Today’s strategy is one I know is important, but I must be honest and say this is a hard one for me to live out.  As I’ve mentioned a few times on this blog, I have a lot of anxiety surrounding church involvement.  It’s hard for me to feel as if I fit in and I tend to keep my relationships with church friends at a surface level.

In order to learn to love the truth and walk in truth, we must surround ourselves with a community that will tell us the truth –a community that will challenge us to live out truth and remind us of truth as a means of comfort.

Daily Bible reading and a personal quiet time are helpful but not sufficient.  In fact, as my pastor pointed out on Sunday, the quiet time phenomenon is a new one.  For most of church history, Bible study has been a communal experience.  We need each other.

It’s so important that the New Testament alone uses the word “together” about 100 times.

Do not give up meeting together…

Raise your voices together…

Strive together…

Work together for the truth…

And this, the example of the early church:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26992BE" data-link="(BE)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26992BF" data-link="(BF)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26993BH" data-link="(BH)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> All the believers were together and had everything in common.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26994BI" data-link="(BI)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26995BJ" data-link="(BJ)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26996BK" data-link="(BK)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> They broke bread<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26996BL" data-link="(BL)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26997BM" data-link="(BM)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> And the Lord added to their number<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-26997BN" data-link="(BN)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> daily those who were being saved.

This is why we are to do this thing together: so that others will see and hear the truth and be saved.

It’s not just beneficial to unbelievers, however.  There is great value for those who are already saved.

Then we will no longer be infants,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29287AF" data-link="(AF)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> tossed back and forth by the waves,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29287AG" data-link="(AG)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29287AH" data-link="(AH)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> Instead, speaking the truth in love,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29288AI" data-link="(AI)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29288AJ" data-link="(AJ)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29289AK" data-link="(AK)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> and builds itself up<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29289AL" data-link="(AL)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> in love,<span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NIV-29289AM" data-link="(AM)” style=”box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;”> as each part does its work. 

It’s in community that we are able to speak the truth to each other.  When we heed those words and learn from them we will grow to become mature in Christ. We will not become deceived but will be confident that we know the truth….together.