This Is Community

​My husband was recently teaching in our Bible Fellowship when he revealed to the class that he had just discovered (after fifteen years of marriage) that I was afraid of the dark. He thought all this time that I was just tired and wanted to go to bed early (seriously). Yes, it is true. I do not like the dark – never have. If I could, I would go to bed every night before it gets dark and wake up as the sun is rising. I really don’t enjoy being out after dark either. And, I really don’t like what darkness represents…the opposite of light and good things. Honestly, if I had to work the graveyard shift, I quite possibly could have a heart attack. I am not even sure how I managed nighttime feedings with three babies…I think it was because I got really good at feeding my children and getting them back to sleep right away. There was no nighttime playtime or late night TV watching in this house.
 
The day after this particular class my husband arrived home from a quick trip out of town carrying a present. He said, “Vanessa got this for you.” It wasn’t my birthday or anything so I had no idea why she was giving me a present. When I opened the bag, I started laughing. Inside that pretty little gift bag were nightlights – a lot of nightlights – and a handwritten note. It turns out Vanessa doesn’t like the dark either and these help her get through the night.

​Community.
 
This is what it is all about.
 
I know Vanessa because of our Bible Fellowship class and I love that she felt comfortable enough to give me a gift like that.
 
Community is what we are built for. Long before Starbucks, community was in our DNA. Our verse for our Bible Fellowship class is found in Hebrews 10:24-25,
 
“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.”
 
A leader in our class recently lost his sister unexpectedly. Her and her husband had just relocated to Florida to start retirement only six weeks before she passed away. Six weeks. However, in that short period of time, his sister and her husband had already connected with a local church plant. They didn’t just show up and attend service and leave. No, they got connected. People knew them. This church, even though they only knew them for a few weeks, ended up being the majority of the people at his sister’s funeral service.
 
Community.
 
This is what it is all about.

Last week, the minister to our Bible Fellowship division was speaking in our class and he asked everyone in class to raise their hands if our class was the first Bible Fellowship class they had ever attended and connected with. In a room of about sixty people, close to ninety percent of the hands went up. I was shocked, but at the same time, I was completely humbled and grateful - grateful that we are part of a community. Grateful that people have found community. Praying we serve our community well.
 
Community is important. It is so much more than just showing up to a service. It is about getting connected – not only for yourself, but so you can be a blessing to others. No matter where you are or the size of your church, get involved in community through a group (whether your church calls it Bible Fellowship, Sunday School, Small Groups, Community Groups, Bible Study, etc.). It is a lifeline.