The News and what I found in the Bible about Christian Comunity

Hey!
It's L. again! I have so much exciting news for you!!!!!! And I'm finally going to share what I learned about Christian community.

• First off, I started a new blog called Never Fatherless. I wanted to write something for a more defined audience and thought it would be a good way to share specifically about the struggles and growth I have experienced by losing my Dad and how beautifully God has worked as My Heavenly Father. I love sharing my heart there and thinking of how other people might be affected by the stories of what God has done in my life! I'd really appreciate it if you check it out and share it with friends who might be interested or find it applicable.

• My foot is better and my Dr. let me start dancing again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I even got to dance at my choir concert this summer!! Many Thanks to God and everyone who has prayed for me through this season! Getting to dance again was expected but I shouldn't take it for granted.

I guess that's it for now. God's doing a lot in my life but I don't think I'm ready to write about it in this post. You can read about some of it on Never Fatherless.
Now finally...  What I found last fall about Christian community;

   Throughout my life I've been really confused about how to relate to other people.
 I decided to look up what God has to say about how people should relate to each other (particularly among Christians) Then in case anyone else has similar confusion I thought I might as well share. Hope you can apply this! I actually come back to it pretty often.
Here's an outline of what I found. Christians are to:

1. Love One Another! 

 "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to 

lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees

 his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide 

in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
(1 John 3:16-18 ESV)

More verses on this topic: 1 Peter 1:22,  2 Thessalonians 1:3-4,  Mark 12:29-31, 1 John 3:11-1

What I learned: The Bible calls for an active and sacrificial love! 

2. Help each other out according to each person’s needs.

"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone." (1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 ESV)

More verses on this topic: Hebrews 13:3

What I learned: I know it can be really awkward to confront people or to help them in their specific weaknesses but Christians are meant to be a body that works together and we all need each other. Who has God given you the opportunity and/or insight to help? You can always ask Him.

 3. Appreciate our spiritual leaders.

"We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work." (1 Thessalonians 5:12)

Galatians 6:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:1

What I learned: Pastors, teachers, mentors and parents work really hard to take care of us! We shouldn't be afraid to love and appreciate them!

4. Confess our sins to other believers

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." (James 5:16 ESV)

What I learned: Community is huge in dealing with sin!

5. Pray for each other and ask for prayer from other believers

“Brothers, pray for us.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV)

James 5:16, Philemon 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:1, 2 Corinthians 9:14, Hebrews 13:18, 1 John 5:16, Colossians 4:3, James 5:14

What I learned: God says to pray for other believers in all sorts of situations!

6. Avoid saying bad things about each other

“Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12 ESV (emphasis mine)

What I learned: Gossip is a big deal to God!

7. Live in peace and harmony with one another

"Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)

Romans 12:14-18

What I learned: God wants His family to be united.