Comunidade
A comunidade cristã é essencial para o crescimento da fé. A Bíblia ensina que fomos criados para viver em comunhão — edificando-nos, encorajando-nos e servindo uns aos outros.
Viver em unidade
Os que creram eram um coração e uma alma. A comunidade primitiva partilhava tudo e vivia em harmonia e alegria.
All the believers thought and felt the same way. None of them claimed anything they had as their own, but shared everything with each other.
They committed themselves to what the apostles had taught them, and to the fellowship of the believers, "breaking bread" and praying together.
Day after day they continued to meet together in the Temple, and ate together in their homes. They enjoyed their meals humbly and happily. They praised God, and everyone thought favorably of them. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
They all joined together in prayer, together with the women and Mary, Jesus' mother, and his brothers.
While Peter was kept in prison the church prayed earnestly to God for him.
For where two or three gather together in my name, I’m there with them."
Edificação mútua
Vivam em harmonia uns com os outros. Não haja divisões entre vós. A comunidade cresce quando cada membro contribui.
Brothers and sisters, I plead with you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you all agree and that you’re not divided. Instead develop a united attitude and purpose.
For it was through one Spirit that we were all baptized into one body. It doesn’t matter whether we are Jews or Greeks, slave or free—we all were given the one Spirit to drink.
Just as there are many parts to the body, but they don’t all do the same thing, so we are one body in Christ, even though we are many—and we all belong to one another.
Think about one another. Don’t consider yourself more important than others; live humbly. Don’t be conceited.
Accept those who are still struggling to trust in God, and don’t get into arguments over personal opinions.
May the God who gives patience and encouragement help you to be in full agreement among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,
Now I’m pleading with you my fellow-believers: watch out for those who cause arguments and confuse people about the teachings you learned. Stay away from them!
Amor e compromisso
Não deixemos de congregar. O vínculo perfeito é o amor — ele une a comunidade e produz frutos que duram.
Let’s think about how we can motivate one another to love and to do what is good. We should not give up meeting together, as some have done. In fact we should be encouraging one another, especially as you see the End approaching.
Above all, love one another, which is the perfect bond that will hold you together.
Make every effort to remain one in the Spirit through the peace that binds you together.
How good, how delightful it is when people live together in harmony!
Finally, you should all have the same attitude. Be sympathetic and love each other. Be compassionate, and humble.
Friends, if this is the way God loves us, we ought to love one another like this too.
But if we are living in the light, as he is in the light, then we share in this friendship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, makes us clean from every sin.
There’s no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female—you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s children, and you are heirs of the promise!
Help widows who don’t have a family.
I tell you the truth, whoever welcomes anyone I send welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me."