Why is community important? In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how focusing on community can help you level up to the next stage of spiritual growth.

Community is togetherness. It's gathering around a common faith and relying on one another for help, support and guidance—both naturally and spiritually. It's doing life together.

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote the country a letter and said, "As I finish my tenure as Surgeon General, this is my parting prescription, my final wish for all of us: choose community."

Reports show that Americans are lonelier than ever. The American Psychiatric Association reported in 2024 that 30% of US adults say they have experienced feelings of loneliness at least once a week, and 30% of young adults say they feel lonely every day.

Community is not connectivity, assembly, or being friendly.

We have confused community with connectivity. The connectivity of the digital age is convenient, but it is a counterfeit of true community.

We have also confused community with being friendly. Community is based on being authentic, not just being nice to one another.

We have also confused community with assembly. True community requires that we engage with one other, not just gather together. 

In scripture, the word for community in Greek is koinonia - fellowship, association, sharing, joint participation, intimacy.

Acts 2:42 NIV "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

The invitation to follow Christ, is an invitation into community, because other people have been invited, too. Jesus saves individuals, but we grow in groups. 

Things that kill community:

Mistrust – our past wounds cause us to view others through a lense of suspicion.

Perfectionism – everything and everybody should be perfect. 

Being Fake – unwillingness to be real, vulnerable and accountable.

You need community.

1. It helps you.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT

2. It matures you.

You don't get better by being comfortable.  Strength comes from stretching.

1 John 4:19-21 

You can't love God and not love His kids. 

Learning to love people teaches you about God because that what He does.

3. It heals you.

James 5:16 NLT

Many Christians are forgiven of their sin, but they are not healed from it because they have refused to embrace community.  

How Do We Level Up Through Community?

1. Hang out.

Make time to be with other people.

Acts 5:42 

Jesus had groups of 3 (close friends), 12 (spiritual family), 70 (ministry), 120 (acquaintances), & 500 (the church).

Hebrews 10:25 "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

2. Help out.

You can grow spiritually by investing in others.

Galatians 6:10

Serve your city and serve your church family. 

Galatians 6:2 

Independence and dependence aren't healthy - we are called to interdependence.

Are you using community to level up?