Christian community is one of the most important parts of walking in step with the Lord. Valuable community can hold someone accountable, walk with them through struggles, encourage them, and show love to them. This week in chapel, Principal Laura Smith discussed the importance of keeping this community through teaching, learning, breaking bread, praying, and loving one another. Hebrews 10:24-25 speaks to this form of community by saying, “let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as in the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near”(ESV). This verse describes how community can affect us as Christians. It not only allows us to have deep and strong friendships, but deepens our personal walks with the Lord as it stirs our affections for Him.

By teaching and learning together, we have common knowledge that creates connections. Each one of our extracurricular activities and interests might be unique. By sharing the common knowledge of what we are learning, we can relate to one another and have discussions to further strengthen our relationships.

Breaking bread is a unique aspect of community that is not often brought up. Many think that food is not necessary to community; however, the argument can be made that in fact it is. Acts 2:42 describes the early church by saying, “they [the early church] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” This verse explicitly states that eating together draws people together. Smith related this to our lunches; lunchtime gives us a valuable opportunity to meet new students or students that we have not necessarily talked to in order to make new friendships.

Finally, through prayer with and for each other, as well as intentionally loving one another we can strengthen our community in an unbreakable bond. The most treasured way that we can love each other is by praying for each other. Therefore, in order to strengthen our walk with Christ and our walk with others, we must engage in teaching and learning, breaking bread, praying, and loving one another.