We try to find it in clubs, on teams, through online platforms, and at church.
For a while, it feels real… But it can vanish in a moment. Circumstances change, disagreements happen, people let you down, and people move on. And we’re left with the feeling that the “community” we found couldn’t live up to its promise.
Many know what it’s like to be hurt or disappointed by community. But we have all viewed relationships from a consumerist mindset more than we think.
We want the freedom of choice, flexibility, and convenience in every aspect of our lives, including friendships. But this ever-pressing need for autonomy and individuality comes at the expense of deep, authentic relationships. It’s easier to walk away than endure hard things.
But here’s the thing: the human heart was never designed for consumer relationships. It was made for covenant relationships.
Covenant relationships require commitment to another person. You commit to giving and receiving grace, to being offended, to assuming the best intentions, and to taking responsibility when you’ve failed. In these kinds of communities, we:
But how is this possible? Well, we have a Savior who went first.
When we follow in the steps of a Savior like that, the Holy Spirit gives us the grace we need to love people—who are different from us, who disagree with us, and who sometimes hurt us. But in that tension of disappointment and grace, we find real community.
Jesus always remained committed when it came to love, and so should we.
Want to dive deeper into learning about the kind of community we were made for? Check out our sermon series guide on the book of Philippians, or watch the most recent sermon from our Philippians sermon series.
