Back to Basics: Christian Living: Living in Community & Making Disciples

The Church Together: Fellowship & Disciple-Making

Welcome to this vital section of our Back to Basics series, where we explore two foundational pillars of Christian discipleship: living in authentic Christian community and making disciples. The Christian life was never meant to be lived in isolation. From the very beginning of the Church, believers gathered together, sharing life, worship, and ministry. These intertwined callings form the heartbeat of what it means to follow Christ and are essential components of the disciple's journey.

The Necessity of Christian Fellowship

The writer of Hebrews provides a clear exhortation regarding our need for one another: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25, KJV). This passage reveals several vital truths about Christian community that every disciple must embrace.

Firstly, fellowship is not optional—it is a biblical command. The phrase "not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together" makes this abundantly clear. Some believers in the early church had already begun to drift away from regular gatherings, and the writer urgently calls them back. In our modern age, with its emphasis on individualism and self-sufficiency, this warning remains profoundly relevant for disciples seeking to grow in Christ.

Secondly, the purpose of gathering extends beyond mere attendance. We are to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." Christian community should challenge us to grow in love and righteousness. True fellowship involves intentional encouragement, where believers spur one another towards Christlikeness—a hallmark of authentic discipleship.

Bearing One Another's Burdens

The Apostle Paul writes to the Galatian church: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2, KJV). This instruction reveals the practical nature of Christian love within the disciple community. We are not called simply to sympathise with those who suffer, but to actively shoulder their burdens alongside them.

What does it mean to bear another's burden? It might involve providing financial assistance to a brother or sister in need, offering practical help during times of illness, giving counsel to those facing difficult decisions, or simply being present with someone who is grieving. When we carry these loads together, we embody the self-sacrificing love of Christ, who took upon Himself the burden of our sin.

This mutual burden-bearing creates a beautiful interdependence within the body of Christ. No one is so strong that they never need help, and no one is so weak that they have nothing to offer. In God's economy, our weaknesses become opportunities for others to demonstrate Christ's love, and our strengths become tools for serving our brothers and sisters. This is discipleship in action.

Accountability & Mutual Encouragement

Living in Christian community provides the necessary context for accountability and encouragement—two essential elements of discipleship. Proverbs tells us, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17, KJV). Just as iron blades sharpen each other through friction, believers grow sharper in their faith through honest, sometimes challenging, relationships with fellow Christians.

Accountability means giving trusted believers permission to speak truth into our lives, to question our choices, and to challenge us when we stray from God's path. This requires humility and vulnerability—qualities that run counter to our natural pride. Yet without such accountability, we remain dangerously susceptible to self-deception and sin. Every disciple needs accountable relationships.

Encouragement, meanwhile, strengthens us for the journey. Paul frequently exhorted believers to "comfort one another" and "edify one another" (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11, KJV). In a world that often opposes Christian values, we desperately need the regular encouragement that comes from fellow believers who understand our struggles and can point us back to Christ.

Serving with Our Spiritual Gifts

Peter writes, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Peter 4:10, KJV). God has equipped every believer with spiritual gifts—not for personal enrichment, but for building up the body of Christ. Using our gifts is a key expression of discipleship.

Some have gifts of teaching, others of mercy, still others of administration or hospitality. Whatever gifts we have received, we are called to exercise them faithfully in service to our fellow believers. This mutual ministry creates a healthy, functioning church where everyone contributes and everyone benefits.

When we fail to use our gifts, the entire body suffers. Conversely, when we faithfully serve according to our giftedness, the church flourishes, and God receives glory. This is part of what it means to live as faithful disciples.

Resolving Conflicts Biblically

Where people gather, conflict inevitably arises. Jesus anticipated this reality and provided clear instructions for handling disputes: "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican" (Matthew 18:15-17, KJV).

This passage outlines a progression for addressing sin and conflict within the church. Notice that the process begins privately and personally—not with gossip or slander, but with direct, loving confrontation. If private conversation fails to bring resolution, the circle gradually widens, always with the goal of restoration. This biblical approach to conflict is essential for maintaining healthy disciple communities.

Too often, Christians either avoid confrontation entirely or bypass these biblical steps in favour of more comfortable alternatives. Yet Christ's method, though difficult, protects both individuals and the wider community whilst prioritising reconciliation—demonstrating mature discipleship in action.

Understanding the Great Commission: Every Disciple's Calling

Jesus commissioned His followers with these words: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:19-20, KJV).

This mandate—the Great Commission—is not reserved for pastors, missionaries, or evangelists alone. It is the personal responsibility of every disciple of Jesus Christ. As part of our Back to Basics series, we must understand that discipleship naturally leads to disciple-making. We are all called to "go," to "teach," and to "baptise" as we make disciples of all nations.

Sharing the Gospel with Boldness & Grace

Making disciples begins with evangelism—sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with those who do not yet know Him. Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Romans 1:16, KJV).

As disciples, we must proclaim this gospel with boldness, refusing to be intimidated by opposition or cultural pressure. Yet our boldness should be tempered with grace, speaking truth in love and treating all people with dignity and respect. This balance is crucial for effective disciple-making.

Mentoring & Multiplying Disciples

Jesus didn't merely preach to crowds—He invested deeply in a small group of disciples, teaching them to observe everything He commanded. We are called to do likewise, mentoring new believers and teaching them to follow Christ faithfully. This is the essence of disciple-making.

Paul instructed Timothy: "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2, KJV). This principle of multiplication—disciples making disciples who make disciples—ensures that the Gospel advances from generation to generation. It is the natural fruit of living in authentic Christian community.

Bringing It Together: Community & Commission

Living in Christian community and making disciples are not separate callings but complementary ones—two sides of the same coin in our Back to Basics discipleship series. As we dwell together in authentic fellowship, bearing burdens, encouraging one another, and serving with our gifts, we create the ideal environment for spiritual growth and multiplication. And as we make disciples, we expand the community of faith, welcoming new believers into the life-transforming fellowship of Christ's body. This is the beautiful cycle of Christian discipleship: being discipled in community and making disciples who will do the same….

Key Takeaways:

• Fellowship is Essential: Christian community is not optional but a biblical command for every disciple (Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV)
• Bear One Another's Burdens: Disciples are called to actively share in each other's struggles, fulfilling the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2 KJV)
• Accountability Sharpens Us: Like iron sharpening iron, honest relationships with fellow believers help us grow in faith (Proverbs 27:17 KJV)
• Use Your Spiritual Gifts: Every believer has gifts to serve others and build up the body of Christ (1 Peter 4:10 KJV)
• Resolve Conflicts Biblically: Follow Jesus' instructions for addressing sin and conflict with grace and restoration in mind (Matthew 18:15-17 KJV)
• The Great Commission is for All: Every disciple is called to make disciples, not just church leaders (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)
• Share the Gospel Boldly: Proclaim Christ with confidence and grace, never ashamed of the Gospel's power (Romans 1:16 KJV)
• Multiply Disciples: Invest in mentoring faithful believers who will teach others, creating generations of disciples (2 Timothy 2:2 KJV)
• Community and Commission Work Together: Living in authentic fellowship creates the ideal environment for making disciples and expanding God's kingdom