5 Biblical Pillars for a Raw, Real & Reliable Community
Raw = Stripped-down, no masks, no polish—messy humanity on full display.
Real = Honest, consistent, no performance—who you are in private is who you are in public
Reliable = Trustworthy, integral, at your home at 2 am no questions asked – disagree on politics but never abandon you in the ditch.
Core Texts – Acts 2:42-47
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… All the believers were together and had everything in common… They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 “
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another.”
1. FUN – Laughter, real joy and glad hearts doing life together are the soundtrack of a resurrection life
Ecclesiastes 3:4 – “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
Acts 2:46 – “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” Take-away: Make time to feast and laugh together—schedule the meal, clear the calendar, and let joy prove the tomb is still empty.
2. LOYALTY – We are called to belong to each other, in one body, under one voice and one mission
Romans 12:5 – “in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Philippians 1:27 – “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”
Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Take-away: Stay committed to each other in service and prayer; show up for the same house, the same spiritual voice, and the same fight—week after week, no exits.
3. VULNERABILITY – Courage to face your reality, confront hard truths and come under accountability is godly integrity
1 John 1:7 – “But if we walk in the light… we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus… cleanses us from all sin.”
Take-away: Replace avoidance with courage to confront hard talks and accountability through confession—name the sin out loud so the blood can wash it clean.
4. UNITY – We rally around the mission of Christ, not the mirage of consensus.
1 Corinthians 1:10 – “that all of you agree… that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
John 13:35 – “By this everyone will know thayt you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Take-away: Lock arms around the same mission that exists for others—Christ first, love always, disciple-making non-negotiable; everything else is negotiable.
5. GENEROSITY – We are contributors, not consumers; everything we own is on mission.
Acts 2:44-45 – “They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
Acts 4:34 – “There were no needy persons among them… it was distributed to anyone who had need.”
Take-away: Sacrificially share, carry each other’s burdens, and give without expecting return—because we are contributors, not consumers, and no one in the family goes without.