Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: 14 Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, 15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, 16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

Solitude is where community begins.

Community is a way of living.

Community is the “place where the person you least want to live with always lives.” —Parker Palmer

Why Solitude before Community? Because if we do not know who we are in Christ, we will expect our community to offer us what only Jesus can.

In solitude we discover who we are in Christ.

“Community is solitude greeting solitude.” —Henri Nouwen

Two features to this type of community.

Forgiveness:

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Celebration:

John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

Unity:
Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind.

Visible Testimony:
Acts 4:33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all

Generosity:
Acts 4:34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

Intentional Distribution:
Acts 4:35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.