More Than A Book Pt. 5

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” -- John 5:39-40 NIV

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In our More Than A Book series, we’ve explored studying the Bible, meditating, and praying. This is so that you know Jesus more and not just know the Scriptures. But many overlook something: you cannot fully know Jesus alone. Fellowship with other believers is essential.

God never designed us to walk this journey alone. The Bible is clear: "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). Jesus Himself surrounded Himself with disciples. If He valued community, so should we.

Fellowship isn’t just about attending church. It’s about doing life with other believers. It’s about sharpening one another (Proverbs 27:17). It’s about confessing sins and praying for each other (James 5:16). It’s about bearing one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2). You can read the Bible, pray, and meditate, but without fellowship, you will lack something crucial: accountability and encouragement. I want to make something clear, I am not advocating for you to replace your time with Jesus with other believers. Instead, I'm proposing that if you spend enough time with Jesus, it becomes natural to spend time with His people. Please, don't replace Him with spending time with His people.

Many say, “I love Jesus, but I don’t like church.” But how can you love the Head (Jesus) while rejecting His Body (the Church)? The Church is flawed, yes. People make mistakes. But you were never meant to follow Jesus in isolation. When you avoid fellowship, you miss out on a vital part of who Jesus is. He is present when believers gather in His name (Matthew 18:20). Meet new believers, and strengthen your relationship with the ones you already know, for this helps you grow. And when you grow, you can also be present in the lives of non-believers. You can show them the love of God and lead them to the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus. Your fellowship with them can lead them to Him.

If you truly want to know Jesus, engage in fellowship. Find people who love Him, challenge you, and push you closer to Him. When you do, you'll slowly see yourself becoming more and more like Him. In our next blog, we’ll discuss another key aspect of knowing Jesus: giving to the poor.