Read Hebrews 7-13
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. – Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV
You cannot do the Christian life alone. Life is meant to be lived in community. We need each other. The church needs different gifts, personalities, and experiences in order to represent God well. When you are missing, you are missed.
The writer to the Hebrews drives the point home. We need to prod one another on. We need to encourage one another. We need to live out and experience the “one-another’s” of Scripture in service to God’s people and the world.
So, here is my question: Are you connected into biblical community? Are you doing life with others within the church? Eugene Peterson, known for his work on The Message, was asked to speak to the question of why everyone should consider being in a small group. His response, profoundly expresses the power of biblical community:
“We learn best when we’re learning with others. A small group is the perfect setup for discussion. Truth is ambiguous. It’s not clear. If you want to absolutely clear language you have to use mathematics. That’s the only absolutely clear language we have. Everything else is subject to tone, inflection, context and relationship between people. A group is where you can work out those ambiguities through discussion. The way you get the gospel is to forgive someone, help someone, build a relationship with someone. It has relationship in it. That takes practice. It goes beyond just knowing something.”
So in considering the exhortation of Hebrews 10:24,25, why not consider joining a small group and discover for yourself the reality that life is better together!
- Bryan Hardwick serves as the Small Groups Pastor at Adventure Christian Church
