My very earliest experiences with church focused on a nurturing community for young children (like me at the time) and children of God of all ages. Since then, I’ve experienced community within Christian ministries and other settings. The process of being community is simple but is often overlooked when organizational and personal agendas take precedent over genuine Christian love and friendship.
I’d like more people to experience Christian community. An authentic community will make you and your friends and your neighbors (near and far) feel like know you (and they) truly belong — to Jesus and each other. It will remind and show you (and them) that you’re loved and valued for who you are, you’re capable of enjoying life and being renewed and transformed, and you’re able to encourage and support your friends and neighbors.
To get people talking and thinking about community, I’ve developed a Bible study on this topic (see below in the recommended resources) and explored community in my writing (also see below)
Recommended Resources
Here’s my course that includes a Bible study, discussion prompts, and more:
Bible Study on Christian Community from the Book of Acts (my course on Teachable)
Suggested Articles
Here are articles on the development and expressions of community:
On Belonging within a Christian Community: Lessons from Real Life and the Book of Acts
What I Learned from “Two Old Women” about Being a Beloved Community Member
You can learn to pursue and enjoy Christian community with intention. A great way to live and experience Christian community is through small group involvement. Learn more about nurturing a group of people in my Guide to Leading Small Groups. At the same time, you can enrich and expand your understanding of scripture by applying the Bible to real life (including involvement in community) and learn from others’ insights and experiences through Bible study using my Guide to Studying the Bible.