The Need for Community
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Do you need people in life?
Many of us try to go through life believing that we do not need others, but you need a community. You especially need a community that will help to edify and assist you in growing in your faith.
We have discussed the fact that you need a church. In Hebrews 10:24-25, the author exhorted us to “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.”
Our community helps us to be able to build each other up and to love one another. This is why it is important for us to continue to gather, not only to be built up and loved, but also to build up and love others.
Jesus Had a Community
One need look no further than the life of Jesus to see how a community was important in His life. Jesus did not wander for three and one-half years ministering from town to town on His own. He chose 12 men who were His disciples. They went everywhere that Jesus did. They ate with him. They slept in the same location. They walked together. Everything that Jesus did they did with him.
In addition, Jesus chose a small group that was even closer to Him. In a few instances, the Gospels explained that Peter, James, and John were with Jesus in situations where the other nine were not.
In Matthew 17:1-13, the “Transfiguration” story of Jesus is told. During this event, Peter, James, and John were brought to the top of a mountain with Jesus. Jesus then transfigured as both Moses and Elijah appeared as well. Only these three disciples witnessed this event.
In Matthew 26:36-46, we are told of the story when Jesus went to pray at the garden of Gethsemane before He was arrested. While all 12 disciples accompanied Him, it was Peter, James, and John who went with Him to where He prayed.
Jesus had a close group of friends, but He had an even closer group who were like His best friends.
Your Enemy Seeks to Defeat You
While the disciples often fell short in their understanding of what Jesus was saying, they were still men that He came to depend upon. He laughed and cried with them. He shared His life with them. They had become His friends, the ones who reveled in His joys and mourned with Him during His sorrows.
There are many lessons we can learn from the life of Jesus. This is another example. We need a community because there are many instances where we need the support and friendship of others.
Let’s be honest. Life is not always easy. Last week we studied in the book of James about how many trials will come our way. We will be tempted. Satan will try to tear us down and destroy our joy. However, it is not just about the trials and temptations you face.
Julius Caesar, who helped to create one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen, once famously said, “divide and conquer.” The battle philosophy is to divide the forces of your opponent, making it easier to conquer them. Instead of facing one large army, the best way to win is to battle smaller armies. This is a much more manageable war.
Understand that Satan uses that philosophy as well. Satan is looking to get you at odds with your brothers. He wants to see you reject the help of your Christian community. He desires that you push away help from others. By doing this, he can defeat you!
However, you are not easy to defeat when you are part of a big army. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Solomon writes:
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
The depth of this passage is quite impressive. First, it recognizes that “two heads are better than one” so to speak. When two people are battling or working together on the same cause, they are much more likely to receive their reward. Why does this occur? Because when one falls, the other can lift him up.
Solomon then wrote that when a person is alone and they fall, who will lift him or her up? This is what causes many of us to falter. We opt to believe that we can battle and overcome the trials and temptations of our lives on our own. Thus, when we fall, we don’t get up at all. We stay fallen, giving Satan victory.
He closes this passage by stating that “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” When three chords are intertwined together, there is great power. That cord can hold a much greater weight. Each of the three chords gives greater strength to the other two.
This is why your community is so important. Alone, you can only endure so much. However, when you have a brother or two to assist you, you can withstand a lot more that Satan will bring against you.
Have you had a circumstance where you would have been defeated by temptation, but your friend helped you to overcome?
Why do you find it hard to ask for help or to rely on your brothers when facing a difficult circumstance?
We Refine Each Other
We have read this verse many times before, but it is true here as well. Proverbs 27:17 tells us that iron sharpens iron. By pointing out the failings of our brothers, we help to shave off those areas that could lead to greater temptation, even to sin. We make our brothers stronger by helping them to see their struggles, temptations, and sin.
To be honest, it is not easy to confront your brother about his failings. He may take it offensively. You may say it in such a way that he does not receive well. However, you still must do it.
Is it easy to talk to your brothers about their sin?
Is it easy for others to confront you?
Why do you think there are challenges in either situation?
Proverbs 27:9 tells us, “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” The counsel of your brother should be seen by you as a very sweet thing. Your brother may provide great advice on how to overcome a tough situation. He may counsel you on things you are doing that cause you harm. You should see both instances as something “sweet.”
Would you accept the wise advice of your brother?
If so, then could you see their correction of your wrong behavior as “counsel” and not some kind of attack?
Bear Each Other’s Burdens
Galatians 6:2 tells us, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Part of the reason why you need a community is to bear the burdens of others and for them to bear yours.
Truthfully, it can be very difficult to endure all the struggles you may encounter. You may feel overwhelmed. You may feel like you have reached the end. Jesus told us when we felt this way to come to Him and He will give us rest (Matthew 11:28), but He also wants us to have a community that can help each other during our struggles.
This is one of the principles related to many different organizations, such as AA. By having a recovery community and a sponsor, men and women can let go of their burdens and find help during their struggles. This is what we are encouraged to do in James 5:16, where it tells us to “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed.” You can apply that principle to any challenge you are facing. Take your burdens to your brothers and your community so that they can pray for you and help you to overcome.
What community do you have that can help you when you feel burdened?
What are some communities who can help you but you are not utilizing?
Your Community Should Be Huge!
Consider Julius Caesar’s quote again for one moment – divide and conquer. A divided army is so much easier to defeat. Conversely, a massive army is almost unstoppable.
For nearly a thousand years, the Roman army spread across Europe, northern Africa, and Western Asia, almost completely un-repelled. The nation that Julius Caesar helped to build became so formidable because they a massive, united army.
However, in 451, Rome was conquered. For decades, different German groups, called Huns, waged small wars against Rome. They were able to win small victories, but never made much of a dent. However, about 451, Attila the Hun became leader, combining all these different German groups together. He began to wage war against Rome, leading all these different German tribes as a massive army. Divided, they were not able to do much damage to the Roman army. However, it took just 18 years for this group to not only dominate much of northern and southern Europe, but to invade Rome itself! They earned victory, because they combined as one massive force.
What can we learn from the Huns about how we need to wage war against Satan?
God makes it clear that an army of believers can do incredible damage to Satan and his demons. In verse 8, God declared that our enemies will be defeated, as “Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.”
We have learned that your enemies are not people, because we do not wage war against flesh and blood (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Our enemies are our lustful thoughts, our desires, the tricks of Satan and his demons, and the lies that we ourselves and others tell us. We need an army to defeat all these things, and five in your community can beat 100 deceptions, lies, and demons; 100 can defeat 10,000.
Your community gives you an army that helps you to be able to defeat all that stands in the way of your success. So, who is in your army?
Don’t You Know You Matter
We often think of the importance of your community in relation to the struggles you face. The cares of the world tear us down, leaving us discouraged and in despair. Your community helps you to be strong. However, there is an equally important reason to embrace your community – the need to feel loved.
God created Adam and gave him dominion over everything. Adam had everything he needed, but he did not have a mate. God recognized this was not good, as Genesis 2:18 explains, “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’”
God knows that we are not good when we are by ourselves. More importantly, He knows that we are much better when we have others around us who love and support us.
The Bible tells us a lot of things about God, but here is one thing you may have never considered – He wanted people who understood Him and who would be His friends. He wanted friends, people He could love and who would love Him. This is why God created man “in His own image.” Even in our finite brains, we can still understand God.
We were created for God and to be like God. So, if God wanted a big community that He could fellowship with, why would it seem surprising that we need a community of our own?
Do you want a community that loves and welcomes you?
Do you feel you have a community like that right now?
Your Life Will Be Better
Take some time to consider that you were never meant to be alone. In fact, God makes it clear that it is not good for you to be alone. Since God knows you better than anyone else, maybe it is to your advantage to listen to Him and to start building a strong community. Your life will be so much better.
Of course, you want to make sure that your community is one that edifies and builds you up. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 tells us to encourage one another and build up one another. This sentiment is repeated in several different verses, including Romans 14:19, Romans 15:2, 2 Corinthians 13:10, Ephesians 4:15-16, and Ephesians 4:29.
It is important for you to have a community that will help build you up. One that will support you and love you, and to do this so that you can become the best version of yourself for God. It is also important to stay away from those who “cause divisions and upset people’s faith (Romans 16:17).” You need to surround yourself with brothers who will build you up and not seek to create divisions.
We need each other. We need to forgive and love one another. You need that too. You need the grace and counsel of your community to get to defeat the plans of Satan and to have love in your life.
Can you describe a time in your life when you felt there was not a community that supported you? What was your life like during that time?
What benefits have you found by having a good community supporting you?
Your Memory Verse: Proverbs 27:17 – 17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Bible Passages for the Week:
Monday – Acts 2:42-47
Tuesday – James 5:16
Wednesday – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Thursday – 1 Corinthians 1:10
Friday – 1 Corinthians 12:12-31
Saturday – Pick a passage from Scripture that teaches you about the need for a good community.
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© 2025 Dr. Robert Pannier, Hope CDA, All Rights Reserved
