Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus

Everyday Faith

Our goal over the next few weeks will be to understand and grow in the practices that help us live out our faith.

Just like we brush our teeth, comb our hair, we change our clothes, we take a shower. Our faith life has those same daily things we need to be doing to be healthy and growing to be like Jesus.

Things like reading the bible, serving, fellowship and community, and humility. Each week we are going to focus on one of those daily practices for our faith life.

Today we are going to look at the everyday faith practice of fellowship or living life in community.

You cannot read the scriptures, especially the life of Jesus, and come away with a vision of Christianity that is lived in isolation or apart from other believers.

The everyday living out of our faith, as the bible describes it, is a life lived in fellowship with other believers.

And this is not just a new friend group or social club we are supposed to join. The relationships we are to have with other Christians is a deep and meaningful that is rooted in Christ. It’s a relationship or community marked by love and mutual care. It’s marked by a sense of purpose and calling for Christ in our world.

That’s the difference between another group of buddies and true fellowship with other believers. These relationships are an essential part of our everyday faith.

As you read about the life of Jesus in the New Testament, you will see that he lived in constant fellowship with others.

All (4) of the gospels record Jesus calling disciples to follow after him. This tight knit group of 12 disciples did everyday things together.

Their individual stories came together so much so that 2000 years later we just say “the disciples” like they are one.

Friends, that’s life together with Jesus at the center. All of our diverse and unique stories and experiences come together as one with Jesus at the center.

We might with that Jesus said "Yall, like each other and try to get along." but he doesn't. He says, "Love one another"

Friends the boldness and extravagance of this command comes from the reality of how Jesus loves us.

His love is the standard for our relationships.

Together they were devoted to the teachings of the Apostles, fellowship and breaking bread together, and prayer. Together they sacrificed to meet each others needs.

Every day they worshipped together, they ate together, and experienced the blessing of God, together.

Friends, that’s what life together is about, this is what the church has been about from the beginning.

As Jesus looks beyond the cross, down through the generations of people who would come to believe in him.
He doesn’t pray for nice church buildings. He doesn’t pray for full offering plates.He doesn’t that they would be safe and happy. He prays that they would be one.

He prays that believers would experience such unity and togetherness, such value in relationship it would be like Jesus’ own relationship to the Father. That’s what Jesus prays over you, and over me.

How do we take a step towards life together like we see in the New Testament?

I think for many of us, the first thing we have to do is take Jesus at his word that life together is an essential part of following him.

We commit to it, then we commit to do it.

Finally, we enjoy it!