Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother

of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said
to them, Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men. And
immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1:16-18 ESV)
The modern medias portrayal of the lone wolf seems to be growing more
and more popular. From movies where the hero is mowing down hundreds of
bad guys by himself, to books about maverick politicians standing against
the grain and defying the status quo, it would seem as if we love a stand alone
hero. But how realistic a notion is this one man versus the world mentality?
And have we tried to adopt this model into our spiritual walk?

Even a cursory examination of Jesus first interactions with his disciples

should be sufficient for the realization that we were never intended to go it
alone. In fact, if we take it way back, what was the first thing after creation that
God said was not good? For man to be alone (Genesis 2:18)! We were
created in Gods image (Genesis 1:27), and our God actually exists in
community. Three persons in one being, and we affectionately define that truth
as the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 John 5:7-8;
John 1).
So, if we are his image bearers, is it a hard leap to think that maybe we were
intended for community as well? Not at all. And surely Jesus calling of Simon
and Andrew is a great example of that intention. He didnt call Simon, and
then later come back for Andrew, but rather called them together, in
community with himself.

God has not called us to go it alone, and for us to aspire or attempt to do so

is both foolish, and counter to the Gospel! We are one body, with many parts
(1 Corinthians 12:20). Our spiritual community should invade our personal
lives, our family, our relationships, and help us to be the person Jesus has
called us to be.

Do you constantly shy from community in favor of going it alone? Is

this mentality birthed from your pride and the idea that you are
sufficient?
John 15:12
"This is My commandment: that you love one another just as I have loved you."

In a world where people feel isolated and alone, God created a unique and loving community called the
Church. In fact, one of the first acts in Jesus ministry was to establish a community of believers, the
disciples. These 13 men, including Jesus, transformed the world with the Good News of the Kingdom of
God. Throughout His ministry, Jesus modeled and taught about life in this new kind of community.

We are not created to do life or ministry alone. Community was Gods plan to change the world. Jesus
was completely capable of preaching, teaching and healing by Himself. Its not as if Jesus needed anyone
to help Him! But God designed us to need each other, and Jesus lived this out by taking along 12 friends.

Being in a loving community helps us in many ways. We have friends to encourage us when we feel
down, someone to help when we struggle with a problem, we learn to love as Jesus loved, it helps us
stay committed to our Christian faith, and we can also be ourselves. Community also helps us stay
obedient to God. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you John 15:12! The only way to
love others is to live in a community. There are many more benefits to being involved in a Christian
community, but one of the best is when Jesus is uniquely present when we gather. And wherever Jesus
is, is a good place to be!

Hebrews 10:24-25, "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."

Reflections:
How does meeting together, either in a small group or church setting, help us encourage each other?
Proverbs 27:17, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

Power verses:
But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by
sin's deceitfulness.--Hebrews 3:13

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your
brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.--1 Peter 1:22

Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters.--Hebrews 13:1

While visiting family in Alaska this past summer, I asked our cousins about the best places to go hiking.
Then I asked my most important question: "What about the bears?" I asked.
"Attacks usually happen when people go by themselves," she responded. "That's what happened to a
woman last week. She was running alone and got caught between a cub and a momma bear."
"We don't need to go hiking while we're here...." I said.
"We are safer if we all go together," she said.

Doing Life Alone vs. In Community

We once were a society that centered around family. Multiple generations often lived together under
one roof and when families did live separately, they never moved very far. These days, we are more of an
individualistic culture. We rely on ourselves. We live far away from where we were raised. Our
connections with other people take place most often in the workplace. But those connections are usually
shallow, fickle, and short lived.

In the church, we see this sense of individualism and disconnectedness as well. Many people serially
date churches, never staying in one place very long. Some may stake a claim on a church but remain
distant and on the margins, attending only when something better isn't going on. And then there are
those who may indeed have a committed relationship with a church but they are not all in. They aren't
fully known by their community. They don't rely on the Body when they are struggling or in need.
Instead, they wear masks that cover the pain of their lives, pretending that everything's okay, even
though it's not.

Yet individualism and doing life on our own is not part of God's design. After all, God is a community in
himself. Existing for all of eternity past, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit have
enjoyed the love and fellowship of their perfect triune community. In creating mankind, God desired for
us to participate in that community and know the perfect and joyous love the Godhead share.
But God didn't stop there. He didn't create man to be in community with him alone. After he created the
world and Adam, God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for
him" (Genesis 2:18). God created man and woman to be in community together, to create families and
live together, bearing the image of and reflecting the three-in-one God.
Scripture is all about community. God chose the Israelites to be his people. "And I will walk among you
and will be your God, and you shall be my people" (Leviticus 26:12). They lived and worshipped him
together in community. Following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, God then instituted
the church, the Body of Christ as a community of believers. "Now you are the body of Christ and
individually members of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27).

Here's what Paul Tripp says in his book, Whiter Than Snow: Meditations on Sin and Mercy, "We weren't
created to be independent, autonomous, or self-sufficient. We were made to live in a humble,
worshipful, and loving dependency upon God and in a loving and humble interdependency with others.
Our lives were designed to be community projects. Yet, the foolishness of sin tells us that we have all
that we need within ourselves. So we settle for relationships that never go beneath the casual. We
defend ourselves when the people around us point out a weakness or a wrong. We hold our struggles
within, not taking advantage of the resources God has given us." (p. 147)

Safer Together
Not only were we created to be in community but we also need community. As I learned hiking in the
Alaskan mountains, there is safety in numbers. Though there aren't bears out there in everyday life,
there are wolves who seek to destroy us. False theology abounds at every turn. Satan and his legions try
to distract us with temptations. Our own sin leads us astray. We need godly brothers and sisters to watch
our back. We need to be connected in community where we can all be on alert together for the dangers
that are all around us.

The truth is, we need each other. We need to trust, rely on, and depend upon other believers. God gave
us each other to walk alongside, encourage, and spur one another one in the faith. The writer to the
Hebrews says, "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). James 5:16 says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and
pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is
working." We are to carry each other's burdens (Galatians 6:2), care for each other's practical needs
(Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:16), warn each other of sin (1 Thessalonians 5:14) and rejoice and mourn
with each other (Romans 12:15).

Despite my concern about the bears, we did end up going hiking and I enjoyed every moment of it.
Though we saw evidence of bear activity on the trail, we never saw a single one. As our cousin said, we
were safer together. And we are safer together in the community of the Body of Christ as well. Though
society might tell us that we can do life on our own, God's word tells us that we simply can't function
without each other (1 Corinthians 12). We need each other and we need community.
For Reflection: Do you know what it means to be in community, where you are safer together? What do
you think keeps people from engaging in real community?
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Look over this weeks devotions and ponder what youve learned about God and His
triune nature. Thank Him for a being a God who is greater than you could ever imagine.

You cant have community by yourself. The word implies interaction and fellowship. As
believers who recognize that in His triune nature God Himself embodies community and
acknowledge that we are made in His image, we must live in community with one
another. Read Hebrews 10:19-25 in your Bible.

And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good words,
not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging
each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
Carefully study verses 24-25. What examples of community among believers do you
see there? Explain.

As a Christian, why is it important that you regularly meet with and spend time with a
group of devoted Christ-followers? How does having fellowship with other Christians
encourage and challenge you to live for Christ?

Who in your church has been an encourager to you, helped you to grow in your faith, or
spurred you on to do what is right? Who are you encouraging?

The Point

As a Christian, you were never called to go it alone. God exists in community, and He
has called us to community.

Behind the Story

While its unclear who wrote Hebrews, it is clear that the original audience was likely
Jewish Christians who were facing persecution for their faith in Christ. They may have
avoided meeting together in order to escape some of that persecution. Withdrawing
from the body of Christ doesnt make us stronger, but rather weaker. We need other
Christians to encourage and challenge us in the faith, hold us accountable, and remind
us of Gods truth.

Respond

Who in your life needs encouragement today? Seek out three fellow believers whom
you can build up and encourage in Christ today. Jot down their names.

Evaluate your life. How dedicated are you to meeting with other believers? Are worship
or small group meetings a priority for you or what you do when nothing better comes
along? Pray about this attitude.

What are some ways you could help to build deeper community within your youth group
or church? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. What action steps will you take to put these
ideas into action?

Memory Verse

How well have you memorized Matthew 28:19-20? Try reciting it entirely from memory.