In early 2004, when Facebook first emerged, I was wrapping up a degree while working at Johnson & Johnson. A friend of mine, Matt, sent me an invitation to join this new platform called Facebook. Back then, only college students with a ".edu" email could sign up, and since I still had mine, I decided to see what the fuss was about.
After signing up, Facebook sent me a promotional product—a plastic wallet, embossed with their lowercase "f" logo and a symbol that you might not see today: a “+1.” Mark Zuckerberg’s mission was to connect people, and the "add" button encouraged us to gain as many friends as possible. We college students drove Facebook’s user base from 650 to 1 million in just ten months, all while chasing high friend counts to look important.
It’s amazing to think how this small network grew into the social media giant it is today, with over 3 billion daily active users. But along the way, something significant changed—for better or worse.
The Love-Hate Relationship with Social Media
I have a love-hate relationship with social media, and I’m sure many of you can relate. On the one hand, I love that I can keep in touch with friends, former congregations, and family across the country. The memories that pop up each year bring joy, reminding me of milestones and shared moments.
However, on the other hand, social media often leaves me and others feeling empty. It’s a breeding ground for negativity, with people voicing opinions that can tear down rather than build up. We get sucked into a curated reality, where everyone’s life looks perfect—smiling faces, achievements, and milestones. This constant comparison leads to a fear of missing out (FOMO), and we start to feel lonelier than ever.
The platform that was supposed to connect us has made us feel more isolated. The artificial nature of these connections lacks the depth that true relationships are meant to bring.
A Different Way to Build Relationships
So, what’s missing? I believe we’ve lost our way when it comes to building healthy relationships. Fortunately, there’s a better model for connection, and it comes from God.
We were created in God’s image, which means we were designed for community—with God and with each other. In the first chapter of Genesis, God creates humanity in His image and commands us to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. This image-bearing nature of ours calls for meaningful relationships, not the superficial connections social media offers.
We also see this in the early church described in Acts 2:42-47. The believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. They shared everything they had, met daily in each other’s homes, and praised God with sincere hearts. This is what true community looks like—people coming together to support, encourage, and love one another.
The Importance of Christian Community
Today, many of us have lost the art of neighboring. Church attendance has declined, and people rarely welcome others into their homes. But the early church thrived on gathering together, sharing meals, and living life with glad hearts. They experienced the power of God’s presence in community, and as a result, their numbers grew, and lives were transformed.
Imagine what our lives would look like if we truly shared each other’s burdens, listened to one another, and prayed together. What if we did life together outside of Sunday worship? We could experience healing, joy, and deep, meaningful connections—just as the early church did.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be exploring what it means to live in true community. I encourage you to begin praying about how God might be calling you to engage more deeply in this type of fellowship. For those who have already experienced the blessings of small groups, I challenge you to consider starting one yourself. Let’s imagine a future where Emmanuel thrives as a church because we are committed to doing life together, sharing in each other’s joys and sorrows, and growing in our faith as one body.
Let’s pray that God opens our hearts and minds to the power of community. Together, we can build something beautiful that reflects the Kingdom of Heaven right here in our own lives.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
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