• Start Here
    • Disclosure & Privacy Policy
  • Blog
    • Prayer
    • Spiritual Disciplines
    • Trusting God
  • Prayer for the Week
  • Store
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
Prayer and Possibilities | Prayer - Discipleship - Spiritual Disciplines - Discernment - Trusting God

Prayer & Possibilities

  • Deepen Your Prayers
  • Develop Your Faith
  • Step Into God’s Possibilities
You are here: Home / Spiritual Disciplines / Why Christian Community Matters

May 1, 2017 ·

Why Christian Community Matters

Spiritual Disciplines

Think you don't need a church or an 'in real life' Christian community? Think again. Christian community matters. Being connected is vital for our faith!Have you ever noticed how the trees grow together in a forest? On a long road trip through Louisiana, I began to look at the trees growing on either side of the road. Tall trees growing thickly together fill the sides of the highway. Not like the expansive views we have driving across Texas. No, here it’s like the road was cut through a forest. At first glance, each tree seems to have that perfectly tapered tree shape. Perfectly tall, straight trunks, full leafy branches in all the right places to give the appearance of a perfectly trimmed tree. As if someone had been pruning and caring for each to grow them into such beauties.

That is, until I looked closer.

What I didn’t see at first glance is that these perfect-looking tree shapes have many trunks. They’re a grouping of trees that have grown in together, each filling in the blanks where the other is missing something. Growing together so closely in the forest, no one tree has the space to grow evenly in all directions. One side might have room to grow, but another will be stunted. One side receives the sun, but the back side is covered in shade. No one tree is perfect on its own. Instead, the trees come together to fill in the gaps.

Christian Community Fills In The Gaps

I began to realize this is how community works. Coming together to fill in the gaps and make each of us whole again. On our own, we’ll never be perfectly whole. Life doesn’t work that way. Somewhere along the way, we’ll lose some part of us, an area of growth will be stunted, a section will be damaged, a side will fall out of the sunlight.

Living in community means someone coming alongside us to fill in the gap. To walk next to us as we heal. To show us we can be whole again. To help us rebuild and regrow the broken parts. Christ is the ultimate healer and through a Christian community we can encourage and grow each other to know Christ and experience his healing power. We can find the hope that only Christ brings.

The trees stand as permanent supports for each other. They cannot step back to let each other grow. They’re only able fill out their weak spots if the tree next to them dies or is cut down. The tree that made them whole will eventually choke off their growth. The stunted and broken sides will forever be weak and imperfect. They can only appear whole from a distance, with the help of their fellow trees.

Think you don't need a church or an 'in real life' Christian community? Think again. Christian community matters. Being connected is vital for our faith! Who is your community? Who is standing by your side and supporting you? Who are you supporting?Christian Community Brings Us to the Healer and Gives Us Space to Grow

Unlike the trees, we can be healed and made whole through Christ. Community and friendship done well provide room for growth. As the one we’ve come along beside begins to heal, we step back to allow in the sun (the Son). We provide space for the branches to grow back in. As the growth takes form, we step back further, allowing the tree to take its full shape, for our friend to shine and stand again as whole – damaged perhaps, but regrown and made new.

We cannot be perfectly whole on our own, but with the help of community and the love of Christ, our broken and damaged parts can be made new again.

Who is your community? Are you plugged into a local church community and a group of friends? Who are you helping to heal and grow? How are you filling in the gaps for someone else? Let’s band together in Christian community, seeking the Son, the Great Healer, who can restore our hope and make us new again.

Other Posts You May Like

Previous Post: « How To Let God Be Your Life-Preserver When Life’s Storms Rage
Next Post: 5 Ways to Find Hope in God When You’re Feeling Weary »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lesley says

    May 2, 2017 at 5:32 am

    I love how the trees illustrate so well the importance of Christian community- of filling in the gaps for one another and helping each other grow. Beautiful post!

  2. Horace Williams Jr says

    May 2, 2017 at 9:57 am

    You share some wonderful truths here Kathryn. I am experiencing a painful health trial the past few months. My community of Christians have come alongside to help and encourage. I hope to do the same for others going forward. This post is so well done. I will definitely be sharing on my Inspiration board. I hope you have a wonderful week and may God bless you and yours in all your endeavors.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Hi, I'm Kathryn! I'm glad you're here to journey with me! I'm just an ordinary girl following an extraordinary God, learning to seek God's possible in this world of impossible. Fueled by loads of coffee, I'm passionate about helping and encouraging you along this journey, too! Let's step forward together and learn practical ways to live into God's possible! Read More…

Lookup a word or passage in the Bible


BibleGateway.com

Footer

Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Start Here
  • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
  • Store
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · beloved theme by Restored 316

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT