It’s funny how God prepares his children in advance for new seasons. The weekend prior to embarking on the World Race, my pastor spoke on “The Blessing of Community.” I found this ironic because while on the race I would be living in a culture close of community.
During this message, I learned that community can help us in three ways:
- Community Helps Us Grow
Let’s face it, we all have blind spots. We all have issues and shortcomings that we’re blind to while others see them clearly. When we’re surrounded by a strong community of believers, we’re able to help our brothers and sisters see their blind spots, deal with them in a healthy manner, and move forward in their faith walk. Through all of this, we’re able to speak life and truth into one another.
As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17
Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Proverbs 13:20
This point has already been proven true on the WR. Each team meets daily for “feedback”. It’s an opportunity to discuss the day and provide each other with examples of positive and constructive feedback. I’ve never been a fan of constructive feedback because it’s never been given in love. But in WR culture, constructive feedback isn’t a negative thing because it is given and received in love. Feedback is an opportunity to call each other up into the men and women God created us to be and to expose blind spots and shortcomings.
- Community Helps Us Overcome Adversity
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
This, too, has been proved true while on the WR. During feedback, we have had many opportunities to “be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep”. It’s new and exciting to live in a culture where others are honestly happy when you’re happy and truly weep when you weep.
- Community Helps Us Heal
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16
It’s crazy how confessing sins to a community of believers actually brings healing. Confessing our sins to each other exposes our dirty laundry to the light of Jesus and lightens our load. Our community of believers can hold us accountable and can pray for us when we’re struggling.
It’s uncomfortable to tell a group of people what you struggle with; more often than not, at least one person within the group struggles with the same thing. Opening up births vulnerability and commonality and allows others to walk with you through life.
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity – all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
I love reading this passage. It’s a perfect example of what communal living looks like on the race. Every single racer has made sacrifices in order to embark on this 11-month journey. We’ve quit jobs, sold possessions, and raised a heck-of-a-lot of money to travel the world preaching the gospel. We worship together, eat meals together, praise God together, and truly enjoy the fellowship we share together!
