Spiritual Growth and Community

          Three years ago I graduated with a Masters in Christian Ministry. At the time I felt it was a time for me to explore other churches as I searched for whether God was calling me to ministry. The church I had been a part of showed no interest in encouraging me for ministry.  For a year and a half I went to different churches.  It was a hard season in my walk with God, not having a spiritual home. God taught me a lot during that season about the importance of a community of believers. Probably the most important lesson being a tree without roots cannot grow. A church is the orchard for believers to plant roots to grow into a healthy fruit bearing tree. After the lessons I learned I went back to my old church for many of the reasons. To name a few, the preacher and any Bible study, small group, or Sunday school is based on strong Scriptural teaching, there are people I am held accountable to, and there are people on various aspects of their spiritual journey.

What I have found since being back in my church is the importance of community for spiritual growth. It is so good to be part of my church body Sunday mornings, singing songs at the top of our lungs, giving tithes and offerings, and listening to a Scripture centered message. Once I read about what I thought was a strange challenge for a Bible study. The challenge was to sit with your small group during a worship service, and note the difference of sitting with people in like-mindedness to you. I thought it a strange challenge, because I felt like every week I was sitting with people in like-mindedness. I realize now how foolish I was to think the challenge obscure. There is indeed a difference when sitting with people studying the same as you, knowing where they are in their walk with Christ, my heart is joyful and at peace.  

            In a sermon I heard about when of spiritual growth happens best, what stood out to me as a significant point was the fact that when you hear where others are on their walk with Christ your own faith is strengthened. A pastor’s wife and I were talking after church. She shared how one time she always loved going to the new member class for her husband’s church. During the class everyone had to share what God was doing or had done in their life. This pastor’s wife said how she never wanted to miss hearing their stories, because the stories really strengthened her own faith. Immediately I thought back to this sermon I had heard earlier. Sharing our spiritual journeys with others can really strengthen the spiritual growth of others. A church is where we can share our journeys with others to find a strengthening of our own faith.

            During a conversation with a friend, she shared about a recent encounter with another friend claiming to be a Christian, yet does not see the need to attend a church. All I could think and talk about when talking with my friend is what a shame for her friend to not be a part of a community of believers. A spiritual community can be a place for strength and solidity to one’s faith as well as a place to feel at home no matter where one is. It can be so fun to visit churches while traveling because there is still a sense of unity as believers in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The church is somewhere to be vulnerable and open with others about what God is doing. It is a place to run to when broken by life and get built up to face the world again. Brokenness is bound to happen to everyone. Without a church where does a broken person run? I encourage you if you are not in a church or a community of believers to get in one. A community of believers can be such a pillar of strength when the storms of life come. Right now, I am personally getting to see this pillar of strength be true for a dear friend.  

            Back to why I am returned to my church. There are two crucial motives I am back at my church. One being I needed a place to feel safe to grow.  Second being when I thought about Christ’s sacrificial love for me I realized my church is a place where I would lay down my life for the members of the church. When I realized this there had been a shooting at a church out west. The shooting made me think about where I would be brokenhearted if it happened. Similarly, a missionary to China was staying in a house with other missionaries.  A coo started and was burning down every building in the town where the missionary was staying. This missionary ran out of the building saying, “Take my life, but spare theirs.” I wanted a community I would be willing to do the same. The missionary knew the other missionaries stories and faith and found their lives far out mattered his. For me I think a community fosters the spiritual growth of being more like Jesus, willing to serve and sacrifice for others.