“Uncommon Community”
(Ephesians 4:1-16)
In the text for us today, Paul gives us his prescription for uncommon community. An uncommon community is one that is unconditional, unusual, unconventional or unlike any other in what and who we are as a people of God. Every group or community, including church, has a set of rules for inclusion and exclusion. To be an uncommon community means to be inclusive and open-minded to one and all, extending radical hospitality. It means to be unlike any other community in our attitude, behavior, acceptance and forbearance of each other. It is a grace filled community where our ability to forgive and love is unparalleled.
We see an example of such an uncommon community at the end of Acts 2, where all who believed were together and had everything in common. They broke bread and ate their food with glad hearts. They sold their possessions and goods and distributed the proceeds to all. As a result, the community enjoyed the goodwill of all the people. An uncommon community is marked by passion for loving, serving, encouraging, forgiving and other actions involved in building up one another and belonging to the body. It is a community where everyone experiences the community in its richest and most uncommon form.
—
Tezenlo Thong, Pastor
Simpson United Methodist Church
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