Thursday, May 26, 2011

The Discipline of Community

The spiritual discipline of community is a unique pursuit. Most spiritual disciplines tend to focus on you and God. While these disciplines can involve others and often as a group we celebrate the rewards of practicing the disciplines of prayer, meditation, fasting, and silence and solitude; the discipline of community requires the intentional involvement of others.

So often, we see Jesus in the gospels going off to pray and to spend time in silence and solitude with the Father. We also see Jesus pouring himself intentionally into the twelve disciples. Christ allowed His spiritual life to form a spiritual community. A community that was brought together around Him and the truth the He is God and our Savior.

Let us be intentional like Christ to form His desired type of community. It must begin with Him and end with Him; and along the way, He will form our community to change the world as it changes us. The spiritual discipline of community is truly all about loving Christ and loving each other, more and more intentionally.