How to Find Community

finding real friends

COMMUNITY.

There is such purpose in community. A solid community can help build and encourage us in our purposes.

But how do we find that community? How do we foster it? How do we find friends that will actually build us up instead of tear us down.

Here are some ways YOU can find and foster community.

Meet community where community meets.

It sounds like a funny thing to say, but if you place yourself in situations and places that give you the opportunity to meet the type of people you’re looking to meet, that’s a stepping stone to increasing your community.

If you’re looking for Christian friendships, a major place to find that is at church or in Bible studies.

Finding friends with similar beliefs and convictions is CRUCIAL to growth in those areas.

Friends like these are essential for building up.

It’s important to plug in places where you find people who can do that for you.

Invest

When you find those people, really pour out.

Found your group or some people you connect with?

Join subgroups.

Connect, go to events, reach out, talk with people, listen to them, be open to being heard.

Intentionality

Community is a wonderful thing that MUST be intentional.

Maybe you can’t be intentional with 100 people, but when you find people you want to connect with, make time to really connect.

Go out for brunch, coffee friend-dates, find times to text and check up on those new friends. And although it doesn’t happen always, we find that when we’re intentional with others, others are intentional with us in return: community.

Find that small group.

Jesus had lots of followers and 12 disciples but only three who went with Him in the hardest of situations.

Two-Way Street

In the words of a post from Live Original, “Community always comes at a cost.” It goes on to say, “Be vulnerable, embrace conflict, don’t make it about you.”

Community is not just being poured into, it’s a two-way street. It’s an encouraging, empowering give and take.

While it’s not always a flawless exchange – sometimes we or others forget to reach out or we’re waiting for the other person to act first (I know I’ve been in both situations) – it’s a worthwhile one.

XO,

Meg

For our original post on this topic, click here.