What does a thriving community look like?

A thriving community is a rare and beautiful thing. You can’t buy it, and it doesn’t maintain itself. Building community requires time, attention, and care. But the reward is eternally valuable.  

When community is at its best, people know who they are and they share the Gospel boldly. They experience what it’s like to be led well and justice reigns. So how do we replicate these qualities in our groups? Proverbs gives us some ideas. 

• Be a bold community. 

Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.” The reason the righteous can be as bold as a lion is because they have been made right with God. When the Creator of the Universe is on your side, what is there to fear? 

Jesus died for our sins so we could be made right with God. Through our relationships with Jesus, we are righteous and we can live and share the Gospel boldly. 

• Be a well-led community.

You don’t have to be a leadership superhero to have a well-led community. Leading people well means knowing your people the way a shepherd knows his sheep (Proverbs 27:23). A well-loved, well-known, well-cared for community is a well-led community. 

• Be a just community.

Wicked people strengthen each other in wicked ways, but when righteous people are together they seek the Lord and understand what is righteous (Proverbs 28:4-5). We need each other’s support because following God’s commands won’t always be popular. But a just leader is willing to speak truth even when it’s costly. 

God has placed you with this group of people on purpose. Give them your time, prayer, intentionality, and love, and your group can become the bold, well-led, just community you’ve been looking for. 

Reflect:

• What is your desire for your group? What kind of community are you trying to build?
• Which of the qualities that you read about today do you want to see more of in your group? What’s a step you can take to move your group in that direction?