October 5, 2025

Belonging is more than attendance or agreement—it is deep, relational connection. Many have left communities where faith felt conditional, exclusive, or transactional. Jesus models a different kind of community: one where each person matters, gifts are celebrated, and relationships are real.

READ

Romans 12:1–5

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

REFLECT

1. When have you felt fully included and needed in a community? How did it affect your faith and sense of purpose?
2. Are there ways you’ve felt like a spectator in your faith communities or social circles? What contributed to that sense of distance or exclusion?
3. Are there ways you have excluded others? Invite the Spirit to draw you to recognize and celebrate the gifts of others around you.

RESPOND

1. Identify someone in your church, small group, or workplace who is often sidelined. Invite them into your life in a meaningful way.
2. Take time to notice and affirm the gifts and contributions of those around you. Share what you notice with them or write them a note of encouragement.
3. Spend time in prayer asking the Holy Spirit to show you where belonging is broken or missing. Listen for guidance on how to cultivate authentic connection.

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