Unlike the building or expansion of a physical structure, however, our "building" does not have to focus first on the foundation and then the expansion. Both can and should be taking place at the same time. In fact, each will strengthen the other.

Community
Community is "common unity." Christian community is the coming together of sisters and brothers in Christ around a common mission and a common understanding of who we are called to be, as individuals and as a congregation. The community we build will be those who come to know Christ through our ministry (locally and globally) and those who already know Christ, but become a part of our congregation because they identify with our mission and vision.

The mission around which we build our community is summed up in the words of Jesus in what have become known as the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, respectively:

One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?

Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important:  Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the other commandments and all the

demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." 

Matthew 22.35-40 (NLT)

Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28.18-20 (NLT)

Our mission, then, briefly stated, is "to love God with all our heart, soul and mind, to love our neighbors as ourselves and to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations."

Community becomes real when members pray for and care for one another in practical ways (James 5.16; Ephesians 6.18; Galatians 6.1-2), hold one another accountable in walking in a manner worthy of the calling we have received (Ephesians 4.1; Colossians 1.10) and become a part of the mission and ministry of the local congregation through the discovery and use of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12.1-13).

The bricks and mortar in the building of Christian Community, then, are Community Care and Christian Formation.