Why biblical community matters:
Do you attend Sunday school at church regularly? Are you part of a bible study group? Do you simply attend church every Sunday because you love to hear what the preacher has to say? Not asking these questions to call anyone out or make any one feel bad if they don’t, but let me just tell you, DO IT! I am finally starting to realize just how important being part of a biblical community is, and it has become such a necessity in my life. I learn things I never would have grasped otherwise; I have people who pray with me and for me, I have people I can call on just when I need a listening ear. No, I don’t mean we need to go to church just to see and hear people, or to be liked or anything to that nature. I’m saying sometimes God uses other people to bring us to Him.
For example, this past Sunday, 2/22/26, the preacher was going over the book of Luke, like I’ve mentioned before, and finishing up chapter nine. I’ve been to many churches in my life, I’ve been over the book of Luke before, I’ve heard these verses before, but the main thing I noticed Sunday was that although I had more than likely read the verses he preached before, I had never understood the true meaning. That’s what I’m loving about the season I’m in right now, I have asked God to help me understand scripture more fully – the church I have been drawn to start attending goes verse by verse through the New Testament explaining it in ways I never saw before. So, we read through Luke chapter 9, verses 51-62 – only 11 verses but gave me so much knowledge and understanding! In this part of the Book of Luke, Jesus and his disciples are traveling to Jerusalem – Jesus is setting out to do everything God sent him to do). They come to a village of Samaritans, and if you don’t know your history, the Samaritans HATE Jews so needless to say, they didn’t welcome Him;
“And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt though that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned and rebuked them, and said, “Ye know now what manner of spirit ye are of. For the son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them”. And they went to another village.” (Luke 9:51-56).
Now I like to think I’m intelligent, even after everything I’ve been through, my education never really left my brain – but I can honestly say, I had no idea what was really going on here. I had an idea, but I kind of skimmed over it and didn’t put too much thought into it. However, it shows so many little things I never thought of before. For instance, the disciples John and James had not yet fully grasped what Jesus was doing – I’ve always just kind of assumed the disciples knew the deal, why else would they be following him through the wilderness? But they still were lost in some areas – just like my last blog discussed how they weren’t ready to let other9:s in their “group”, now they think it’s okay to just “call down fire from heaven to consume them” (Luke 9:54 CSB) – which is not what Jesus was there for AT ALL, which is why He rebuked them. What a good reminder! God is not here to destroy people! He wants to SAVE us!! How amazing is it that no matter how we’ve sinned, or what bad we’ve done, he STILL wants us! Look back at Luke 9:56! He did not walk this earth to shame people but to give them a way out of sin! When that becomes a realization in your life, it’s amazing at the contentment that follows.
Another part of this section discussed Sunday gave me more understanding. If you go down the chapter, let’s look at the final verses;
“And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. And Jesus said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:60-32 KJV)
I originally took this as; okay Jesus just wants them right now – it’s more important than anything else. But our Jesus is kind and generous, why would he not let the guy go bury his father? Or the other say bye to his family? Well, that isn’t what was happening at all. In verse 60, the man was not concerned about his dying father (he wasn’t even dead yet, only dying), he was more concerned about receiving his inheritance when his father did die. JESUS KNOWS OUR HEARTS. And in verse 61, the man was only making an excuse so he could go back and live in sin just a little longer; but Jesus was calling these men to do what only children of God can do – leave everything behind from their former lives and follow Him without looking back, even though he was poor, homeless, and couldn’t provide them with anything material wise (Luke 9:58), but He can provide everlasting life through salvation. That’s what he is calling us to do, too! When you accept Jesus as your savior and you commit to following Him, no matter what that may mean, you must leave the past life behind! It’s not about YOU anymore, it’s about Him. It has been a couple years since I rededicated my life to Christ, and I am learning new ways to honor Him every day it seems!
I started this blog post talking about how important Biblical community is – and used something I learned at church Sunday to stress how when I saw something in a different light, I learned something completely knew about my savior in a verse I’d heard many times before. I rededicated my life to Christ back when I attended Liberty Baptist Church around the year 2020, possibly some time before that too, because I was drawn to the preacher. I started paying attention in church, taking notes, studying the Bible outside of church. I remember one random Sunday, he invited anyone who felt called to come to the altar and be baptized. Without even thinking about it, I got up and was baptized – rededicated my life to the Lord. I felt the presence of God, and I have felt it ever since. I wasn’t automatically a perfect Christian by no means, (still am not!) but I fully believe that’s when Jesus started calling me home. I stayed at that church for a while until my husband asked me to start another church that had just opened in our town. Okay well the preacher I was so fond of moved, I had other people invite me to this same church, I had been praying for my husband to attend church with me and now he wants to go to church, so let’s try it. Connection Church of Dublin is the name. Amazing preacher, disciples, friends – we joined a bible study group, and my husband was baptized and changed for the better. Our marriage was now flourishing – my God led my family to that church, and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Time passed, our church attendance started to lack, life changed – like it often does. I am at gymnastics practice with my daughter; I make a mom friend – our daughters are in the same class at school too. She invited me to her church, which is literally up the road from my house – okay I’ll try it. Me and my family then started at Baker Baptist Church and we haven’t left – the church I’ve talked about so many times in past blogs. I’ve already gained so much from attending and I truly feel I am where I need to be at this time in my life. I’m in Sunday school every Sunday morning in a women’s group, another women’s group on Wednesday nights, my daughter is becoming more and more interested in learning about Jesus, and I was even asked to lead a weekly prayer group! This is where God wants us to be right now, I just know it. That is why biblical community is so important. Look how many different forms of biblical community have shaped my life so far and continue to do so! I am so eager to see where else God leads me in this life.
What biblical communities have shaped your salvation? Share it with me! I love to hear how God is working in other people’s lives as well as my own. Thank you for taking the time to read this! I had some more blog ideas over the weekend, so hopefully I’ll get to my other ideas soon. God bless each and every one of you!