Christian community helps answer the profound longing of the human heart to be deeply loved and deeply known at the same time. It's a space where it's possible to really tell the truth about your deepest struggles and yet still be loved and welcomed—a community not just of truth but trust. What does that kind of community look like? It looks like a band of believers who pray for each other, confess their sins to each other, and restore each other. Passages cited in this message include James 5:13-20 and Matthew 18:15-17.

2. A Community of Grace

Salvation by grace is the crucial foundation of Christianity, distinguishing it from all other world religions. But how does grace affect community? The famous parable of the prodigal sons shows that sin and self-righteousness inevitably destroy community but that the grace of God creates community—a community marked by love, diversity, and humility. Passages cited in this message include Luke 15:11-32, Romans 15:7, Romans 14:13, Ephesians 4:2, Ephesians 4:32, Isaiah 53:6, and Joel 3:13.