They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.

Acts 2:43-44 (NIV)

Community is one of God’s amazing ways of growing and healing us to wholeness.

Finding friendship and community in a church can be challenging for various reasons. Past experiences, lack of trust and fear of getting hurt or rejected can affect how we see others and keeps us from building meaningful relationships. But if we learn to understand community from a biblical perspective, we will discover the grace to embrace, value and love the people God has given us.

Most Christians have a rather shallow understanding of community.

They believe it is the job of others to look after them or make them feel like they belong. Creating a sense of belonging and inclusion involves everyone, not just a select few. A church community is essentially a family, not merely a group of lonely and isolated people who attend the same church.

The Greek word for "community" is "koinonia." The word is used frequently in the New Testament to describe the community of believers who shared a common life in Christ. They modelled for us how to integrate their Christian faith into the context of their daily lives and relationships. They not only grow together in God’s love, but they also work together to draw others into the light and might of His Word.

Luke tells us that everyone was filled with awe whenever they gathered as a people of God. Evidently, they saw God working in their midst with signs, wonders and various miraculous manifestations of His grace and power. So, what happened then, can and should happen today.

God is at work right now, just as He was in the early church.

We must learn how to do community through the chaos of conflicts and misunderstandings. It takes humility and practice to mature in grace and establish good relationships with one another. But if we are willing to do life together God’s way instead of our way, our church will become healthy and sound, manifesting the unity of love for God and for people.