Receiving Community
Jesus calls us and saves us personally as individuals, but his aim is to form a new kind of community built on faith in His mercy. In Luke 17.1-10, he describes a handful of key aspects of his community, offering a vision for life together as disciples. The community of Jesus is not immune from sin, so it requires a sober self-awareness and an eagerness to confess sin and find forgiveness. It also requires an abundance of mercy, as we live together under Jesus' mercy. We also need a ton of humility, learning to do what Jesus has asked - love one another! - with a healthy level of self-forgetfulness. Living this way requires a great deal of faith, which means returning to Jesus again and again, laying ourselves at his feet, and receiving again his mercy to us.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Read Luke 17.1-10. What stands out to you about the kind of community Jesus wants us to be? What seems most challenging or difficult? What seems most life-giving and hopeful?
A community like this must have resources beyond itself -- it must be firmly rooted in the good news of God's mercy to sinners! How does a community keep that news at the functional center?
What are the main competitors for "center" in a community, particularly in the church? What happens when something other than Jesus and his grace becomes the main motive for gathering?
Read Luke 17.11-19. What do the lepers want? What do they receive? Only one returns to Jesus, modeling real faith. What do we learn from his return?
As a community, reflect on how you might grow in this season in confession, faith, and/or service. As we approach Lent, are there some practices you might engage together?
February 12, 2023 - Steve Hart