My friends are some of the most important people in my life and I have spent a lot of time thinking about building community. Because building community is so important to me, I wanted to share one way that I think through how to do that. 

The Apostle Paul was a great discipler and he invested his life in Timothy who became a very important figure in the early church. Paul traveled around with a group of fellow believers to spread the gospel around the world and one of those people was Barnabus.

So, what does this have to with community or your life? That’s a great question!

A Paul in your life is someone who pouring into you and investing in you. Think of it as someone older than you or at least a little farther along in their Christian life than you are. I could give you a hundred examples of Paul’s in my life but some of the biggest are my Mama and my grandmothers.

Find someone to invest in your life, it will bless you richly, I promise. If you don’t have a Paul, start with your church, talk to someone to get to connected with others. Also, I’m always willing to pray for you! Feel free to comment here or DM me on instagram, I want to get to know you!

A Timothy in your life is someone that you are investing in, someone who you are discipling. This is a person that you are spending time with and helping them grow in their walk with the Lord. It can be formal like doing a bible study with them or informal like just hanging out with them. I hang out with middle and high school girls on a weekly basis and teach 7th grade Sunday school. They are so much fun!

Who are you investing in? Look around you, there is probably someone who you can point to Christ even it’s just a younger sibling. You probably have followers on social media who need to hear the gospel so share there, make your feed a place that points people to the Good News that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again three days later so that we could spend eternity with Him if we simply trust in Him and work everyday to be more like Him. 

Barnabus means “son of encouragement” so that’s why of all Paul’s friends, I chose to use him to think through community. That being said, a Barnabus is someone who is encouraging you and walking through life with you. These would be your friends, I could brag about my friends for hours because they truly are the best.

I’m sure you all have friends that need some encouragement today, so send that text or email, pick up the phone and actually call them. Share a bible verse or just fill them in on what’s going on in your life. You have be a friend to have a friend. 

I hope this can help you think through community and how to build relationships with those around you. I’d love to hear how you think through building community!

“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

Who is your Paul, Timothy, and Barnabus? How do you think through how to build community?