And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.                                  Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

It isn’t ALL fun and games on Tuesdays, but yeah, there’s usually a little bit of fun and games anyway!

The Christian life is meant to be lived in community. Not crowds. Not cliques. Community. Crowds are large groups of people who are only loosely connected by a short-term common purpose such as enjoying a concert or shopping at a mall. Cliques are small groups of people that are so closely connected as friends that they have little or no interest in others. You can be alone in a crowd because no one knows you or cares about you. Crowds are blind to those inside them. You can feel isolated and excluded by a clique because they’ll literally talk and move around you with little regard for your presence. Cliques are blind to those outside them. Both crowds and cliques are unintentional–they are there, but they serve no higher purpose. They form and dissipate with little or no regard to the people of which they are made. Christ calls us to neither.

Community for the followers of Jesus is intentional. Gospel-centered communities are meant see everyone. They are all about “one another.” Serve one another, help one another, love one another, support one another, and serve a greater cause. Crowds don’t do that. They don’t even try. Cliques may try, but the Gospel calls us to more. It calls us to look inwardly and outwardly. The BSU strives to be a community, a place where people are known and cared for, trained and developed to be stronger in their faith. Our mission is to be disciples who make disciples. That is our cause, our higher purpose.

Another difference between crowds, cliques and communities is that people in communities often play intentional roles. They are involved in the life, health and mission of the greater whole in identifiable ways. They participate. They contribute. People in community are just there, they are involved.

• What are other differences between crowds, cliques and communities?
• Are you more comfortable alone or in a group? Why?
• Of what communities are you a part?
• How do you contribute to those communities?