Christian community is to the mission of Christ what ink is to the printing of the Bible.  Without a people to restore there is no mission of redemption, so without ink there is no Bible printed.  Jesus said, "I will build my church."  His mission was to reclaim a people for His own.  What is the church but a supernatural community.  It is a group of people created by God, redeemed through Christ and sustained by the Holy Spirit.  In other words, it is a community of people brought together by God and for God.

How serious was Christ about building this supernatural community?  Very, He died for it!  You may wonder why I am reminding you of this.  The reason is simple.  I want us to love and cherish the church Jesus died for.

One of the best ways to love and cherish one another here at Parkway is to be involved in each other’s lives through small groups.  Why small groups?  I am glad you asked.  Small group brings you together with other believers who are committed to each other’s good in Christ.  The word "build" that Jesus used when He said, "I will build my church" means to build up, encourage, strengthen, edify, rebuild, or restore.  If we are going to be about Jesus’ mission we must build, encourage, strengthen and help restore one another’s relationship to God.  This is what Christian community is all about.  It’s about building each other up in Christ in a world that is constantly tearing us down.  It’s about encouraging each other to grow in the character of Christ.  It’s about strengthening each other’s resolve to be about expanding the kingdom of Christ through faithful witness.  These things plus so much more were designed by God to happen in and through the body of Christ.

At Parkway, small groups are designed to be the avenue for the regular encouragement, discipleship and edification of each other.  I write this to encourage those of you who are in small groups to continue building up the body Christ died for.  Your faithful Christian presence is used more than you know in the lives of your brothers and sisters.  If you are not plugged in, I want to encourage you to get plugged in.  Make use of small groups as an avenue of great blessing and growth for you and the family of Christ.

May the Lord richly bless us as we are found faithfully building up the church He gave His life for.