Today’s post introduces you to Ben Connelly’s book, A Field Guide for Genuine Community. The excellent subtitle of his book is the title of this post.
Here’s the big picture:
- Week One: WHY Should I Even Care?
- Week Two: WHO is My Spiritual Family?
- Week Three: WHAT Does a Spiritual Family Do?
- Week Four: WHEN and WHERE Does a Spiritual Family Interact?
- Week Five: HOW do we Start?
Most of the Bible’s commands that translate into English as “you” are plural in their original language: they are written to people together, not to individuals alone.
Ben Connelly
You get all kind of “community” at church…
…so why do you feel so ALONE?
You show up at church every Sunday. You see people you know. You listen to a sermon together. And then you go home feeling just as isolated as you did before. What’s going on?
We all know that a church is supposed to be a community. The trick is to actually make it one.
Communities don’t happen by chance – certainly not in our Lone Ranger culture that values independence and individualism. A truly Christian community must be built by intentional practices that allow for deeper connections, centered on the unity that can only be found in Christ.
In A Field Guide for Genuine Community, longtime pastor and discipleship trainer Ben Connelly shows you that the biblical model for community is the family of God. In twenty-five short, practical readings, he takes you beyond the surface and helps you learn to connect with your brothers and sisters as true family members. The church isn’t meant to be a collection of strangers. God intends for you to find a unified and purposeful household where you truly belong.
Here’s the author’s brief outline of the book:
Week One (Why) dives deeper into the need for true and genuine community. Connelly considers the depth of Christian relations seen the the Bible compared to what we see today, and why we must move from façade to family.
During the first week, the focus is on opening up your home and your heart to welcome others. This involves creating a warm and inviting environment where people feel comfortable and welcomed. It can include simple gestures like hosting a casual gathering, coffee morning, or potluck dinner to encourage initial connections.
Week Two (Who) looks at the different elements of God’s Church. The author looks at realistic expectations about interactions within God’s family, from the historical and global Church to the diverse, unified Christians we interact with most regularly.
In this week, the emphasis is on building trust among community members. It involves actively listening, showing empathy, and fostering open and honest communication. Trust is the foundation of any strong community, so this week may involve activities and conversations aimed at deepening those bonds.
Week Three (What) examines various biblical commands and examples of discipleship together and helps readers apply them to their own lives and groups.
Week three is about personal growth and development within the community. This may include shared learning experiences, workshops, or discussions on topics of mutual interest. The goal is to create opportunities for community members to learn and grow together.
Week Four (When and Where) shows how the moments and places that we already interact in can be used for these kinds of relationships, even in our busy lives.
During this week, the focus shifts towards service and giving back to the community. Members are encouraged to identify ways they can contribute to the well-being of others in the group. This can involve acts of kindness, volunteering together, or supporting one another in times of need.
Week Five (How) combines the previous weeks’ content in to accessible “first steps,” while acknowledging that even the best families are messy.
The final week centers on sustainability and growth. It involves discussing how to ensure the community remains vibrant and how to expand its reach. This may include planning for future gatherings, welcoming new members, and setting goals for the continued development of the community.
These five weeks of actions aim to guide individuals and groups in the process of building and nurturing a genuine and supportive community in the context of hospitality in the home. Each week’s activities are designed to strengthen connections, trust, and shared values among community members.
A Field Guide for Genuine Community
27gen.com 