1 Corinthians 12:27 “You are the body of Christ, each part of it.” Each one in the community is part of the body, which means each one of you is Jesus’ arm, leg, nose, or shoulder. We are body of Christ.
When the brain gives commands, the hands move and the feet move, because they are connected. Once Jesus Christ, the head of the church, commands it to go, the whole body starts to move. 1 Corinthians 12:20 explain this: “As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”
Also, this church includes a variety of people. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts forms one body, so it is with Christ.” The church is diverse, but itis one body. Therefore, we should love, share, and pray for each other, because we are all connected to one body.
1 Corinthians 12:26 says, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.” When our stomach hurts, our whole body hurts. The community that rejoices and weeps together is a good body of Christ.
Recently, Korean churches have had big struggles in Korea. But we have hope that the world doesn’t hate Jesus but the people who believe in Jesus. If we, the church, are transformed to show the light of Jesus, we have hope of a coming revival.
Jesus says in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
First Question: How did the early church become a community?
Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship to the breaking of bready and to prayer.” What happened when the early church received grace?
They started to have fellowship among the church members. They didn’t all go back to their own houses, but they started to have fellowship. The Greek for the word
“fellowship” here is koinonia…What is koinonia? It’s not just playing or having fun together, but a fellowship where people share their hearts.
Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The early Christians broke bread and hung out. Breaking bread has two meanings here. The first meaning is just eating. Jews tear bread when they eat, therefore, breaking bread meant the same to them as eating rice means to Koreans. What is the second meaning of breaking bread? It’s a communion service. It was not the end of the meal, but the beginning of spiritual fellowship.
What did the early church do after being taught? They tried to have close connection with their community. They tried to be connected to the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:27 says, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” If we are the body of Christ, we are attached to the community.
Throughout the pandemic era, we have realized some precious things: “I need community. I need the people who help each other, share with one another, and recover together.” My faith is able to be maximized when we give and take spiritual influence among church members.
I’ve been to Cambodia before for a mission trip with college ministry students when I was in Korea. There was a woman on the mission team who had Mysophobia because she hated dirty things. As you know, Cambodian is not that clean because they lack water and a sanitization system. Therefore, when the kids came up to the woman, she kept going backwards to avoid touching them. But, every person on the mission team
except for her hugged, cried, and prayed for them. At that time, she felt like God was speaking directly to her, saying, “ I love you so much and the child before you as well.”
She started to hug, cry, and pray for the children, just as the whole community, the mission team were doing.
Later, she decided to be a missionary for these people for a year. Being in the community makes you bear good fruit for the kingdom of God.
Second Question: What is Community?
Community means those who are called to be saints in Christ Jesus. A church is not a building, but the people who are called by Jesus Christ. A gathering of people who have been called by God is the church, which is a community.
The Greek word for church is ekklesia. It’s a combination of ek (out of) and klesia (calling). That means the church is a “gathering of the Called Out.”
We don’t come together in order to become one. The Lord has already brought us together.
Third Question: Why are We Strong in Community?
In Acts 2:46, Luke says, “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.” Day by day, the people of the early church made every effort to gather together in the temple, to break bread at home, and to eat with joy and sincerity of heart. Acts 4:32 also says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” What do you do before God’s explosive power comes into the community? All the believers were one in heart and mind. God made the community one in heart and mind for the sake of the kingdom of the God. A community has magnificent strength and power when the hearts of the
community become one.
Last Question: What is the Greatest Spiritual Benefit Enjoyed in the Community?
Where did the early church begin? Acts 2:5: “Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” The gathering of all regions, countries, environments, and families became the church after Peter’s sermon.
What is the church? It’s not just a gathering with the same people, but with various people from different backgrounds. That’s why there is often conflict in community because community consists of many people who are different from each other. However, I still believe this is the church. I say this whenever I officiate for the marrying couples. Some people say that once you get married, you get three rings: an engagement ring, a wedding ring, and suffering. Why do some people say marriage is suffering? Because they don’t know marriage is not just happiness, but a sacrifice for your spouse.
When you realize that you live with a person who has lived in a completely different environment and has a different personality, you are able to grow to become one with your spouse.
Growth! We grow when different people start to become one. Community is basic, fundamental, and significant for your spiritual growth and journey.