Romans 12:9-16
Pastor Tim Nguyen
As we continue our series on mental health, it’s most natural to talk about community, because healthy communities and relationships make a huge difference. We need each other, because as we enjoy life together, support each other, speak truth to each other and really empower one another in the mission of God, our mental health is going to be much better than if we were to go at it alone.
So on that note, the question we’re looking at today is: How can we shape an amazing community?
In our context, how do we become the church that Jesus intended? What does that church even look like?
I think a wonderful description of such a church is found in Romans 12:15, where Paul says: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”
An authentic Christ-following healthy church is filled with members who can so deeply identify with one another that they can rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. People who love their neighbours as much as they love themselves. Jesus told us this would be the mark of his disciple. When we get it right, we have a depth of love that is arguably greater than anywhere outside of Christian community.
We’re walking through two points today on how we can cultivate such a community;
- Logic (Where we’re going to look at the why)
- Empathy (Where we’re going to look at how it’s practically lived out)
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