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Presented by Lisa Bishop
Do you remember the game show, “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” The show featured a quiz competition where contestants could win a top prize of $1,000,000 if they correctly answered a series of 15 multiple-choice questions. When the contestant picked the right answer, they banked some cash and advanced to the next question. The questions increased in difficulty, and for every correct answer, the amount of prize money increased. If the contestant was stumped and did not know the answer, they were given three lifelines to use throughout the game. The lifelines allowed them to seek help and advice in choosing the correct answer so they could keep playing.
One of the lifelines was appropriately named, “phone a friend.”
If the contestant found themselves in a pickle and did not know the correct answer, the gameshow got the friend on the line, read them the question, and together they would discern the best answer.
Before appearing on the game show the contestant had already discerned and picked who they would call if they needed some wisdom. I assume they gave it some hard-earned and measured thought knowing their chance of advancing in the game or going home empty rode on the wisdom and input from their friend. The probability of staying in the game and winning wasn’t a solo act. It was only possible when the contestant reached out to their lifelines for assistance.
As I reflected on the “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” lifelines, it got me thinking about the importance of lifelines in everyday life. So often, these lifelines come in the form of community—the relationships where we act as one another’s lifelines. Who are your lifelines? In other words, who are the people in your life who you prayerfully and intentionally choose to surround yourself with? Who are the people you do life with, invest in, call on for wisdom, or simply for genuine connection?
Who is your community? There is a richness to life and thriving in our faith that is only possible when we take the time and make the effort to build up and sow into relationships. It can be easy and tempting to drift into isolation or not make intentional time to forge and deepen connections. But having people in your life, especially fellow believers, is important if you want to flourish in your personal life, work life, home life, really any aspects of life.
This applies whether you are single, married, have kids, or don’t. If you are married and have a family of your own, even you need to venture out of the walls of your household and create deep connections with others. This can seem obvious, right? Yet, sometimes it is easier said than done.
Now you may be thinking, “I’m good. I have solid relationships in my life.” That’s great! Hang with me, because even if you do, I’m confident you will take something away. And if you are on the opposite end of the spectrum, finding yourself lacking kinship, my hope is that you will be encouraged to find connection and build authentic community.
We know from a biblical perspective, community is not presented as an option. It’s a central part of God’s design. From the very beginning in Genesis, after creating Adam, God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18). God deemed that we are created to build relationships and be part of something bigger than ourselves. You and I are wired for connection, companionship, and the unique bond that comes when we share our lives, our experiences, and our faith with each other.
Jesus himself modeled this beautifully. Throughout his ministry, we rarely see him alone. Instead, he gathered himself around a community of disciples. He poured into their lives, taught them, served with them, prayed with them, and even in moments of hardship, he surrounded himself with others. It was in this community that he revealed some of his deepest teachings and shared some of his most powerful moments.
The early church in the book of Acts gives us a vivid picture of what Christian community should look like. In Acts 2:42, it says the believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. This is an image of people coming together, sharing spiritual truths and encouragement along with practical support for each other. They met daily, they worshipped together, and they became a family. The power of that community was so great it drew others in, and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47).
When we participate in community in a gospel-centered way, we make people curious, and our relationships and connections become a witness to Jesus.
What does this mean for us today? We live in a society that often champions individualism. There is a cultural push to “go it alone” or to be “self-made.” But as Christians, you and I are called to something different. We are called to invest in community and recognize we are not created to bear our burdens or celebrate our victories in isolation. Paul writes in Galatians 6:2: Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.
When we come together, we reflect the love of Jesus and his desire for us to be united as his body.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul uses the metaphor of the body to describe the church, reminding us that the body is not made up of one part but of many (1 Corinthians 12:14). Just as the hand cannot say to the eye, “I don’t need you,” we cannot say to one another, “I don’t need you.” Each of us bring unique gifts, perspectives, and strengths that are necessary for the health and growth of the body of Christ. Alone, we can only do so much, but together, with each member playing their part, we can accomplish incredible things for God’s kingdom.
Building community, of course, takes time and effort. It means we need to step outside of our comfort zones, be vulnerable, and not be easily offended by others. As you and I well know, being part of community means we will sometimes deal with difficult personalities or situations, and you and I will also be the difficult personality others need to deal with too! But the reward is profound when we reflect the fruit of the Spirit in our actions with one another.
When we seek community with one another despite our differences we show the world a beautiful and compelling picture of the gospel. A true Christian community offers us a place where we find diversity, belonging, and encouragement.
We live out our command as Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35).
If we do not love one another well, we are not properly reflecting the love of Christ. Why would any non-believer have the slightest interest in a relationship with Jesus if his followers not loving one another as we are called to.
Done well, Christian community is a place we not only grow in our faith but also reflect the love of Christ to those around us.
Hebrews 10:24-25 is another call to 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.
This is a powerful call to get in the habit of remaining connected and committed to relationships. When we gather together, it strengthens our resolve, reminds us of our purpose, and helps us stand firm in a world that can often be isolating or hostile to our faith. We encourage one another.
When it comes to encouragement, Romans 1:11-12 are some of my favorite verses. In his letter to the believers in Rome, Paul wrote these heartfelt words. I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Notice Paul’s words. His enthusiasm to see them was first anchored in his desire to make a deposit in them. He was eager to be with his believing community because he wanted to be an encouragement to them and make an investment in strengthening their faith.
I don’t know about you but there are times in my life when I need my faith strengthened. I need someone in my community to wrap her arms around me with love and care or cover me in prayer. Whenever we face disappointments, a diagnosis, or any hardship big or small, we have the high calling and privilege to be an encouragement to each other as a community of believers.
Paul also addresses the idea of mutual encouragement. He wants to encourage their faith, and he makes it clear he was also looking forward to personally benefiting from camaraderie and companionship himself.
I wonder what our view of community i
Do we belong to community with the posture of seeking to be an encouragement to others as much as, if not more than, we expect people to be an encouragement to us?
Biblical community is meant to be a beautiful flow of giving and receiving where we rely on one another to strengthen our faith.
Sometimes we look at community from the lens of “what’s it in for me,” when that is only part of the equation. We can easily get discouraged or want to ditch relationships when we are not getting what we want. When we think of community in this way our relationships become more functional rather than formative.
Let me explain. Functional community puts me at the center. Functional community says, “I value relationships for how well they function to fulfill my needs and meet my desires. And if they don’t function well in meeting my needs or serving me, I have no need for them.”
Formative community on the other hand puts God at the center. Looking at the purpose of community as formative says, “I value the relationships in my life as part of God’s means to change me and re-form me to reflect his image.” When we begin to see community as a means of spiritual formation, we see every struggle or problem we have in relationships as a gospel opportunity—a chance to rely on the Holy Spirit to transform us through relationships and change our hearts and lives in the ways God desires.
Our instinct may be to cut off a relationship or flee when we do not see eye to eye, but this is the perfect opportunity for the gospel to work in and through us. When we lean into the bumpy road that relationships and being in community can sometimes be, it’s an opportunity for us to put off our old self and truly live in our new selves created after the likeness of God (Ephesians 4:22-24). It’s an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work in us and for his fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23) to mature in us. We cannot transform more and more into the likeness of Christ without community. We can’t grow without close relationships. Relationships will be hard but don’t let that be a reason not to engage in community.
Proverbs 27:17 also reminds us, As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. In community, we challenge each other to greater levels of spiritual maturity. And when we veer off course or find ourselves in unhealthy patterns, we allow others to challenge us to get back on track. We remind each other of who we are in Christ and encourage one another as we grow and deepen our relationship with God. These are the beautiful benefits of a loving and committed community.
Our transformation to become more like Christ is not only for our benefit, but also for the sake of others too. When we are transformed by the Holy Spirit through community, our individual change is meant to benefit our families, our workplaces, and ultimately the world, as Jesus calls us to be a part of his movement.
Who are the people in your life you can make a consistent effort to build and deepen community with? Who are your lifelines? If that is an easy question for you to answer, how might you sow into the people in your community this week? Maybe it’s sending an encouraging text, lending a helping hand, praying for someone, or inviting people over for a meal.
If you are not sure who your lifelines are and you do not have a community you are part of, the first next step could be to join a local church and volunteer or join a small group or Bible study. If there is someone in your midst who you would like to get to know, invite them to grab coffee. And don’t be discouraged if relationships do not form in your timing. We often forget that building relationships and community takes time, patience, consistency, and endurance, but it is worth it.
As we reflect on the importance of community, let’s remember that it is a gift from God. We were never meant to walk this journey alone. It is in community we find strength, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. You and I are shaped by the love of Christ and reminded of our mission to love and serve others as we invest in relationships and commit to building a community that reflects the love, unity, and grace of Jesus.
And remember, no community is perfect. It is made up of people like you and me who are in the constant process of being conformed more and more into God’s image. We will all make mistakes along the way, but don’t let that keep you away from being committed to community.