What is Biblical Community?
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” So, who do you spend the most time with? Maybe it’s your best friend, spouse, or coworkers. Whoever you’re thinking of, know this: God didn’t create us to walk through life alone.
In Genesis 2, God said it was not good for man to be alone. So, God created a companion for him. Our need for community reflects the very nature of the Trinity— Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit. Because God is a relational God, he calls us to be in relationship with one another and ultimately with himself. In Matthew 18:20 Jesus says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” God calls us to biblical community that is rooted in the knowledge of himself.
So, what is the difference between biblical community and how is it different from just having friends? The early church set a great example of what it looks like to live in biblical community with one another:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47). This passage teaches us three things about the early church community. They were united in spirit and purpose, generous and hospitable, and they prioritized being together.
The early church was united in spirit and purpose.
No matter the believers’ differences, they knew their purpose was to preach the Good News of Jesus. This didn’t mean that people didn’t disagree from time to time. In Acts, we see Paul and Barnabas go their separate ways because of a sharp disagreement (Acts 15:39). Yet, they both continued to spread the Gospel and reach people.
In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul reinforces this idea of unity by saying, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
When we are united in our purpose, we are more effective in sharing the gospel and showing the love of Christ to others.
The early church was generous and hospitable.
The people in the early church understood that everything they had was a gift from God—they were just stewarding what he had given them. They didn’t live as if these possessions were theirs. Instead, they viewed it as a way to care for others who were in need. They gave freely and opened up their homes to one another.
Acts 4:42-47 describes the depth of their generosity, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”
The early church understood that generosity and hospitality were ways to evangelize and deeply care for one another.
The early church prioritized being together.
Everything described in Acts 2 was done together. They met together, ate together, preached together, praised God together, and prayed together. God added to their number daily..
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us 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—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Living a godly life isn’t always easy, and it can sometimes feel isolating. But when we do it in community, we can find strength, encouragement, and accountability which produces endurance. Our community can help bear our burdens.
Community is something that God calls all of us to. When we live in biblical community, our ministry is stronger, our burdens are lighter, and we can remain rooted in God’s truth no matter what we may face.
So, who is in your community? If your community right now doesn’t reflect the qualities of the early church, how can you encourage the people in your life to live like this with you? You can start by asking someone to be your accountability partner, joining a small group at your local church, or simply asking a friend how you can be praying for them.
You don’t have to wait for biblical community to find you. Pray and ask God to reveal to you how you can begin to take that step in your own relationships right now.
Kali Gibson is the editor-in-chief for So We Speak and a copywriter for the Youversion Bible App.
