“People are God’s method. The church is looking for better methods: God is looking for better people.” — EM Bounds

We get so fooled into trying build a better mousetrap in ministry rather than taking people God gives us and seeing the image of Christ formed in them. God consistently took people in the Bible who were in lousy shape and built them into “better” people. All he needed was availability.

Two things we need to utilize in our own lives as we think about community:

1. Spiritual mentors.
Those who have been “down the road” a bit and can show us the way.

2. Spiritual friends.
Those are roughly in the same place we are, so the frustrations and triumphs are similar. The transparency is better. You can build a relationship that feels more real as you get to know each other.

The key in both of these relationships is TIME. We need to dedicate the time to meeting, to listening, to discussing, and to practicing. We must give ourselves to the practice of formation in community.