The look of Community

I entered the cozy living room and plopped down on the big red and white couch with my Bible in hand, waiting to engage in our weekly bible study. As the others arrived, we engaged in small talk about the week as we sipped on our coffee and consumed the assorted pastries in the kitchen. Soon, it was time to begin. The study began as it always did with the sharing of prayer requests. As one man shared, he paused for a moment, his face quickly reddening with embarrassment. He uttered one word, and we all knew what he meant. He simply said “Help!” Although he never fully explained what was troubling him, we all could relate to his feelings of helplessness and despair. As a group, there was not much we could offer him. So, we did the one thing we could do in that situation, we gathered around him, laying hands on him and praying for him. When we were finished, I looked at the clock. In what seemed like a second, I realized that an hour and a half had gone by and it was time to go home. We ended the night and we all got into our cars to began our journeys home. It has been over fourteen years since that fateful night, and it still remains one of the most important bible lessons I ever learned. That night was a turning point for our group. We went from acquaintances to a community of believers, from friends to brothers and sisters. It was the first night where we set aside our agenda, and looked to see what God was doing.

Some of my biggest God moments have happened sitting on someone living room sofa or in a big, comfy chair at the nearest Starbucks. They don't look like places where God would move, but God will use anywhere to accomplish his agenda. Community is vital to a Christian's spiritual walk. If you open the doors to your home, open up the opportunity to "sharpen" the people in your life.