To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be

saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus

Christ, both their Lord and ours. (1 Corinthians 1:2)

Notice how Paul identifies the calling of the Corinthian church in the greeting of this letter. They

are called to be saints together with all other believers. The very nature of our calling as

Christians involves linking arms with other followers of Christ. The Bible describes the Church

as both a body and a family. In both analogies, the whole means nothing without the

connectedness of its parts. We are arms and legs and ears together. We are brothers and

sisters. 

Look at how Luke describes the early church in the following passage:

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and

possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together

in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and

sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added

to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:44-47)

Prioritizing connection with other believers may sometimes feel like a challenge. Our lives are

often over-scheduled, and we’re tired. It usually requires a little planning, sacrifice, and

vulnerability (you may be asked to stand and greet your neighbor). And let’s face it, you can’t

wear your PJs to your small group. 

I would need more than two hands to count the number of times I’ve felt overtired on a Sunday

morning, or too mentally exhausted to head out to my community group on Tuesday nights after

a stressful day at work. Even so, I have never regretted pushing through those feelings and

showing up. Every single time I leave those spaces feeling full, reminded anew that I’m not

alone on this journey.

Do you need to move toward Christian community today? If so, I pray you will press through

any obstacles that present themselves, take that next step, and experience the blessings of

togetherness in the body of Christ.

By Lori Barkley



Lori and her husband, Jim, attend the Armstrong Mill campus where she serves as a deacon.

Lori works in the FRC at the Jessamine Early Learning Village in Nicholasville. They have two

teenage daughters, Brynn and Katy.