Podcast: Play in new window | Download ()
Presented by Lisa Bishop
Today let’s examine community.
Are you a part of a Christian community? Specifically, do you regularly attend a local church? If not, you could be missing out on growing in compassion.
The writer of Hebrews encourages community when he says,
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Community is vital to your spiritual journey. It provides the support, accountability, and encouragement to live out your faith wholistically.
When we isolate ourselves, we miss the opportunity to learn from each other, share our burdens, and lift one another up. Compassion flourishes in connection. Compassion thrives in the context of relationships.
When we engage with one another, we become aware of each other’s struggles and needs. Without community, we become disconnected from the realities of people’s lives. We may miss the chance to support a friend in crisis or comfort someone who’s grieving. Compassion requires intimacy, and intimacy can only flourish when we are present and engaged.
In 1 Corinthians 12:26, Paul describes the church as a body, emphasizing that if one part suffers, every part suffers with it. When we isolate ourselves, we can easily become indifferent and insensitive to the pain of others. But when we are part of a community, we share in each other’s joys and sorrows. This shared experience fosters empathy and compassion, reminding us that we are all interconnected in the body of Christ.
In community, we can confront our biases and fears that hinder our compassion.
The early church exemplified what it meant to live in community. They devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. Their love for one another was evident, and it drew others to Christ (Acts 2:42-47).
If you are not part of a local Christian community, can I encourage you to find a church near you that is committed to the truth of God’s word and growing in the fruit of the Holy Spirit?
Lack of community can hinder compassion but when we intentionally engage with one another, we grow in love and empathy, allowing us to better reflect Christ’s heart to the world.
