In John 13:34-35 Jesus says this: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Last summer, about a dozen adults and two babies from Keller Park Church made a trip to Chicago to visit Reba Place Fellowship to learn about a community of Christians who have been sharing life together for over 50 years. One lesson I learned during this visit is that living in close community gives you countless opportunities to love others. However, there are also plenty of opportunities for disagreement, hurt feelings, annoyance, jealousy and conflict. Striving for intentional community means loving others on purpose by following Christ's examples of forgiveness, honesty, accountability, servanthood, and oh so much more.
Paul beautifully sums up the joy that comes from intentional community in his final greeting, 2 Corinthians 13:11- "Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you."
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