Better Together - Community in the Bible

by Robbi Bittle

There have been times in my life that I do not know what I would have done without the community experience of church.

The church that I grew up in was a really strong community of believers that not only didn’t forsake assembling in person for worship but fellowshipped outside of the church walls as well.

Fast forward to being an adult with a young family. My husband and I found ourselves looking for a new home church. After some online research, we decided on one to try.

From the time we walked in the door, we were made to feel extremely welcomed, invited to the weekly potluck, and loved the ‘doing life together’ atmosphere. We have been a part of that family (and it has truly felt like a family) Bible community, for several years now, and it has been such a blessing.

We have been challenged in personal growth, encouraged and built up, rejoiced with, and mourned with – all the things that the body of Christ should do together.

Societies have changed much over the centuries, some things for the better, and some for the worse. Today, we do not have the communities that our ancestors had. Women used to gather- at wells, over quilts, and for sewing. Extended families lived together, generations being housed together in the same home.

In case you haven’t guessed yet, today I would like to share a bit about the importance of community in the Bible.

Contents

Bible Verses About Community

(Unless otherwise noted, verses are from the ESV translation.)

Have you ever wondered “What does the Bible say about community?” The Bible is full of verses about community. Some directly speak of the importance of community, but there are many others that speak to our needing others in our lives.

It begins in Genesis 2:18, where God makes man and says that it is not good that man is alone. God then creates a suitable counterpart that balances and complements him.

In this account, we see that God created us for community. To complement, challenge, and encourage one another. To sharpen one another. In order that each may fill the ministry we were made for according to Ephesians 2:10.

We are given the Biblical command:

“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, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Community in the Bible

One of the best examples of community in the Bible is the early church in Acts.

In my favorite Scripture about community and fellowship, Acts 2:42, it says:

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and the prayers.“

They did life together. This is what our new church feels like. We no longer have weekly potlucks, but my husband and I have taken over and host a monthly one after service.

We have family game nights that are often 40-50 people, most of whom do not attend our church. It is nothing fancy; people bring a snack to share and their favorite games to play.

There are several community events that we host each year as well.

Bible Verses About Connecting with Others

There are many, many Bible verses about community and how we should conduct ourselves in the body of Christ and connect with each other. How we interface with one another says a lot about our own walk with the Lord and gives an example for nonbelievers.

There’s Galatians 6:2 that tells us to bear one another’s burdens.

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 says to “admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all,” and to “seek to do good to everyone.”

In 1 Peter 4, we are told that we should be self-controlled, to keep loving one another earnestly, and to show hospitality to one another (without grumbling).

Ephesians 4:29 tells us to let our speech build up others.

Colossians 3:14 tells us to put on love, which binds us together in harmony.

Colossians 4:6 says that our speech should be always full of grace, seasoned with salt.

Galatians 5: 22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

These are just a few Bible quotes about community. There are many more throughout the New Testament.

Bible Verses About Coming Together as a Community

As Christians, we are all grafted into the family of God. Each of us is designed to play our part perfectly.

1 Corinthians 12:1-31 talks all about gifting and the body and says, in part, that we “are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 talk about how we are each gifted with different gifts to bless and minister to the body of Christ.

For a body to function well the different parts must be functional, and if we are not connected to the body, we cannot function. A body can learn to work without a limb; however, it is usually not as efficient as if it had all of its working parts. Likewise, it is important that we do our part in the body so we are not handicapping the Church.

1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

Jesus taught the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. In it, the servants who stewarded well the talents entrusted to them were praised, while the one who hid the talent was cast into darkness.

Couples sitting around a table outside in the late afternoon enjoying a meal and wine together.

Getting plugged into a healthy church body is critical to effective ministry, for the reasons mentioned above, but also because as a part of the body, we are challenged and grow more.

Some Tough Bible Verses on Community and Fellowship

I have shared on my blog about how Jesus says that we are to be salt, and how salt is actually a fantastic weed killer.

As we are fellowshipping with one another, as the Bible verses about fellowship instruct, we hold each other accountable, helping to keep down the roots of sin in our lives.

We are challenged in our walks with Christ as we take part in biblical community, encouraged to seek the things of the Lord, and forsake those of the world. Encouraged to dig out the roots of sin in our lives.

James says we are to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another.

Galatians 6:1 says that if a brother is caught in a transgression, we should restore him with a spirit of gentleness.

Hebrews 3:13 says that we are to exhort each other every day so that we are not hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

We often hear that we are not to judge, but we are told to hold one another accountable. We are told to make sure that we do not do so proudly.

Proverbs says that iron sharpens iron, but that cannot happen without contact and some friction on the blade. – Robbie Bittle Click To Tweet

Being part of a group also makes it harder for predators to get to you. They often target prey that is on its own.

Encouragement In Biblical Community

The body of Christ should also be a place where we are inspired and spurred on to good works and be refreshed and encouraged.

Along with Hebrews 10:24-25, there are more verses on how we are to encourage one another, challenge one another to do good things, and help one another grow. Some have been mentioned above, but here are two more important scriptures on community.

Galatians 6:6 and 9-10 says, “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches…And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”

Colossians 3:12-16 says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

A Few Final Thoughts On Biblical Fellowship

Even pre-Covid, our lives had gotten too busy for much fellowship or mentoring. Families also no longer live close together. It is easy to get spread too thin and lose sight of how important having a community of believers is.

Post-Covid, venturing out and getting back to normal can cause fear for some, but we are told in 2 Timothy 1:7 that a spirit of fear is not from God. We can, and should be cautious; however, we should not be overcome by fear of the “what-ifs.” Do what you can – take care of your ‘temple’ by eating well, exercising, making sure you get rest, and taking care of your immune system. The rest is in God’s hands anyway.

{Related – The Enemy by Robbi Bittle}

For some, it is not at all about Covid. Some have been badly hurt by people of the church. It does take time to heal and trust again. In these instances, it is important to remember that it is human failings, not God, who caused the pain. There are also those who follow more closely to man’s traditions than what these Bible verses about community teach.

Real, meaningful relationships always carry some risk, but in this case, the benefits often make the risks well worth it.

So, will you commit to taking part in biblical community today? What will you do to take the first step? Comment below and let us know!

Robbi Bittle is a wife and homeschool mom of 6 littles. She is passionate about homemaking and natural living. She shares the many facets of homemaking (faith, family, and general homemaking) on her blog as a form of Titus 2 Ministry. She recently launched The Timeless Mama Podcast as a new branch of this ministry.

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