There are many approaches one can take to create Christian Community but we offer the approach of forming or joining a Christian Round Table, or something like it. A Round Table is a small scale community of Christians who come together to help each other in practical ways. The emphasis is on spreading the gospel through preaching, exampleship, and influence and the primary means of working together is based on the concept that the giver gains. The group itself focuses on mutual support, mutual accountability, evangelism, and creating a sense of Christian community and even Christian civilization with all believers.

The strength of this idea for organized action is also its greatest weakness; it requires a strong desire to give of yourself to help fellow believers and to spread the gospel. People who sincerely want to serve in fellowship and evangelism are not going to be out off by setbacks or the need for patience and perseverance. On the other hand, the entire concept become perfectly worthless if the primary motivation for participation is selfish gain.

So what should a Christian community do?

 

I. Love One Another-

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

 

In practical terms a community is a group of people who share the same general beliefs and values and who view the success and welfare of every other member of their community as if it was their own welfare and success. A Jesus Community is based on the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ and asks first what is right and good and beneficial for the gospel and for Christ and then what is good for promoting the welfare and success of every single member of the community.

 

II. Make Your Calling Sure-

2 Peter 1: 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

 

Through the normal operations of a Jesus community members will be able to discover and learn what their calling is in God by doing the things they enjoy doing and are compelled to do by the Spirit of God rather than through a program or a system that makes them fit into a cookie-cutter mold. As members learn about the calling of God they transition, with one another’s support and advice, into a situation where there is harmony between how they earn a living and how they serve Christ.

 

III. Be Students of the Word-

I Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 

Because members meet for informal, conversational bible studies and host special speakers who are gifted at preaching and teaching (most will be from within the group) each member has an excellent opportunity to gain a practical and in-depth understanding of the Word of God that instructs them, gives them sound doctrine, and enables them to be more effective at talking about the Bible to others.

 

IV. Be One Body in Christ-

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

 

Members will go beyond mere “church services” to experience a deeper and more practical level of fellowship and involvement, interdependence, both with God and His People, so that they feel like they are in His presence daily, can be led by His peace, and experience His love directly by the Spirit, from God through fellow believers, and as conduits of His love towards others in the community.

 

V. Walk In The Spirit-

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

 

Members of the community will stop this nonsense of “going to church” out of an obligation, even though they don’t enjoy it or get little out of it in terms of spiritual growth or practical help for daily living, to experience a strong sense of community with God and fellow believers that leads to a much deeper, more intimate, and stronger walk in Christ. Holiness, power, supernatural help, and experiencing God’s provision are a a by-product of this community of love.

 

VI. Be Witnesses-

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

Empowered by knowledge, close support from fellow community members, and the anointing of God that comes from being in fellowship with Him members will find that they are effective witnesses even if right now they may feel tongue tied, shy, or in some way inadequate as witnesses.

 

VII. Renew Our Minds-

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

Families will link with families, children with children, and friends with friends so that the culture, the support, the encouragement, the family, and the love we receive are not polluted by worldly ideas thus reducing the level of temptation we experience and increasing the level of encouragement to live the godly life not out of fear or obligation but out of a thankful heart for the good God has wrought in us, through us, and to us through others.

 

VIII. Care For One Another-

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

 

In practical ways community is not feelings and friendships, bible studies, shared worship, and etc. These things are very important but their impact, when we take the idea of community out of a ceremony or a special event or service, is to apply these things to our whole life so that we end up using these things and doing things with one another to reduce our expenses, increase our earning power, and provide for financial stability even in hard times.

 

IX. Be The Salt of the Earth-

Matthew 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 

When we experience this kind of community something powerful happens, and we won’t even have to plan for it or concern ourselves over much with it. That “something” that happens is INFLUENCE. As we gain in faith and God responds with Divine providence and supernatural power we find that His People soon become the head and not the tail in all things, including spiritual affairs, political affairs, economic affairs, and social affairs. As we create and grow in Christian community all opposition fades, we culminate a spiritual revolution that begins within our hearts with such strong influence over society in general that the final result looks to the world like, as was said of Paul, we are turning the world upside down.

Benefits of membership will include fellowship with like-minded believers, pooling of resources to enable members to substantially reduce monthly expenses while increasing earning power, greater than ever opportunities to reach the lost and pursue the call of God, and far more security through the principle that each member is just as concerned for the welfare and success of other members as they are for themselves.

 

The goals of a community building group should be as follows:

 

1. to make sure that every member of every local group has a bible and knows how to use it

 

2. to enable every member of every local group to witness to the lost

 

3. to ensure that all members of every local group have all their physical needs met

 

4. to mobilize world opinion and to lobby governments on behalf of the members of our local group in defense of their right to be secure in their persons, civil liberties, and property

 

5. to link those who have resources with those who need them in a cooperative relationship

 

6. to establish Communities of believers in every community in every nation on this planet

 

7. to build “missions support hubs” at strategic locations around the world that support local groups in the region, promote the gospel, and act as a safe haven for Christian refugees or Christians feeling persecution

 

8. to so empower local groups that each local group is able to bring a direct witness of the faith to every member of their city/region at least 7 times in any 90 day period

 

9. to provide traveling speakers who tour the world preaching the gospel, encouraging believers, and training leaders so that in every nation each local group hosts speakers from many different nations thus broadening our global sense of Christian community (these speakers will also be taught about life in the places they visit and write about what they learn for the edification of all)

 

10. to see every member of every community have a pen pal relationship with at least two other believers from different nations

 

ALL members of all local groups need to be committed to do their best, as God provides, to assist all other members. We sincerely believe that the very best God has done for any member in our global community He can do for all. For instance, we wish to see the great faith and passion of those who are living in less well off places come also to places where there is more prosperity and less faith and we hope to se the prosperity God has given in some places go also to those places that are less well off. By cooperating together we are certain that ALL members of our global community will increase in all good things: freedom, faith, and even prosperity.

God’s will is for the Body of Christ to triumph through waging spiritual warfare so that in every physical community in every nation there is a spiritual community of believers preaching the gospel personally to every lost soul in their region until every person on this planet is directly confronted with the need for salvation. This may seem like an impossible dream, but if we allow ourselves to be limited we replace God with something else, we let fear and doubt become our gods. If Jesus said “go ye into all the world” He meant precisely that. If He sent us He will enable us to go and He will provide for us as we go so that no power on this planet can get in our way.

 

What will life be like? Here are some of the types of activities you might want to consider:

 

1. Weekly Fellowship Meetings- This is a time for socializing, bible study, and networking. The meeting opens with four questions: Is anyone here in need of advice or help with something they don’t have the answer to yet? Does anyone need an introduction or a referral from anyone here? Does anyone have an example of wisdom at work to share for our edification? Does anyone here know of a folly they wish to share for our admonishment?

 

2. Online Buying Club- Set up a wholesale site and instead of profiting by marking items up  keep the prices at their wholesale level. This could be expanded to include a local Grocery Buying Club working through a food distributor. We will help you to do this by giving you all the material you need and getting you in touch with potential suppliers (it only takes 10-20 families to make this happen).

 

3. Trade Network- this is in essence a barter exchange which allows you to buy/sell without cash trading barter units instead of money to dramatically increase your earning power and your buying power.

 

4. Christian Education- this is can be an online based daily devotional, a weekly bible study in MP3 format, and an online course for personal empowerment. Think of it as an online chapel; don’t think it can or should replace your local church but if you have no access to a church this should help.

 

5. Local Fellowship Circles- this would be a group that meets weekly and is based on the idea that each member views the success of every other member as their own and also views the setbacks of every other member as their own. You can hold a “chapel service” weekly using our Christian education material. This CAN lead to a full time ministry but it doesn’t have to.

 

6. Information Network- this is an information network you can set up to make sure each member has access to real news from all perspectives and background information that might be useful to them.

 

7. Political Action Group- this group would represent the political interests of members and seek ways to influence political parties and governments.

 

 

These are, of course, not the ONLY activities you can develop and participate in. We will offer many more as we proceed and we will expand upon these services.

There are many things a Round Table, or something like it, can do, but the two most important things it will do involve Christians helping each other and Christians reaching out to the lost.

 

In order to help each other we need the following:

 

1. Mutual accountability- we must rebuke, reprove, and exhort one another to be more like Christ in terms of love, holiness, and power.

 

2. Christian unity- we need to be unified as believers not only with people we know or who are from our local ecclesia but with all believers from all churches, so long as they are actually believers.

 

3. Mutual support- when we have burdens we need to bear one another’s burdens, this can come in the form of advice, a job lead, a gift of help, or just listening sympathetically.

 

In reaching out to the lost we need the following:

 

1. Preaching- we must confront the lost with a strong message of repentance from dead works and belief in Christ calling them out of the kingdom of darkness and into the Kingdom of light.

 

2. Demonstrating- when we walk in power, in terms of the supernatural help of His Spirit, and live holy lives as good examples we become the word of God to other people, we literally can be the only bible some people read.

 

3. Influencing- in whatever duties, roles, or measure of authority we have in this life we must seek to make decisions that demonstrate the truth and as we adhere to to the truth people will see how powerful it is and be drawn. We must actively seek opportunities to be such an influence.

 

4. Distributing- as God blesses us with increase, and He will, we must distribute it first to our own needy and then to the lost in need who will see in this blessing we have to share with them concrete proof that God loves them and that His ways get the best results.

 

When building Christian Community you do not want the BEST QUALIFIED people, you want the MOST WILLING. God calls the willing, not the most qualified. You may think “I don’t have anything to offer here” but you do if you are willing to let God move in you and through you to others.