Life Together Part 2: Misconceptions About Christian Community

Series: Life Together

The serious Christian, set down for the first time in a Christian community, is likely to bring with him a very definite idea

of what Christian life together should be and to try to realize it. But God’s grace speedily shatters such dreams. Just as

surely as God desires to lead us to a knowledge of genuine Christian fellowship, so surely must we be

overwhelmed by a great disillusionment with others, with Christians in general, and, if we are

fortunate, with ourselves…Only that fellowship which faces such disillusionment, with all its unhappy and

ugly aspects, begins to be what it should be in God’s sight…
-DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

1. Optional (It’s required)

2. Guaranteed (It can be temporary and uncertain)

“it is not to be taken for granted that the Christian has the privilege of living among other Christians.” -DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

1 Thessalonians 2:17

17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored

1 Thessalonians 2:17

the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,

1 Thessalonians 2:18

18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.

3. Comfortable (It’s intrusive)

1 Thessalonians 2:8

8So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also

1 Thessalonians 2:8

our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

4. Convenient (It’s costly)

5. Uniform (It’s diverse)

Revelation 7:9

9After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and

Revelation 7:9

peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…

6. Sufficient (It’s not the only place where spiritual growth happens)

Mark 1:35

35And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed

Mark 1:35

and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community. He will only do harm to himself and to the community.”
-DIETRICH BONHOEFFER