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知道这一点很重要：我们不只是“去”教会，我们乃是教会的一部分。我们也会去看球赛或去商店购物，但去教会与此截然不同。如果我们跟随耶稣，我们就是祂身体的一部分，是祂的子民，是祂的教会。

耶稣的早期信徒是一个多元化的群体。他们来自各个国家，来自各行各业。他们可能很难实现合一，成为神新造的子民群体。然而，他们还是找到了一种方式，靠着圣灵的能力，在基督里彼此委身，心相契合。

我喜欢跟随耶稣的人所建立的团契，因为他们彼此扶持。在罗马帝国的政治、文化和宗教分裂中，他们的生活实属不易。但他们在基督里彼此扶持，找到了适合自己的出路。

当有人在信仰上挣扎、受伤、甚至偏离正路时，总要有人鼓励他们。虽然我们各人都倾向于独自面对自己的挣扎，但我们需要学会融入群体。也许我们不想打扰别人，但在我们陷入挣扎的时候，我们需要接近而不是远离我们的信仰群体，好使他们能切实关心我们。

It’s important to know that we don’t just “go” to church but instead are part of the church. We might go to a hockey game or to a store, but church is different. If we follow Jesus, we are a part of his body, his people, the church.

Jesus’ early followers were a diverse group. They came from many countries and from all walks of life. It was probably difficult for them to unite together and learn to be God’s newly formed people. And yet they found a way to be devoted to one another, to be together in fellowship—in Christ, through the power of his Spirit.

What I love about the fellow­ship of Jesus’ followers is that they were there for one ­another. Their lives would not have been easy with all the political, cultural, and religious divisions in the Roman Empire. But they were able to find their way by being there for each other, in Christ.

When someone was struggling, hurting, or even coming off the rails in their faith, there was someone to encourage them. Though we all have a tendency to try to deal with our struggles on our own, we need to learn to lean into community. Maybe we don’t want to bother others, but in our times of struggle we need to run toward instead of away from our community of faith so that they can care for us.