Building Communities of Grace
Scripture: “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2.2)
Main Point: The Master sends restored people to build communities where canceled people find home.
Paul’s vision for the church is beautiful: truth and grace passed from person to person, generation to generation. Timothy received mercy and truth from Paul. Timothy would pass it to faithful men. Those men would teach others also. An ever-expanding community of grace.
This is God’s design for His church—not a community of perfect people, but a community of forgiven people who extend to others the mercy they’ve received. The ten lepers were healed and restored to community. One returned to thank Jesus, but all were sent back to their villages as living testimonies of the Master’s mercy.
We are that testimony today. We’re people who have been canceled by our sin, alienated from God, standing outside the village. But the Master had mercy on us. He cleansed us through His blood. He restored us to community—this imperfect but forgiven gathering of believers.
Now He sends us out to build communities where canceled people find restoration, where lonely people find belonging, where alienated people find home. Not perfect communities, but grace-filled ones. Places where mercy is shown because mercy has been received.
Reflection: How can your church become a more grace-filled community for the alienated? What specific actions can you take to help build this kind of community?
Prayer: Merciful Master, You have restored me to community. Now send me out to build communities of grace where others can find home. Use me to extend Your mercy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Responses