I’ve been thinking a lot about community lately. On a recent visit to The Hill Ministries in Shawnee, Kansas, where my two sons serve as worship pastor and media coordinator, the Sunday sermon was from Mark 2:1–12, the account of four friends who collaborated to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus because they knew Jesus could heal him.
We’re not told much about the man, but I wonder if the four men had been his friends for a while. Had they felt powerless to help him? Did he feel like a burden to his family? When word spread about Jesus’ miracles; did the man think, “Well, that’s great, but He probably won’t come by my house and I sure can’t get to the meeting.”
We don’t know, but Mark does tell us the four men didn’t let the crowd stop them. (I do hope they helped the homeowner repair the roof.) They had faith in Jesus, and they worked together to get their friend there. Jesus took it from there, pointing out the real issue—with all of us—is about forgiveness, but he honored the friends’ faith and demonstrated his authority through physical healing.
Mark passage is not the only New Testament writer who describes working together to bring people to Christ. Paul sums it up nicely in 1 Corinthians 3, using an analogy from agriculture to point out that one person may plant the gospel in someone’s heart, another may water the seed, but God works in the person’s heart to bring results.
James 5 encourages those who are sick to “call for the elders of the church” to pray, implying regular involvement in Christian fellowship with appropriate leadership so they would know whom to call.
As our culture brings more questions than answers, many people today are searching or struggling. I don’t have all the answers, and I suspect, neither do you. What I do know is what God has done in people like my parents whose experience impacted mine, and how my own story has led me to continued and stronger faith. I can share that. It may not resonate with everyone, but it may plant a seed. Maybe you, or another believer, can water that seed. Or perhaps several of us have a concern for the same acquaintance, and as we pray in unity and encourage that person, our combined efforts bring them to Christ.
I’ve thought a lot about the benefits I get through Christian community—encouragement, accountability and more—but now I’m also thinking about community in terms of working together to help others find Christ while we have the opportunity. Community can come through the local church, of course, but also the global church as we pray and give to mission efforts. It can come through civic involvement with other believers for good causes in the community. Whatever the avenue, community helps us share the gospel. I hope we don’t have to tear off a roof, but I’m renewing my commitment to work with others and bring those spiritually paralyzed friends to Jesus.
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