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by David Pritchard
Have you heard the story about a pastor visiting a man who decided he didn’t need to attend church?
The pastor, without saying a word, grabbed tongs and pulled a burning ember from the man’s fireplace. They both watched the ember turn cold. The pastor put the ember back into the fire, where it immediately flared to life again. The man thanked the pastor for the fiery sermon and agreed to attend church.
Contrary to the belief that spiritual growth can be attained in solitude, those who worship in a community grow through corporate unity. Christian communities worship together the God who sent His Son so people could be made whole again. In worship and community with the Holy Spirit’s help, broken people build up one another as the body of Christ.
The Free Methodist Church’s “Book of Discipline” informs us that members within the body are a people who “trusting in the enablement of the Holy Spirit and seeking the support of the other members of the church” make a covenant to grow in the Lord through participation in their church.
Outside of God’s community, there is little hope for growth and little help in times of trial. Like a piece of coal outside the fire, usefulness grows cold and dies.
In John 17:1–26, Jesus prays for His disciples as a people joined together. He describes Himself and the Father as one, and prays community members reflect this union within themselves. As a covenantal community, Free Methodists seek unity through experiencing God in both individual and social holiness. Through worship and fellowship in faith, this community will live in the reality of the high-priestly prayer through God’s grace and power.
GROUP DISCUSSION:
[1] How do you view Christian community?
[2] Is church membership important?
[3] Are you part of God’s royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9)?
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