What’s the most loving community that you have experienced or can imagine? I’m not talking about a utopia. Utopias are fascinating. I have a collection of books describing utopias, ideal societies that people have envisaged. But that’s not what I am thinking of here. I’m thinking about real life and what’s possible, given our humanity with all its weaknesses. The fact is that some human groups in history have been more loving than others, and the one that appears to have the highest score is the first church at Jerusalem. The love and respect of the members of this first Christian church for one another was noted by outside observers. This community was a remarkable example of Agape love in action. Selfless, sacrificial love created an environment where believers were inspired to care for one another, share their possessions and support each other's needs (Acts 2:44-45). This love was the natural fruit of the Spirit that indwelt them. It was not just an emotion but a deliberate choice to serve and uplift one another, in obedience to Christ’s command, and reflecting the essence of the gospel message.