Dictionary.com says that an ecclesiastical community is a group of men and women leading a common life according to a rule. At Commons Church, I've found community among a group of men and women living life according to the rule of grace.
Sometimes, for me, community is knowing that when I get in a bind, I am expected to call on a Commoner for help. Help me pack my home. Help me move my stuff. Feed the cat when I'm away. Pick me up from the airport. Attend an event at work to support me. Serve with me. Host a community group for me. Fix a meal when I'm sick. Run an errand with me. Paint my kitchen. Lend me your car. Throw me a party. Water my yard. Change my flat tire. We even have a Twitter hash tag for such occasions, #commonschurchfun. If the Rangers stunning defeat the night we went to the game taught me anything, it was that Commoners simply love being together, even if the setting is a humid Wednesday night at the ballpark with a storm rolling in and the home team down by 17 runs. There is fun to be had, and there are memories to be made.
On a more serious note, the rule of grace in this community shines brightest when we are at our weakest and most vulnerable. Walking through year two together, we're getting to know one another better. We're daring to trust one another with our struggles and the truths we wish were false. And, there is grace. There is a shared understanding. None of us is without faults. All of us stand in need of the grace of our Savior and therefore, have the joy of extending grace to our neighbors. This is our common life, our shared rule. Grace.
Thursday
Carla Bryant
I enjoyed hosting the women's bible study. It has been wonderful studying God's word together, praying together and getting to know the ladies.
Chandler Floyd
I first heard about Commons from Coach Chappell and Coach Bird about 6 months ago. But I never took it as a big deal till two of my best friends Teddy Barbour and John Paul Watson actually took me in March. From that point on I fell in love with our church and knew there was no other place for me but here. I enjoy the sermons by dr. Bezner, and getting to know my teacher outside of school as well.
Erin Dunn
I am one of seven children – living in intimate proximity with people is not a difficult concept for me. But as I watch “community” unfold at the Commons, and experience it through the Commons, my understanding of it keeps shifting. It is shifting because the Commons – we get all in each other’s business in the most amazingly loving way. I have a unique perspective of community, being the leader of one of our several community groups. Watching the way that our small group lives life together has been the best mirror into “community” than anything I could have asked for.
Now, I am a 28 year old, single female. Leading a group of (mostly) married couples, (mostly) with children. Honestly, a year ago, there was no way that I would have believed I could have found actual community with this group. But over time, they have loved on me more than I ever expected, and they have spent time getting to know me – and they’ve done a far better job at extending community to me than I have to them.
Earlier this year, as our church studied through the New Testament and looked at The Kingdom, our community group spent a lot of time tearing apart the idea of living in concentric circles where Jesus was King. The more that we all learned what it meant for Jesus to be King in our lives – the more we realized that ultimately, we all really love the same things – each other! And the ways that we served our King best was in loving each other to death – and that has just started to happen naturally.
These people are becoming more than just the warm bodies that attend a bible study that I lead once a week. They are becoming my friends. They are sharing with me in life – they have taken a genuine interest in learning me. They look me in the eye and they ask me questions; they celebrate and grieve with me. I lead them each week, but they are the ones who give so much to me - in simply living life with me. There is not enough paper in the world for me to pen the ways these that are becoming “my people” have compelled my actions, behaviors, and opinions.
This is how I have experienced community at the Commons. I experience it every single time one of my people smiles knowingly at me, or prays with me, or laughs with me. And each one of those experiences are sculpting who I am – because with each experience my heart softens and grows and beats with the love of our King, not just for them, but for anyone that touches one of our kingdom circles.
Now, I am a 28 year old, single female. Leading a group of (mostly) married couples, (mostly) with children. Honestly, a year ago, there was no way that I would have believed I could have found actual community with this group. But over time, they have loved on me more than I ever expected, and they have spent time getting to know me – and they’ve done a far better job at extending community to me than I have to them.
Earlier this year, as our church studied through the New Testament and looked at The Kingdom, our community group spent a lot of time tearing apart the idea of living in concentric circles where Jesus was King. The more that we all learned what it meant for Jesus to be King in our lives – the more we realized that ultimately, we all really love the same things – each other! And the ways that we served our King best was in loving each other to death – and that has just started to happen naturally.
These people are becoming more than just the warm bodies that attend a bible study that I lead once a week. They are becoming my friends. They are sharing with me in life – they have taken a genuine interest in learning me. They look me in the eye and they ask me questions; they celebrate and grieve with me. I lead them each week, but they are the ones who give so much to me - in simply living life with me. There is not enough paper in the world for me to pen the ways these that are becoming “my people” have compelled my actions, behaviors, and opinions.
This is how I have experienced community at the Commons. I experience it every single time one of my people smiles knowingly at me, or prays with me, or laughs with me. And each one of those experiences are sculpting who I am – because with each experience my heart softens and grows and beats with the love of our King, not just for them, but for anyone that touches one of our kingdom circles.
Los Barhams
The Commons Story- According to the Barhams
We were fortunate enough for God to lead us to The Commons through mutual acquaintances that we knew from Hardin-Simmons University. One Sunday, we decided we might as well try yet another church in the greater DFW area and found ourselves in a small living room in southwest Fort Worth. This place wasn't like all of the other corporate churches we had attended once or twice from week to week, this was obviously a community of people who were vested in one another's lives. This church valued community and the relationships fostered there were genuine. This small group of people sitting in Steve and Joy's living room was a family and we could not ignore God's will for us to get involved with this church. Brad was in his second year of medical school at the time so saying that joining a small church that needed a great deal of volunteer support would be tough, would be an understatement! Little did we know, the areas that the we were able to serve in were deeply rewarding to our stage of life. It was an absolute joy for Brad to help plan and lead worship on Sunday mornings, not only because it gave him a much needed excuse to take a break from studying, but how rewarding it was to find ways to focus energy solely on worshipping the Lord. It was also such a blessing to love on our little ones in the nursery! **Side Note--I can't believe a scouting agent hasn't come by to scout some of those precious faces for a Gerber ad yet! :) Unfortunately, we knew our time was limited at the Commons as Brad was approaching the end of medical school and we would be moving for residency. This was a truly emotional time for us as we came to the realization that we would no longer walk in weekly community with all of the amazing people we had come to love over the 2 years at the Commons. We will never forget the lasting impact that our church family has had on us and how at home we felt within the Common's loving walls. The heart and mission behind the Commons Church is absolutely fantastic and will benefit this community for years to come. We look forward to hearing about the wonderful things that are to come!
We were fortunate enough for God to lead us to The Commons through mutual acquaintances that we knew from Hardin-Simmons University. One Sunday, we decided we might as well try yet another church in the greater DFW area and found ourselves in a small living room in southwest Fort Worth. This place wasn't like all of the other corporate churches we had attended once or twice from week to week, this was obviously a community of people who were vested in one another's lives. This church valued community and the relationships fostered there were genuine. This small group of people sitting in Steve and Joy's living room was a family and we could not ignore God's will for us to get involved with this church. Brad was in his second year of medical school at the time so saying that joining a small church that needed a great deal of volunteer support would be tough, would be an understatement! Little did we know, the areas that the we were able to serve in were deeply rewarding to our stage of life. It was an absolute joy for Brad to help plan and lead worship on Sunday mornings, not only because it gave him a much needed excuse to take a break from studying, but how rewarding it was to find ways to focus energy solely on worshipping the Lord. It was also such a blessing to love on our little ones in the nursery! **Side Note--I can't believe a scouting agent hasn't come by to scout some of those precious faces for a Gerber ad yet! :) Unfortunately, we knew our time was limited at the Commons as Brad was approaching the end of medical school and we would be moving for residency. This was a truly emotional time for us as we came to the realization that we would no longer walk in weekly community with all of the amazing people we had come to love over the 2 years at the Commons. We will never forget the lasting impact that our church family has had on us and how at home we felt within the Common's loving walls. The heart and mission behind the Commons Church is absolutely fantastic and will benefit this community for years to come. We look forward to hearing about the wonderful things that are to come!
Jason Farquhar
As we finish year 2 this still seems, in many respects, like a very new endeavor. What is amazing, though, are the connections that have been made in that very short time. What you find is that when you start doing life with other people--sharing successes and failures, heartaches and happiness—and working side by side with them that an impression is made. One that will probably never fade. And one that when you are pulled away (like to work in another state for long stretches) or others take their leave (to follow a dream and the path for their life) a slight sadness seeps in. While it might be odd to talk about sadness as we celebrate, I count it a blessing that in such a short time this community has grown and strengthened to the point where not only one’s presence is appreciated, but one’s absence never goes unnoticed.
Emily Rider
Being a nurse we have crazy schedules. My first year at Commons Church I worked in the evening time, and I went to all of the community groups. Everyone was so welcoming as always. At church everyone would ask ‘what week is this?’ because I was the community group floater, but it worked! It didn’t matter what group I went to I always felt connected with great people. My schedule changed my 2nd year because I moved to the morning shift which meant that I could go to the same community group every week but I could only attend church every 3rd Sunday. I started going to Lorenzo and Claire Pablo’s community group it was a real way for me to experience community. Through the group I was able to feel connected with my church even though I didn’t get to worship with everyone on Sunday. These amazing people gathered every week to celebrate life and the word of the Lord. Through laughs, tears, prayers, and a good meal it was always what we needed to make it through the week. I have recently moved and found myself faced with new challenges which are exciting but very scary. My community group is still there for me along with Steve and Joy. I still get my text during ‘text time’ which always makes my day. I always know I have a home at Commons Church and even though I miss everyone so much I love to come visit, and I know that if I ever need anything or if they ever need me we are just a phone call away.
Emily Rider
Emily Rider
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