The document presents numerous biblical passages that depict God as prioritizing community and unity. It emphasizes that community is not a peripheral concern but rather central to God's plans. The overarching message is that biblical community, as exemplified by life groups, should not be an optional program but rather an essential part of how the church functions to support believers.

1. 1. Bible
clearly
gives
us
a
picture
of
a
God
who
priori9zes
comm-­‐UNITY.

2. Then
God
said,
“Let
us
make
man
in
our
image,
aGer
our
likeness.
And
let
them
have
dominion
over
the
fish
of
the
sea
and
over
the
birds
of
the
heavens
and
over
the
livestock
and
over
all
the
earth
and
over
every
creeping
thing
that
creeps
on
the
earth.”
Genesis
1:26
(ESV)

3. 4“Hear,
O
Israel:
The
Lord
our
God,
the
Lord
is
one.
Deuteronomy
6:4
(ESV)

4. In
the
beginning
was
the
Word,
and
the
Word
was
with
God,
and
the
Word
was
God.
He
was
in
the
beginning
with
God.
All
things
were
made
through
him,
and
without
him
was
not
any
thing
made
that
was
made.
John
1:1-­‐3
(ESV)

5. “Behold,
the
virgin
shall
conceive
and
bear
a
son,
and
they
shall
call
his
name
Immanuel”
Ma>hew
1:23
(ESV)

6. Jesus
withdrew
with
his
disciples
to
the
sea,
and
a
great
crowd
followed,
from
Galilee
and
Judea
and
Jerusalem
and
Idumea
and
from
beyond
the
Jordan
and
from
around
Tyre
and
Sidon.
When
the
great
crowd
heard
all
that
he
was
doing,
they
came
to
him.
And
he
told
his
disciples
to
have
a
boat
ready
for
him
because
of
the
crowd,
lest
they
crush
him,
for
he
had
healed
many,
so
that
all
who
had
diseases
pressed
around
him
to
touch
him.
Mark
3:7-­‐10
(ESV)

7. And
he
went
up
on
the
mountain
and
called
to
him
those
whom
he
desired,
and
they
came
to
him.
And
he
appointed
twelve
(whom
he
also
named
apostles)
so
that
they
might
be
with
him
and
he
might
send
them
out
to
preach.
vs.
13-­‐14

8. Comm-­‐UNITY
is
Christ’s
highest
plan
for
us.

9. And
I
am
no
longer
in
the
world,
but
they
are
in
the
world,
and
I
am
coming
to
you.
Holy
Father,
keep
them
in
your
name,
which
you
have
given
me,
that
they
may
be
one,
even
as
we
are
one.
John
17:11
(ESV)

10. that
they
may
all
be
one,
just
as
you,
Father,
are
in
me,
and
I
in
you,
that
they
also
may
be
in
us,
so
that
the
world
may
believe
that
you
have
sent
me.
The
glory
that
you
have
given
me
I
have
given
to
them,
that
they
may
be
one
even
as
we
are
one,
I
in
them
and
you
in
me,
that
they
may
become
perfectly
one,
so
that
the
world
may
know
that
you
sent
me
and
loved
them
even
as
you
loved
me.
John
17:21-­‐23
(ESV)

11. The
God
who
made
the
world
and
everything
in
it,
being
Lord
of
heaven
and
earth,
does
not
live
in
temples
made
by
man,
nor
is
he
served
by
human
hands,
as
though
he
needed
anything,
since
he
himself
gives
to
all
mankind
life
and
breath
and
everything.
And
he
made
from
one
man
every
na9on
of
mankind
to
live
on
all
the
face
of
the
earth,
having
determined
alloXed
periods
and
the
boundaries
of
their
dwelling
place,
that
they
should
seek
God,
and
perhaps
feel
their
way
toward
him
and
find
him.
Yet
he
is
actually
not
far
from
each
one
of
us,
Acts
17:24-­‐27
(ESV)

12. Then
the
LORD
God
said,
“It
is
not
good
that
the
man
should
be
alone;
I
will
make
him
a
helper
fit
for
him.”
Genesis
2:18
(ESV)

13. • Strength
for
storms
of
life
(Ecclesiastes
4:9-­‐10)
• Wisdom
for
making
good
decisions
(Proverbs
15:22)
• Confiden9ality
&
accountability
for
spiritual
health
(Proverbs
27:17)
• There’s
strength,
reliability
and
assurance
in
community
(Proverbs
18:24)
• Spur
one
another
on
to
good
deeds
(Hebrews
10:24-­‐25)

14. 1. Bible
clearly
gives
us
a
picture
of
a
God
who
priori9zes
comm-­‐UNITY.
2. Community
isn’t
a
peripheral
ministry

17. 1. Bible
clearly
gives
us
a
picture
of
a
God
who
priori9zes
comm-­‐UNITY.
2. Community
isn’t
a
peripheral
ministry
3. We’re
not
going
to
HAVE
life
groups
–
we
will
EMPLOY
them!