Jesus Called Us to Follow Him Together
We believe the Christian life was never meant to be lived in isolation. Jesus did not simply call people to attend meetings. He called them to follow Him together.
The early disciples walked dusty roads together. They broke bread together. They bore one another’s burdens. They laughed, cried, prayed, worshiped, served, and grew together. They didn’t simply gather for an event. They became a family.
That is the vision we pursue.
God Works in the Everyday Moments
When we intentionally spend extended time together, we discover that some of the deepest work God does isn’t only during the scheduled meetings. It happens over breakfast, while preparing meals, during late-night conversations, while praying for one another, serving side by side, and simply sharing everyday life. Those unplanned moments often become the places where God forms lasting relationships and transforms hearts.
Because of this, we intentionally create opportunities to live life together, not merely attend events together. Our desire is that every gathering becomes more than a conference or annual tradition. We want it to be a dynamic family encounter with God.
The Cost and the Reward of Living as Family
We also recognize that this kind of life together costs us something.
Being family is not always easy. It requires us to lay down our own preferences, comforts, schedules, and conveniences. More than anything, it costs us ourselves. This is the way of Jesus, who laid down His life for us and calls us to love one another in the same way.
Yet what it costs us is insignificant compared to what we gain. The relationships God builds, the love we experience, the healing that comes through genuine fellowship, and the family He forms among us are priceless.
Recognizing the Battle Against Biblical Community
We also understand the spiritual battle surrounding biblical community.
We live in a world marked by division. From the beginning, the adversary has sought to divide people from God, people from one another, families from families, churches from churches, and even people from themselves. Isolation, independence, suspicion, offense, fear, and self-protection have become normal in our culture.
For that reason, the desire to withdraw, remain separate, or protect our own space should not surprise us. Those feelings are common because we live in a divided world.
Choosing the Narrow Way of Unity
But the Kingdom of God moves in the opposite direction.
Jesus prayed that His people would be one, just as He and the Father are one (John 17:20-23). Every step toward biblical unity pushes against the current of this world. We are choosing the narrow way when we intentionally pursue life together under the Lordship of Christ.
Don’t Let the Enemy Steal the Answer to Your Prayers
We have also observed something else. Often, when God begins answering the very prayers we have prayed, the greatest resistance appears. We ask God for family, belonging, healing, discipleship, friendship, and deeper relationships. Then, when He places those very opportunities in our hands, the adversary works to convince us to step away from them. He presses on our fears, our comforts, our schedules, our disappointments, or our insecurities so that we fail to receive the very answer to prayer that God has provided.
Because of this, we choose to recognize those moments for what they are. Rather than retreating, we lean into one another. Rather than withdrawing, we draw near. Rather than protecting our own lives, we lay them down in love.
Our Commitment
This is not merely an event strategy.
It is our commitment to become the kind of family Jesus prayed for, where we intentionally walk together, bear one another’s burdens, break bread together, grow together, and display His love to the world.
“May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:23)
Jesus didn’t simply call us to attend meetings. He called us to become His family. If you’re looking for that kind of life together, we’d love to invite you to connect with a Vine Fellowship Network gathering or join us at a Vine Seminar. Come experience what it means to follow Jesus shoulder to shoulder with others who desire to walk in His ways.
Begin Your Journey Today
Jesus didn’t just call us to believe in Him. He called us to follow Him.
Step into the life He designed for you through Emmaus Road’s The Commands of Jesus. This is more than learning. It’s an invitation to walk with Him, obey Him, and experience Him in a real and powerful way.
You don’t want to miss this journey.
Start today: https://GregLancaster.org/StartHere