Community

Growing up in a small town, I didn't really think much about community. Everyone has some form of community. In my little town, we all know each other but very few people truly KNOW each other. Very few people actually share life together. When people gather, they do not seek counsel from one another. They do not share their own hardships and struggles. They do not offer words of encouragement.

This is part of being a sinner...We always want to get our fingers pointed at someone else and their problems.

Perhaps that's what's really wrong with gossip. Sure, it's wrong to talk about others, especially when you are speaking things that you do not know to be true. But, more importantly, why waste the opportunity to build one another up in Christ?

If you meet with a believer, share with him the riches of the Gospel! Encourage him with God's Word, truth, and love. Ask him specifically what God has been teaching him or what he has been struggling with. Pray with him and for him.

If you meet with an unbeliever, share with him the riches of the Gospel! Encourage him to know God, explain to him God's Word, truth, and love. Listen to his questions. Pray with him if he will. Pray for him if he won't.

No matter who you meet, he will either be walking with God or not walking with God. Either way, he needs more Gospel!

Take the time to build community, gospel community. Building one another up in Christ is the foundation. Gospel community begins with the daily interactions we have with people.

Proverbs 10:11&13a "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found..."