Creating a Community for Jesus

Creating a Community for Jesus

Jesus taught his disciples that whenever two or three people gather in his name he will be present with them. Many Christians have taken this to mean that he will be present in every gathering of Christians for any reason or purpose, including prayer meetings, Bible studies, and worship services.

1. Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth is the process by which a person’s old nature, dominated by sin, is replaced with a new nature, filled with the Holy Spirit. This happens through the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only way to receive the forgiveness and power of God. This is a gradual process that takes place in every follower of Jesus, but there are things you can do to help accelerate your spiritual growth.

Like any other plant, you want your spiritual plant to grow in a healthy environment. That’s why you put it in good soil, water it, and remove any weeds that might steal its nutrients. You can do the same thing for your spiritual life by spending time in the word of God, getting together with other believers, and removing toxic people from your life.

The Bible has a lot to say about spiritual growth, and it is clear that a mature Christian exhibits the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control. But there are many different "paths" to spiritual maturity that are promoted by leading voices in contemporary mainstream spirituality. Most of these paths focus on achieving a higher state of consciousness or self-improvement through meditation, prayer, or study or ritual.

One of the most important scriptures that teaches us about spiritual growth is found in Matthew 18:20. This verse explains that Christ is present wherever two or three are gathered in His name. This is a powerful teaching that shows the divine presence of Jesus, and it also encourages Christians to come together often to worship in his name.

However, this verse is often misused to justify a variety of unbiblical practices. For example, some people claim that just having a group of two or more Christians in the same room constitutes church because it is “in His name.” This is not the context of what Jesus meant when He spoke these words, and it does not apply to all gatherings of Christians.

2. Community

The Lord taught His disciples that if two or three were gathered together in His Name, He would be in their midst. This is one of the key foundational teachings of Church history and has been a great encouragement to the people throughout the centuries. Sadly, it has also been misapplied in many ways. community for jesus

In many circles, this verse is used to support the idea that every Christian meeting is a gathering of the church. The problem is that this verse comes from a very specific context related to rebuke, discipline, and forgiveness and cannot simply be pulled out of its context to apply to every Bible study, prayer group, or social gathering of believers.

There are certainly times and places where it is appropriate to say that God is present with those who gather, but this passage only applies in a very limited context of church governing matters and carries with it no guarantee that He will be present in any specific prayer or worship gathering.

On BYU-Idaho, we see this spirit and purpose of gathering in many different ways. In classrooms, home evening groups, chapel services, and in student wards and stakes, it is common to see the power of righteous unity bring assurance, encouragement, and a sense of purpose greater than ourselves.

This kind of community is not always easy. Loving other people-getting involved in their lives-is messy and challenging. Yet, it is essential to spiritual growth. When Christians have a strong sense of community, they can help each other to grow, face challenges, and keep moving forward with the Lord’s purposes.

Unfortunately, many Christians have not understood the Lord’s teaching on this subject and, with good intentions, have formed different Christian fellowships of their own devising. Unfortunately, these various fellowships have become divided in doctrine and practical function. This is not what the Lord intended. Rather, the Holy Spirit is the divine Gatherer and He leads exercised Christians to the place of His appointment. Only by the power of His presence can they be a united, unified people.

3. Discipleship

If a group of Christians meet for a prayer or Bible study, it’s important that they gather in Jesus’ Name. This is one way that they can guarantee His presence in the meeting.

Many Christians have taken Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:20 and applied them to any gathering of Christians at any time or place. They believe that if two or more believers meet, Christ’s promise is true: “Wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” This view is not biblical.

When Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 18, He was speaking in a church setting. He was telling the disciples that if they were to meet in His name, it would ensure His presence. In addition, He was referencing Jewish law regarding church discipline. Jesus was using this law to teach the disciples how to handle disputes between church members.

Moreover, He was telling them that when they met together as a church in His name, it gave Him authority to bind and loose. This is a powerful principle in the church that can help protect the integrity of God’s Word and the purity of the Body of Christ. Whenever the church is gathered in Jesus’ name, it becomes a place where spiritual blessings are released.

In addition, when the church is gathered in His name, it proclaims that Christ is sovereign over the entire world. In a similar manner to how a flag is displayed outside an Embassy, churches are like ambassadors that point to the King and his kingdom.

Finally, when the church is gathered in His Name, it is a reminder of all that Jesus accomplished on the cross and through his resurrection. This is a powerful reminder that we are not alone and that He is in control of everything that happens. This is a powerful encouragement to worship Him in every circumstance and to live for Him all the day long. As we worship and praise Him in the assembly of the church, we become more mature to look more like Him.

4. Worship

One of the most difficult aspects of spiritual growth for many Christians is recognizing that they need to be gathered together. Jesus’ promise that He would be present wherever two or three are gathered in His name is sometimes used as a broad basis for Bible study groups, prayer meetings, and other informal gatherings. However, if the Lord owned with His presence every group of believers who gathers in their various locations on earth, He would be sanctioning the very thing that He decries (Romans 12:28).

The New Testament unveils a clear rhythm for the life of the Church, and weekly gathered worship on the Lord’s Day is a key element in it. Christians assemble to hear God speak as His Word is read and preached, to call on His Name collectively in prayer, to receive the sacraments, to give back to Him as He calls for it from His people, and to be baptized by His Spirit into His Body for the mission of glorifying Him and making Him known.

Corporate worship provides a safe and welcoming space where Believers can learn to trust in the security of God’s promises and to experience His grace. It is a place where we can be encouraged to face the dangerous world around us with confidence that Jesus’ power and authority have been given to His church to use for His glory, even as He draws all men to Himself.

While Christ’s presence is technically always with believers, there is something very special about the way He is present with His Church as she assembles to worship Him. His presence comes down as a powerful blessing upon the Word, the prayers, and the sacraments, and it brings His grace with it to empower the ministry of the Church and to bring about his eternal purposes. It is in these times that we remember and re-member the full life of Jesus, which gives the gathered Church its power to pray, teach, and proclaim his gospel. It is in the midst of this public worship that we are able to experience our Lord’s presence and hear His voice clearly.