Small groups are not a program of the church; they are the church – it’s where koinonia takes place. – Rick Warren

Some deaths take our breath away. Hayden Panettiere, 36, recently died of cardiac arrest which has been suggested it was related to drug addiction. I first remember her as a little girl in one of my favorite movies, Remember the Titans, which launched her career.

It’s not just a movie about a high school football team. It’s a movie about friendships. The players and coaches initially segregated by racial lines over the season develop into close friends. In the movie, even Hayden developed a friendship with a young black girl. 

Sadly, in her book of memoirs and media interviews, Hayden admitted she was addicted to alcohol and drugs. Because of her many struggles, she lost full custody of her daughter. 

What a sad story! Personally, I can’t help but wonder if she had experienced the friendships, the support and camaraderie so powerfully shown in the movie, would her life have taken a different turn? 

None of us were designed to be alone. If any group must understand relationships across social barriers, it’s has to be a local church family. There is no better place to build relationships than in the small groups of a church.  They enable a church family to live out the many “one another” commands of the Bible. We’re commanded to love each other, pray for each other, bear each other’s burdens, encourage each other, support each other to name a few. Small groups provide a church with unique opportunities to build relationships that most of us normally wouldn’t have. 

Each of us needs community. God created us for connection. Spiritual, and emotional growth happen best as we share our lives with other Christ-followers. Isolation limits our growth and only hides our brokenness, and we’re all broken to some extent. Genuine fellowship provides healing and strength to face life storms.

In a world that celebrates independence and self-sufficiency, the Bible presents a different vision for how we’re meant to live. God designed us to thrive in relationship with others (and not just marriage and family). Throughout the Bible, we see the importance of community and support among believers. Community is not just a helpful addition to life. Biblical community can be part of transforming your life. 

Community follows God’s design for us. 

God designed us to live in relationships. In Genesis 2:18, God declared, It is not good for man to be alone. God’s statement emphasizes the importance of living in community. We’re created in the image of a relational God. Just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in perfect unity, we’re called to live in unity with others. The early church lived this out, devoting themselves to fellowship, sharing meals, and praying together. Their commitment to each other wasn’t just about physical needs, it was about growing spiritually and experiencing God’s presence in their midst.

Community strengthens our faith. 

When we gather with others, we find encouragement to stay faithful in our walk with Christ. Community helps us avoid spiritual stagnation. God doesn’t want us to just attend church, but to grow together in grace. Through shared Bible study, prayer, and worship, we deepen our relationship with the Lord and other believers. 

Community gives support in times of need. 

Life’s challenges can feel overwhelming. God never intended for us to face them alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 beautifully captures this: Two are better than one…if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. We are to lift each other up, especially during difficult seasons. Whether you’re going through personal struggles or celebrating victories, having a community to share those moments with brings a sense of belonging. 

Community reflects God’s love to the world. 

The night before He went to the cross, Jesus told His disciples, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35). It’s unique to the local church. No other group can have that kind of love even in extreme diversity (marital status, economic status, age or ethnicity). Our love for others within the body of Christ is a powerful witness to a lost and frequently loveless world. In a culture of division, Christian community stands out. It offers a glimpse of God’s Kingdom—a place where people from all backgrounds can experience love, acceptance, and unity. When we live in community, we reflect Christ’s love, not just with words but actions, showing a lost world the transforming power of the gospel.

Community enables us to fulfill our purpose. 

Jesus’ command in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) commands us to make disciples of all nations. This mission is something we accomplish together. In community, we partner to serve, pray and spread the gospel. Each member of the community plays a significant role in advancing Christ’s Kingdom. We not only grow spiritually ourselves, but we also help others discover their purpose and potential in Christ. A thriving community encourages everyone to use their God-given gifts to glorify God.

Lt. Hiroo Onada was the last World War II Japanese soldier from World War II to surrender. He’d been left on the island in the Philippines on December 25, 1944, with the command to “carry on the mission even if Japan surrenders.” All efforts to convince him to surrender or capture him failed. He ignored messages from loudspeakers announcing Japan’s surrender and that Japan was now an ally of the United States. Leaflets were dropped over the jungle begging him to surrender so he could return to Japan. He refused to believe it. Almost half a million dollars was spent trying to locate and convince him to surrender. 

Finally, on March 10, 1974, almost 30 years after World War II ended. He surrendered his rusty sword after receiving a personal command from his former superior officer. Onada handed his sword to the Philippine president, who pardoned him. Onada was 22 years old when he was left on the island but surrendered a prematurely aged man of 52. 

Too many Christ-followers live in self-imposed isolation when God has a place and plan for them of community. Please commit to being part of a small group. It will help you grow closer to others and the Lord Jesus!