Throughout the rest of September, we are going to explore what it means to be a family of faith. First, we must start with the notion of community. On the one hand, this is an obvious starting place. After all, the church is the gathered body of believers. It is the community of Christ. On the other hand, we can be easily tempted into cheapening the notion of community through taking it for granted and through idealized visions.
So, we must ask, What does it mean to truly be a Christian community? To really be a family of faith? Simply put, it is a return to understanding that the community is built upon and centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ. Now, you might be saying, “Caleb, that’s rather obvious, is it not? That’s the whole point of why we’re here, right? I mean, it’s even in our name: Manchester Church of Christ!”
Yet, is it not also true that so often God is calling us back to the obvious, simple, and elementary? In some ways, this is the story of the Hebrew people coming out of Egypt. This is the story of the Israelites returning back to Jerusalem post-exile. This is the story of the first disciples and early church. And it is our story, too. Diving into what it means to be a family of faith and Christian community will not be new or groundbreaking. Instead, it is a call to remind us of who we truly are and why we’re gathered together in the first place.
Dinner Table Conversations:
Adult & Teen Table Talk:
- Why do you think we are so tempted to take the Christian community for granted?
- What part of “Church life” do you most idealize or romanticize? How does viewing it as a divine reality instead of an utopia change your perspective?
Little Learners’ Table Talk:
- Why do you think God wants us to be with other Christians every week?
Sermon Title: Community
Sermon Series: Family of Faith in Manchester (2026)
Sermon Passage: Psalm 133:1-3
Closing Scripture: 1 Peter 2:9-10
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