As we get to the root of who Jesus has called the church to be, we find Culture Values that guide our systems in the church.

One of the Culture Values at our church plant, Hill City, is Relationship. We highly value relationships because Jesus highly values relationships. He values His relationship with us and He values the relationships we have with each other.

Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was,

He answered “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” 1

But He continues, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” 2 The greatest commandments for Jesus’ followers are to Love God and Love People. But Jesus doesn’t stop there, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 3 Everything up to this point hangs on these two commands. If we look at the ‘Big Ten’ (the Ten Commandments) the first four are about loving God and the last six are about loving each other.

Why Does God Care About Relationships

Because God isn’t a God off in the distance or one isn’t interested in His creation. He was to know you and He wants you to know Him. Over and over again throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see this truth talked about. God knows every hair on your hand, God’s thoughts about you more vastly than all the sand on the sea shores, He loved you so much that He sent His son Jesus to die for you. He didn’t do all this so you could have a better belief system or morals, He did all this so you can know His heart.

The Christian community should be the best on the planet. No one should do relationships better than us. God knew how important encouragement, support, challenge, and correction would be from others in the community. All throughout the early church we see an importance placed on relationships. Famously we see the early church, “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.” 4 

Relationship Doesn’t Happen by Accident

We know that relationships don’t happen by accident or immediately. They take intentional time. We foster a relationship with God the same way we foster a relationship with a friend or loved one.

We don’t have time for one article to help you learn these skills, but join one of our Community Groups, and our Disciple-Makers would love to walk with you.