A Communal Relationship with Jesus Christ

In today’s discussion, we delve into the concept of a communal relationship with Jesus Christ. This perspective challenges the common notion of a solely personal relationship with Christ, emphasizing the importance of community and church in our faith journey. By exploring various aspects of this communal relationship, we aim to understand its significance in today’s world.

The Importance of Community in Christianity

Have you ever been asked if you have a communal relationship with Jesus Christ? Most people are more familiar with the question, “Is Jesus your personal Lord and Savior?” While this question is vital, it often overshadows the equally important aspect of community within the church. The church is not merely a building; it is the collective body of believers, and its significance cannot be understated.

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Christianity is about conviction, passion, dedication, and power. It is essential to know whom we believe in, to be passionate about our faith, and to be dedicated to God. However, this power cannot be realized without plugging into the community of believers—the church. An overemphasis on personal relationships may lead to individualism, which can weaken the collective strength of the church.

The Role of the Church

The church serves as a vital institution for believers to gather, grow, and serve together. It is not enough to have a personal relationship with Jesus; we must also be actively involved in the life of the church. The church is designed to be a place where believers can come together, share their gifts, and support one another in their spiritual journeys.

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When individuals focus solely on their personal relationship with Jesus, they risk missing out on the blessings that come from being part of a community. The church is where we can encourage one another, learn from each other, and collectively bear fruit for the Kingdom of God. As the body of Christ, we are called to work together, each playing a unique role in fulfilling God’s mission on Earth.

Understanding the Personal and Communal Relationship

While a personal relationship with Jesus is foundational, it must be understood within the context of community. Jesus emphasized the importance of the church when he declared, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” This statement underscores the power and authority of the church as a collective body of believers.

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Jesus took his disciples to Caesarea Philippi, a place filled with pagan temples and darkness, to teach them about his true identity and the role of the church. In this dark place, he asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ was a pivotal moment, affirming the importance of recognizing Jesus’ lordship in the context of community.

The Power of Collective Faith

Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1 highlights the need for believers to have a revelation of Jesus Christ and the power that comes from being part of the church. He prayed that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened, allowing them to grasp the hope of their calling as a community of believers. This communal understanding is vital for the church to function effectively and to fulfill its mission in the world.

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When we come together as the body of Christ, we share in the richness of his grace and power. Each member contributes to the whole, and together we can accomplish great things for the Kingdom. It is through our communal relationship with Jesus and one another that we find strength, support, and the ability to overcome the challenges we face in the world.

Challenges of Individualism

In today’s society, there is a significant emphasis on individualism, which can lead to a distorted understanding of faith. While personal relationships with Jesus are essential, they should not come at the expense of community. The enemy seeks to divide and conquer by promoting an idea that church is unnecessary or that individual faith is sufficient.

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However, the truth is that we need one another. The church is where we are equipped, encouraged, and held accountable. It is a place where we can discover our gifts and use them for the greater good. When we value the communal aspect of our faith, we open ourselves up to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit working through the body of Christ.

Reviving the Value of the Church

To move forward, we must recognize and revive the value of the church in our lives. The church is not merely a social club; it is the living body of Christ, called to impact the world. We must inspire others to see the importance of being part of a community of believers and encourage them to engage in the life of the church.

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As we work together, we can create an environment where people feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to use their gifts. The church should be a place where individuals can come to know Jesus more deeply, grow in their faith, and find their place in the body of Christ. By fostering a sense of belonging and purpose, we can transform lives and communities.

Conclusion: A Call to Community

In conclusion, a communal relationship with Jesus Christ is essential for our faith to flourish. While personal relationships are important, they must be understood in the context of the church. As we come together as the body of Christ, we can support one another, share our gifts, and impact the world for the Kingdom of God. Let us commit to valuing the church and engaging in the communal life that Jesus intended for us.

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A Communal Relationship with Jesus Christ

(Sermon Outline)

1. Christianity is about conviction, passion and power
   1. There is always a tension between true religion and dead forms of religion.
   1. There is an overemphasis about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that Christianity is not religion but about relationship
      1. What Heresy is
      1. The strengths and pitfalls of those statements.
   1. We have been studying the conviction, passion, devotion (dedication commitment) and power at work in Paul in his commitment to present every person mature in Christ.
      1. Part of that passion is to motivate people to do the right things for the right reasons.
         1. The Book that made your world
   1. To begin exploring these ideas, let us look at Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1
   1. Ephesians 1:15–23 (NKJV) — 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
      1. Conviction, passion and power
2. A communal and personal relationship with Jesus Christ
   1. Caesarea Phillipi
      1. 20 temples, the gates of hell, temple to pan carved into the cliff.
      1. To the pagan culture, if a river flowed out of a cliff then a god must live in the cliff to control the source of life, so they built a temple there on the face of the cliff, above and around the cave from which the river flowed. Carved right into the face of the cliff there were alcoves in which were statues of the pagan god Pan. Through these idols the people worshiped Pan with the kind of rituals that one would expect for a fertility cult.^[1]
   1. Matthew 16:13–19 (NKJV) — 13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
   1. The importance of church
   1. Both Peter and Christ made implicit reference to this temple in their conversation. Peter referred to it first when he called Jesus “the Son of the living God,” in contrast to the lifeless stone god whose statues stood in this temple.To Simon Peter’s implied contrast Jesus gave the surprise response that Peter himself was a rock. In a sense Jesus was saying, “You are right, I am not like the idol carved into the face of this cliff, made of stone and sin, but you are like the cliff face. Here a lifeless god is pictured on a lifeless rock, but I, the Son of the living God, will be pictured in you as carved into a living rock.” Peter was to be a rock with the image of Christ engraved upon him, just as the image of Pan was engraved upon this cliff. ^[2]
   1. Wanting to do the right things for the right reasons
3. LSCC Relaunch
   1. Creating a context to reach people for Jesus Christ and to grow to maturity through service/worship.
4. The effects of a communal relationship with Jesus Christ upon the world
   1. 1 John 4:20–21 (NKJV) — 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
      1. Who is my brother
   1. Conviction, passion, devotion and power
   1. Living Stones
   1. 1 Peter 2:4–5 (NKJV) — 4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

^[1] Douglas P. Baker, “And on This Rock,” Reformation and Revival 12, no. 1 (2003): 44.

^[2] Douglas P. Baker, “And on This Rock,” Reformation and Revival 12, no. 1 (2003): 45.