Dear Parents and Friends of CCS,

I hope this post finds you well and walking in the forgiveness, grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Over the next few weeks, I want to share with you some information that fleshes out the concept of the “Shalom Community” that we talk so much about here at CCS, a Community of Peace, Safety, Wholeness, Hope and Joy.

This concept is evident throughout the Bible, and is rooted in many particular Scriptures. Romans 12 is a wonderful beginning for us to consider as we talk about a Shalom Community:

Romans 12 (ESV)

A Living Sacrifice

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Gifts of Grace

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Please note that in this passage, Paul begins with an emphasis on the individual, and then connects that fundamental reality to living in community with one another. How we live as individuals clearly influences how we live in community.

We understand that the way of living can run counter to the definitions and methods of the world.

Yet we unashamedly labor every day in God’s strength to put flesh on the historical and foundational belief that God’s word, and His wise requirements for living, supersede and surpass in importance and effectiveness anything the world can offer.

In other words, we are placing ourselves under the word of God in obedience. We live in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which reminds us we are all sinners in need of rescue, and that it is only through the finished work of Jesus on the cross and His resurrection from the dead that we can have our sins atoned for, and can then live according to His precepts.

Community Christian School has clearly been called by God to be this sort of community. And by the grace of God and the power of the Spirit, we will continue to pursue this.

Next week I will begin to share some examples of what this sort of community looks like in real life.

Til then, may God bless you with His awesome presence and love.

For CCS and the Kingdom,

Tom