Today’s post is the second in a series about the spiritual discipline of community.  To read the first post in the series click here.

Show And Tell

When both of my kids were in preschool they had a favorite day of the week.  Though three years apart, on an almost daily basis both would ask me “Is today Show and Tell?”  Show and Tell was their favorite because on the assigned day, they would carefully select an item to share with their class. Depending on the day, their school bag would include anything from a photo album to a favorite toy to a well-loved book.  At the age of four, my daughter would sometimes take a unicorn or a baby doll or a princess book.  At the same age, my son’s bag would hold items such as a dump truck, a transformer or a spy glass.

Some of you reading this knew my kids at the age of four.  However, many of you didn’t.  However, based off the short list of items I just shared, you have an image in your mind of what Kati Ann and Kie enjoyed at the age of four.  You can presume a knowledge of what they were like and what they might have been interested in.  Show and Tell was an outlet to express the unique qualities of their personalities and interests.

What if Jesus had a Show and Tell?  What would He take?  What would best represent His unique qualities, personality and interests to the world?  Jesus does have a Show and Tell.  It’s called the Church.

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The church, God’s community is the Show and Tell to the world. God’s plan is to show the lost world who He is, what He enjoys and cares about through His church.

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Misunderstood

Few disciplines are as misunderstood as community.

Community.  The term conjures up warm fuzzies and images of campfire singing.  It’s peaceful and all is right with the world.  I think of community and I think harmony, folks in agreement and void of complaints.

And then I wake up to reality–the place where the rubber meets the road.  The discipline of community is that messy place where I love someone I’d rather ignore.  Community is including the people I think I don’t need and even secretly believe I’d be better without.

Community isn’t just drawing near to those who are easy to love.  The discipline comes when we choose to deny our flesh and let God’s Spirit love through us.  Community isn’t acting on emotions or personal preference.  Community is about being a show and tell of Jesus.

God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.———--1 Corinthians 5:20-21

Question: From your experience, is the Church a good show-and-tell of what Jesus is about & what He’s interested in?  Why or why not?

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To read more about spiritual disciplines and the how God uses them to make room in our lives for Him to move check out other posts under the category Room To Move.