – but it can be nothing more than a catch-phrase if we don’t take the time to carefully investigate what it means.
The short definition? Simply put: we want to function as a community according to what the Bible teaches us. But – what are the ingredients of a biblical community?
Our study of scripture has revealed several elements of what it means to live in biblical community. I want to share them here. There are more elements or ingredients than this short list reveals, but I believe this list gives us a running start into understanding how to live as a biblically-functioning community.
1. The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-39)
When some people asked Jesus what God’s greatest commandment was, He was quick to respond that we’re to love God with every fiber of our being. Then He said something amazing: the second-greatest commandment held just as much weight in God’s eyes. . . love our neighbors as much or more than we love ourselves.
2. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus told us to go into the world and make disciples. He didn’t tell a committee or a team of missionaries or a para-church agency to make converts and then herd them into churches. Jesus told you and me to go. . .
3. The New Commandment (John 13:34-35)
Jesus made sure we knew how important loving one another is: He gave us a new commandment. We’re commanded to love in the same way Jesus loves us! He tells us that the world will know we’re Christ-followers by the way we love one another.
4. Giving Our Lives in Love (John 15:12-13)
If the Great Commandment and Jesus’ New Commandment weren’t enough, Jesus explained how deep our love for one another must be: we must be willing to give ourselves completely.
5. The Model of the First Church (Acts 2:42-47)
Perhaps the truest, most authentic picture of what the covenant community should look like today is how the first-century community behaved. This passage challenges us in how we interact and how we must be intentional about how we live in this world. This passage also gives us hope that the church truly can function the way Christ intended us to function.
6. Led by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)
For us to be successful in living in biblical community, we must be dependent on the Holy Spirit’s guidance and gifting. The Holy Spirit gives Christ’s Church every gift needed to accomplish the task of bringing a lost and wandering world to a life of faith and commitment to Jesus.
