Made to Belong - 5 Practices to Cultivate Community in a Culture of LonelinessSample

We have this mantra for our church community: The Christian life is not just difficult to do alone. It’s impossible.

We say this regularly because, surrounded by technology and all its offerings, we deceive ourselves into thinking we can do life alone. I thought I could be a hero and be the first Christian in history to make it on my own. After all, I’m a pastor, right?

God has given us the gift of community to encourage one another to learn and live the way of Jesus.

And to that end—helping one another become all that Jesus wants us to be— the last and final practice to cultivate community is ACCOUNTABILITY (Practice #5). Once we have earned trust through priority, chemistry, vulnerability, and empathy, we are able to speak into the deep parts of one another—and this, my friends, is the real Christ-centered community we are all looking for (Colossians 3:16–Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another with all wisdom).

But often, our pride gets in the way. This may be the reason why we are so lonely. We need others and we must allow others to speak into our lives. What would it look like for us to live with accountability and speak the truth in love to one another today?

When reading the Gospels, I am drawn to Jesus making space and offering belonging to everyone, particularly to those who were deemed undeserving by society. Jesus intentionally broke every barrier and division made by humankind and offered belonging to all: children, women, people with disabilities, sinners and tax collectors, and the poor. Even to Judas, Jesus offered His table of love and grace.

The goal of this belonging journey has been to help you know how to find your place. And yet, as followers of Jesus, when we model what Christ did from a place of belonging, we can offer that same belonging to and see it grow with those who have not yet found it.

In the process, don’t be surprised if you end up experiencing life-giving belonging from them as well.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for sending Jesus to teach me how to offer belonging to others despite barriers and divisions. Please be with me as I search for my place, and please help me to embrace others as Christ did. May accountability be a practice to strengthen my belonging journey. Amen.

Learn more about the book, Made to Belong, by David Kim by visiting www.thomasnelson.com/p/made-to-belong.