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We are wrapping up our week on faith builders and so far we’ve talked about how trust, remembering, stillness, and minding your mind help you grow your faith. The final faith builder is community.
Hebrews 10:24-25 is a familiar passage that instructs us as it relates to community.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another….
Especially over these past two years, meeting together in person has been difficult. But as Scripture tells us, it is ever so important. After such a lengthy time of being isolated, it can be difficult to get the motivation to be in community.
But not only is it a biblical instruction, it is also better for our health, mental state and longevity.
You were not meant to do life alone. You are not meant to walk out your Christian faith alone. Companionship and community started with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in community with each other. We see the account of Adam and Eve in Genesis. God knew that it was not good for man to be alone so he created a helper, a companion for Adam. The point is, we need one another.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
We are not meant to bear our burdens alone in isolation: we bear each other’s burdens which implies community.
When you surround yourself with people who have their minds and hearts fixed on Jesus it will help you build your faith and be more like Christ. Find friends who are faithful followers of Jesus by being a part of your local church, joining a Bible study or a Christian group that serves your city, town or neighborhood.
If you had been a part of one of those groups and are just a little rusty coming out of the past few seasons, take one next step to being in community. You need it, your faith needs it, and others will benefit from knowing you.
(Click here if you would like to read the entire week’s message.)