More Than a Club, We Are a Family
In a world that is increasingly connected digitally yet isolated emotionally, the concept of “community” can often feel like a hollow buzzword. We join clubs, we follow groups online, and we attend events, but often we leave feeling just as alone as when we arrived. As we wind up our series, Better Together, we must confront a fundamental truth about the Body of Christ: The church was never intended to be a social club. It was designed to be a family.
The scriptures contain over 80 “one another” verses—commands that instruct us on how to interact, support, and love those around us. While we’ve only scratched the surface of these over the last several weeks, today we are taking a “shotgun approach” to explore the practical, messy, and beautiful reality of what it means to truly do life together [01:17].
1. Devotion Without Hypocrisy
Our foundation is found in Romans 12:9-13. The Apostle Paul writes, “Don’t just pretend to love others but really love them.” In the original language, this is a call for love to be “without hypocrisy” [05:07]. Hypocrisy was the one thing that moved Jesus to righteous anger more than anything else. If we say we love one another but fail to show it, or if our “love” is merely a polite mask we wear on Sunday mornings, we are missing the heart of the Gospel.
Paul uses two different Greek words for love here. First, he calls us to Agape—the high, sacrificial love of God that is only possible through the Holy Spirit [06:21]. But then he shifts to Phileo, which literally means “brotherly love” or genuine affection [06:56]. We are called to have a kinship with one another, an intentionality that says, “You are my brother; you are my sister, and I am devoted to your well-being.”
Doing life together means replacing competition with honor. In a toxic environment, people jockey for position and influence. In a Christ-centered family, we take delight in honoring others more than ourselves [08:11]. This flow of honor starts with humility before God and then flows outward to our leaders and our peers.
2. The Art of the Sincere Greeting
Romans 16:16 famously tells us to “Greet each other with a sacred kiss.” While our modern Western culture might prefer a handshake, a high-five, or a side-hug, the principle remains the same: our greetings must be intentional and sincere [13:52].
How many times have we asked, “How are you doing?” while we were already walking away? To do life together is to be ready to listen. If you aren’t in a position to stop and hear an honest answer, you aren’t in a position to honor that person in that moment [13:23]. We want to create a culture where you don’t feel the pressure to put on a “fake church smile” when you are actually dying inside. Authenticity is the currency of a true family.
3. Avoiding Stumbling Blocks
Doing life together also requires us to be mindful of our freedom. In Romans 14, Paul discusses the idea of the “stumbling block.” He argues that even if you have the freedom to do something (like eating meat sacrificed to idols in the first century), you should limit your freedom out of love for a “weaker” brother or sister who might be confused or hurt by your actions [14:34].
Our goal is to ensure that the only “stumbling block” anyone encounters in our midst is Jesus Christ Himself [15:55]. We don’t want our behaviors, our attitudes, or our lack of sensitivity to give anyone a reason to turn away from the faith. We prefer our brothers and sisters over our own desires.
4. Bearing Burdens vs. Enabling Sin
One of the most practical aspects of community is found in Galatians 6:2: “Share each other’s burdens and in this way obey the law of Christ” [17:44]. However, there is a delicate balance between helping and enabling.
- Helping fosters independence. It encourages growth, recovery, and moving toward healthiness [21:24].
- Enabling prolongs dependence. It shields people from the natural consequences of their choices, which often prevents them from hitting the “rock bottom” they need to finally cry out to Jesus for change [21:32].
Doing life together means having the courage to intervene gently when a brother or sister is overcome by sin [19:17]. We aren’t here to condemn or cast out; we are here to restore. This requires a “culture of confession” where we can expose our struggles to the light, knowing that whatever is exposed to the light becomes light [18:25]. When we share our addictions and temptations with trusted family members, we invite accountability and intercessory prayer that leads to healing.
5. Encouragement in the Face of Eternity
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul encourages the church with the news of the resurrection. We don’t mourn like those who have no hope [25:56]. Doing life together means constantly reminding one another that Jesus is returning.
This shouldn’t lead us to “escapism”—simply waiting around for the end. Instead, the knowledge of His return should fuel our mission [28:12]. We motivate one another toward “love and good works” [36:15]. Whether it’s through our marriage ministries, Sabbath dinners, or outreach events, we are constantly pushing each other to be the hands and feet of Christ.
I think of examples in our own community:
- Denise, who was moved to prepare 20 full Thanksgiving meals for those in need [38:12].
- The Bible Blitz team, who spent hours packing evangelistic bags to distribute to our neighbors [38:50].
- Sabbath Dinners, where a simple meal can turn into an intense, Holy Spirit-led time of prayer and deliverance [25:14].
6. The Necessity of Healthy Confrontation
Finally, doing life together requires us to speak the truth in love. Colossians 3:9 tells us not to lie to one another. Lying is an expression of evil, not love [30:32].
Many of us fear confrontation, but we must remember that it was through confrontation that Jesus won our souls from the devil [32:37]. If we avoid healthy, covenant-based confrontation, we miss the opportunity for restoration and breakthroughs. As a general rule: praise in public, correct in private [34:52]. We don’t let the sun go down on our anger because that gives the enemy a foothold in our family [33:46].
Conclusion: Join the Mission
At the end of the day, “doing life together” is a call to action. It’s a call to:
- Love God (The Great Commandment)
- Love One Another (The Family Mandate)
- Equip the Saints (Discipleship)
- Reach the Lost (The Great Commission) [40:44]
If you feel like your leaders or fellow members are hard to “get to know,” the best way to bridge that gap is to join the mission. When we rub elbows in the work of the Kingdom—praying for one another, checking on each other, and serving our community—we stop being just friends and we truly become family [42:12].
Let us not neglect meeting together. Let us keep our eyes on the return of Christ. And most importantly, let us do life together, knowing that we are truly better when we are one.
Watch the full sermon here.