 A Christian community should respect and encourage each other, confront each other’s weaknesses, and bear each other’s burden. But how to have such a community?
First: what should a Christian’s attitude be? We tend to focus on ourselves and ignore others. But putting our needs, pleasures, and comfort over others’ would lead to debilitating conflicts, breaking down the community. Focusing on ourselves could be a form of adultery. God hates it. He longs for our undivided love, like a husband jealously longing for the love of his wife (James 4:4-5). Focusing on ourselves is a sign of arrogance, particularly if we think we are better. We might attack others’ fault and avoid them with contempt. God hates arrogance (James 4:6-7). A humble person focuses less on himself. Christians should be humble and should center on and submit to God. Humility is not a sign of weakness. Moses was extremely humble, yet he confronted the powerful Pharaoh and demanded that he gave up his slave labor force unconditionally! Humble Christians have the courage and peace to face evil because they know God is in charge. They could even defeat the powerful devil (James 4:7). If we humble ourselves before the Lord, He will lift us up (James 4:10). Christians should focus on Christ. Remember what Christ said. If we focus on saving our life, we would lose it, but if we focus on Christ and the gospel, we will save our life (Mark 8:34-35). Learn from Christ. He gave up His place in heaven for us, and God the Father glorifies Him, making His name above all names. Learn from many parents, sacrificing themselves for their children and giving them life. Further, the strong should support the weak. Learn to please our neighbors for their good and to build them up (Romans 15:1-2). With such attitudes, the Christian community is not self-centered. Instead, through Christ, they are in complete unity, with God in their midst. Then the world will know our heavenly Father sent Christ, and has loved this community as He has loved Christ (John 17:20-23). Summarized from a Tim Keller sermon. http://www.gospelinlife.com/free-sermon-resource 基督徒群体不以自我为中心 基督徒群体应该相互尊重和鼓励，正视彼此的弱点, 担当彼此的重担。但是如何建立这样的群体呢？ 首先，一个基督徒应该有怎样与人相处的态度? 我们往往会专注自己，忽略别人。但将自我的需求，乐趣和舒适高置于他人之上，会导致相互削弱的冲突分歧，长远会瓦解所在的群体。 专注于自己可能是对上帝不忠的一种形式。上帝恨恶这种态度。祂渴望我们中心无二的爱, 就像丈夫嫉妒般地渴望妻子的愛 （雅各书4:4-5）。 专注于自己也是一个狂妄自大的迹象, 特别是觉得自己比他人好的时候。我们会攻击别人的过错，鄙视地避开他们。上帝恨恶傲慢自大的态度 （雅各书4:6-7）。 一个谦卑的人少集中于自己。基督徒应该自己谦卑，以上帝為中心，顺服上帝。 谦卑不是软弱的标志。摩西为人极其谦和。然而，他面对强大的法老王，要求他无条件地放弃剥削免费的奴工！ 谦卑的基督徒有勇气与平安面对邪恶, 因他们知道上帝在一切的事情上掌權。 他们甚至可以击败强大的魔鬼 （雅各书4:7）。 如果我们在上帝面前谦卑自己，祂必叫我们升高 （雅各书4:10）。 无论如何，基督徒应专注于基督。紧记基督所说的话。如果我们专注于挽救自己的生命，我们将失去它。但是，如果我们专注于基督和福音，我们将挽救自己的生命 （马可福音8:34-35）。 让我们学习基督的榜样。祂为我们放弃了在天堂的地位，而父神荣耀祂，使祂的名超乎万名之上。许多父母也是我们的榜样，他们为自己的子女而牺牲，给孩子以生命。 不仅如此，强者应该支持和托住弱者。学习为了邻舍的益处而取悦他们，建立他们 （罗马书15:1-2）。 基督徒群体如果拥有以上的心态, 就不是自我中心的了。 相反地，他们籍着基督完全地合而為一, 且有上帝住在他们中间。这样，世界就知道我们的天父差遣了基督, 祂爱基督徒群体就像祂爱基督一样 （约翰福音17:20-23）。
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