Being part of a group can have a lot of benefits: it can combat loneliness; it helps us broaden our minds as we share opinions and hear the different views of other people; it’s an opportunity to build connections with diverse people who are united by a common interest; and the best groups can become a source of support, like another family. One of the characteristics of the early church was their faithfulness to connectedness, because they knew connectedness doesn’t just happen. They met together daily. They ate together. Over time, however, that happened less. So the writer of Hebrews said: ‘Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another’ (vv. 24-25 NIVUK). One author puts it this way: ‘In sports, the more an athlete needs encouragement from the fans, the less likely he or she is to get it. Rarely do fans of a losing team think when a slumping player comes up to bat, “Let’s consider how we can spur him on.” Too often, people who need cheers the most get them the least. Every day, everyone you know faces life with eternity on the line, and life has a way of beating people down. Every life needs a cheering section. Every life needs a shoulder to lean on once in a while. Every life needs a prayer to lift them up before God. Every life needs a hugger to wrap some arms around them sometimes. Every life needs to hear a voice saying, “Don’t give up.”’
