Real Church Part 1 “Real Community” Traditional Service Livestream

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

We catch a glimpse of the church in its infancy. The early church was built on the need for a real community. A real community where people walked through life together, cared for one another, looked out for each other, shared what they had with one another, worshipped together, found strength in numbers, and lived a life of generosity, love, and service. They became the body of Christ and a community of believers in a very real way.

We’ve witnessed a decline in the number of real communities where people find a genuine sense of belonging and purpose. Traditional sources of community like neighborhoods, churches, and service organizations are fragmenting. We’ve become increasingly more isolated and more detached from others. The effect is devastating and well documented. The loss of community and emphasis on individualism in our society is tied to multiple significant mental health issues including loneliness, isolation, suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, depression, etc. A recent report revealed that “a majority of Americans report feelings of not belonging in the workplace (64%), the nation (68%), and their local community (74%).”

We’re hardwired to be in relation. We need each other. We need God. We were built to be in community. We were made for each other.

Jesus knew. The church was way ahead of its time. It’s the antidote to what plagues our society and the answer to the crippling effects of loneliness and isolation.

Jesus never once said, “You’re on your own.” He also never said, “Go your own way, forge your own path. Don’t be weak. You don’t need anybody else.”

But we keep trying.

And we keep failing.

Maybe it’s time to get real.