Day 7 - Grace For Community
14 Days of Prayer and Fasting
Grace For Community
Sunday – Day 7
Thought for Today:
Grace works for us, in us, through us, and with us. Grace empowers us to build community within the most diverse group of people. Those who, from a natural perspective, might not be able to relate, not only relate but also form healthy, vibrant, and life-giving relationships. Yet they can all because of the grace of the Lord Jesus. Grace brings us together, from every tribe, every tongue, and every nation. Grace has called us out of darkness into light, and because we have received grace, we extend it to one another.
That’s why we believe in an authentic community where people are loved to maturity. We believe growth happens in an environment of accountability, care, and belonging. This occurs within the context of a small group of like-minded, relationally connected believers.
Even though relationships can be messy, we know they are necessary. Why? Because relationships are eternal. God’s grace enables us to build connections that last throughout eternity. When we have a shallow approach to community, spiritual formation becomes nearly impossible. You can deepen your walk with Christ through prayer and studying God’s Word, but a Biblical community helps you see how much you have grown and how much you still need to grow. Left on our own, we can become quite pious and appear very holy, but it is in relating to others that we truly show how much we have grown.
A healthy community tests the measure of our maturity, the authenticity of our love, the strength of our commitment, and the depth of our sacrifice. It reveals whether we are selfless or selfish, whether we are willing to serve or always expect to be served. Relationships are where our character is tested, and our spiritual and emotional maturity is revealed. Grace is essential in relationships, and great grace is necessary in a healthy, strong, growing, and vibrant spiritual community.
The good news is that Jesus expects us to be in community. A believer without a healthy community to grow in and grow with is revealing a lack of spiritual understanding. For authentic relationships to be built and a healthy community to be established, a strong commitment is required. You must want to build relationships. You must see the need for relationships. Being a Loner is not a spiritual gift, nor is it a sign of strength or even remotely Biblical. The Proverb writer says it like this in Proverbs 18:1(NKJV): “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.”
In Romans 12, Paul encourages us not to think more highly of ourselves than we should, and then he exhorts us on how to do it. He says recognize that you are not the whole body, you are part of the body, and that you need and belong to one another. We all belong to one another. We must recognize that we are a part of the Body, not the whole Body, and therefore we realize our need to belong to one another.
We all have a need to be loved, encouraged, and corrected. We were created for community and relationships, not for isolation and individuality. Life is better together; life is more rewarding when shared with others. It was God who said, Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for man to be alone… I will make a helper suitable for him.” Here is some food for thought: the first problem that man faced was being alone. The way God solved that problem was to create a woman with whom he could relate and be in a relationship. Men, women are not your problem, they are actually God’s solution to your problem!
God grants us grace to build a healthy community through relationships. Life-giving relationships are oxygen to the soul because they encourage us. Loving relationships are the fuel that keeps our lives moving because they believe in us. Authentic relationships are signposts in our lives because they help guide us.
Where does this take place? Within the context of a small group of like-minded, relationally connected believers. We must ask ourselves how willing we are to build a healthy community that is Christ-centered, Biblically based, and sacrificially committed. Grace is available for our community. Are you in?
Verses to Pray and Meditate on:
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Romans 12:3-5 (NLT)
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Romans 12:9-12 (NLT)
“And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
Acts 20:32 (NLT)
Prayer Focus:
Grace For Community
Sunday – Day 7
Thought for Today:
Grace works for us, in us, through us, and with us. Grace empowers us to build community within the most diverse group of people. Those who, from a natural perspective, might not be able to relate, not only relate but also form healthy, vibrant, and life-giving relationships. Yet they can all because of the grace of the Lord Jesus. Grace brings us together, from every tribe, every tongue, and every nation. Grace has called us out of darkness into light, and because we have received grace, we extend it to one another.
That’s why we believe in an authentic community where people are loved to maturity. We believe growth happens in an environment of accountability, care, and belonging. This occurs within the context of a small group of like-minded, relationally connected believers.
Even though relationships can be messy, we know they are necessary. Why? Because relationships are eternal. God’s grace enables us to build connections that last throughout eternity. When we have a shallow approach to community, spiritual formation becomes nearly impossible. You can deepen your walk with Christ through prayer and studying God’s Word, but a Biblical community helps you see how much you have grown and how much you still need to grow. Left on our own, we can become quite pious and appear very holy, but it is in relating to others that we truly show how much we have grown.
A healthy community tests the measure of our maturity, the authenticity of our love, the strength of our commitment, and the depth of our sacrifice. It reveals whether we are selfless or selfish, whether we are willing to serve or always expect to be served. Relationships are where our character is tested, and our spiritual and emotional maturity is revealed. Grace is essential in relationships, and great grace is necessary in a healthy, strong, growing, and vibrant spiritual community.
The good news is that Jesus expects us to be in community. A believer without a healthy community to grow in and grow with is revealing a lack of spiritual understanding. For authentic relationships to be built and a healthy community to be established, a strong commitment is required. You must want to build relationships. You must see the need for relationships. Being a Loner is not a spiritual gift, nor is it a sign of strength or even remotely Biblical. The Proverb writer says it like this in Proverbs 18:1(NKJV): “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment.”
In Romans 12, Paul encourages us not to think more highly of ourselves than we should, and then he exhorts us on how to do it. He says recognize that you are not the whole body, you are part of the body, and that you need and belong to one another. We all belong to one another. We must recognize that we are a part of the Body, not the whole Body, and therefore we realize our need to belong to one another.
We all have a need to be loved, encouraged, and corrected. We were created for community and relationships, not for isolation and individuality. Life is better together; life is more rewarding when shared with others. It was God who said, Genesis 2:18, “It is not good for man to be alone… I will make a helper suitable for him.” Here is some food for thought: the first problem that man faced was being alone. The way God solved that problem was to create a woman with whom he could relate and be in a relationship. Men, women are not your problem, they are actually God’s solution to your problem!
God grants us grace to build a healthy community through relationships. Life-giving relationships are oxygen to the soul because they encourage us. Loving relationships are the fuel that keeps our lives moving because they believe in us. Authentic relationships are signposts in our lives because they help guide us.
Where does this take place? Within the context of a small group of like-minded, relationally connected believers. We must ask ourselves how willing we are to build a healthy community that is Christ-centered, Biblically based, and sacrificially committed. Grace is available for our community. Are you in?
Verses to Pray and Meditate on:
Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Romans 12:3-5 (NLT)
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Romans 12:9-12 (NLT)
“And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
Acts 20:32 (NLT)
Prayer Focus:
- Take a moment to thank the Lord that you are part of His family and a Christ-centered community.
- Pray for your spiritual community and ask the Lord to guide you in strengthening your connections with others.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you deepen your devotion to fellowship, strengthen your commitment to the spiritual family, and increase your willingness to sacrifice in building community with others.
- Pray that you and others will discover your place in the family and that they will be willing to sacrifice time and comfort to connect with others.
- Ask the Lord for a fresh perspective on what truly matters, a renewed vision of a Christ-like community, and an obedient heart to follow through on what Jesus desires from you.
- Take action! Head to the building to meet with your fellow brothers and sisters and be the church!
Posted in 2026 Corporate Fast