WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: In 140 characters or fewer, write your tweet-prayer for the day. Social networking ‘The pursuit of individualism has led us to this place of hunger for community, not of blood or nation but communities of choice’, says author and futurist Leonard Sweet, who suggests that eBay is one of the best expressions of community for postmoderns because ‘where else can they participate so fully and have their lives changed by the experience?’ A web 2.0 site facilitates sharing and interaction, and millions of people log into social networking sites daily to experience some form of community. But what about the development of offline communities? Isn’t that what church should be about? Community After the excitement of the Pentecost season, Luke enthusiastically describes one of the most important features of the early Christ-followers – a commitment to community. Caring for one another, sharing all things in common, cultivating unity and practising grace were all signs of modelling the gospel and living as the true people of God. Mentioning the generous gift from Joseph of Cyprus was not to promote him, but about describing the kind of selfless sacrifices that were taking place. Community – a wonderful way to work out the love agenda of Jesus and what a challenge for us today as we busy ourselves within this multitasking, mega-hectic but often lonely and isolating age. Let’s get digital in an offline kind of way. Respond: In your experience, do these verses in Acts 4 describe your church community? Be thankful for the similarities and consider how you can develop what is lacking. http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-06-09