Living As One

Objectives

At the end of the teaching assembly, the MFC members are expected to:

1. Realize that God called us to be brother and sister to each other.

2. Value the importance of living as one community. 

3. Commit to follow the example of the early Christian community. 

Expanded Outline

Activity

1. Name at least five of your closest brothers and sisters in MFC.

2. Send a message to them now saying “Thank you for being a true brother/sister to me.”

I. Introduction

“You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters.” 1 Peter 1:22

As MFC, as Christians, we have a special kind of love because we are brothers and sisters in the Lord. We are brothers and sisters because we are joined together in Christ. This relationship became so clear to us when we entered a covenant relationship with God and with each other. This basic relationship as brethren is crucial as we pursue our life together as MFC.

II. Living as One

Yes, brothers and sisters, it is crucial that we learn how we can live as one in MFC! This is because people will only believe that we are in Christ if we can be able to live as one. Jesus desires that we live as one, as a brother and a sister to one another. He is so concerned about it that He even commanded it.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

But unfortunately, most Christians are not living it out. We are now living in a time where Christians are very much divided. Most of our relationship with other Christians lacks the concern and the commitment to love and take care of each other as commanded by the Lord. Thus, we are failing in our call to be a good witness of Christ to the world. This should not be the case for us in MFC.

III. Living as a Community 

“I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

 St. Paul admonished the Christian community in Corinth to be perfectly united in mind and heart. He wants them to be able to live as one. This is also what we must aspire to as we strive to live as one community in MFC. But the question is how? How can we truly live as one? What must we do to be truly one? Where can we find a model that we can imitate so that we can know how to live as one?  Well, we don’t need to look far, we just need to look at the bible read from the book of Acts, and learn from the early Christian community.

IV. The Early Christian Community 

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47

1. Devoted to Teaching and Fellowship

Just like the early Christian community, we in MFC must be devoted to attending our Chapter Teaching Night and Chapter Assemblies. This is very important as we strive to live as one. Why? Because it is in our:

• Chapter Teaching Night where we received the teachings in our community. It is in these teachings that we learn how to live our lives as Empowered Christians. It is also where we received some of the formation courses that allow us to have the same values.   By attending these teachings, we are learning together so that we can grow together.

• Chapter Assemblies where we share our encounters with the Lord with the whole community. This is where we share how we experience God’s presence in every joy and grief that we encounter in life. This is where we allow ourselves to be used by God to touch others simply by sharing our lives with each other. By attending these assemblies, we are in fellowship with each other which allows us to grow closer to each other.

By attending these activities, we allow the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts and minds so that we can have the same heart and mind of God. By attending these activities, we become a community that lives as one. 

2.   The Breaking of Bread

Just like the early Christian community, we in MFC must strive to grow in our sacramental life as one. That is why we must celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in all our activities. 

This is because the Mass is the “source and summit” of our faith. This belief is rooted in the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the Church. Being the highest form of worship, it is during the Mass, where we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, which strengthens our unity with Him and with each other. This is the reason why we celebrate the Mass in all our major events. This is also the reason why it is highly encouraged that a Chapter goes to mass together before they start their Chapter assemblies. By celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass together, we become a community that lives as one. 

3.   Had Everything in Common

Just like the early Christian community, we in MFC must share our resources to strengthen our community. That is why we must share our time, talent, and treasure to build the community which is the Body of Christ. 

• Sharing our Time – we make ourselves available to serve the Lord and our brothers and sisters.

• Sharing our Talent – we offer our gifts and talents to serve the Lord through the community. We also used our gifts and talents to help our brothers and sisters. 

• Sharing our Resources – we make our resources available for the needs of the community. We make use of our material blessing to further the mission of our community by giving our tithes and by giving financial contributions to the work of our community (ex. LCSC, NoNe). 

4.   Gives to Those in Need

Just like the early Christian community, we in MFC must be committed to taking care of each other. We must be cognizant of each other’s needs and see how we can help.  

• Financial Need – As we try to help our brethren with their financial needs, we must also remember to practice prudence and proper stewardship. Thus, when we give financial support to a brother, we must always follow the guidelines and wisdom of our leaders. 

• Guidance and Direction – We try to help our brethren to discern and make decisions in life. That is why we make ourselves available to the pastoral care of our household servants. We also make time for one-to-one sessions. 

• Loving Correction – We strive to improve and grow in our Christian life by giving our brothers and sisters the right to lovingly correct us. 

5.    Ate in Their Homes

Just like the early Christian community, we in MFC must meet in our homes to break bread and praise the Lord. That is why we need to be present in our household.

It is in our household where we praise the Lord together. It is where we lift our thanksgivings and petitions to the Lord together. It is where we share our life victories and defeats together. It is where we share a meal together.

By attending our household, we allow each other to transform one another so that we be the man and woman, God wants us to become. By attending our household, we become a community that lives as one. 

In our faith walk, we encounter trials, challenges, and moments of weakness. When we're alone, it's easy to lose hope or get discouraged. But within a Christian community, there is a safety net of people who are there to lift us up in prayer, offer words of encouragement, and walk with us through difficult times.

Conclusion 

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so, the body is not made up of one part but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Belonging to a Christian community is not just about attending services or gatherings—it’s about being part of something greater than ourselves. Through community, we experience encouragement, spiritual growth, accountability, opportunities to serve, deep relationships, and a powerful witness to the world.

So, let’s not neglect the beautiful gift of our community. Whether it’s our household, our units, or our chapter, the benefits of belonging to a Christian community are immeasurable. Let’s continue to grow, love, and serve together, building each other up as we walk in faith