Stronger Communal Disciplines are “Sweet”

by Mike Killebrew

I have been keeping honeybees for the last 8 or 9 years. It’s a “sweet” hobby. See what I did there? Hopefully, you can enjoy the strong dad joke. Beekeeping is a wonderful hobby, except when I get stung. Thankfully stings don’t happen frequently. Honeybees are one of creation’s most fascinating insects as they have a special relationship with plants making them hugely important to God’s design of our planet. When I’m working in my apiary, fully suited up and without the fear of being stung, I like to watch them hard at work. It’s incredible to watch several thousand honeybees cooperate in nest building, food collection, and brood rearing. Each member has a task to perform related to their adult age. Survival and reproduction take the combined effort of the entire colony. They work together in such a “sweet” way!       

Perhaps part of the reason I enjoy watching the honeybees is because I’ve always been a “let’s go, but let’s go together,” person. I learned long ago the value of doing things together with others instead of on my own. This mindset probably goes all the way back to my family of origin, having grown up in a family of four kids. Our family did things together starting with simple things like cleaning my room with my younger brother and playing in the back yard with all three of my siblings. Now as a father of four kids, few things are “sweeter” than when my children are working or playing together. 

I’m sure we have all experienced the benefits of teamwork and combined effort.    

At the same time, while togetherness and teamwork are recognizably beneficial, we tend to isolate ourselves in the practice of spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines can and should be practiced in community as well as individually! One of my favorite definitions of spiritual disciplines is in a book written by Adele Calhoun, titled Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, in which she links discipline and desire. She says, “From its beginning the church linked the desire for more of God to intentional practices, relationships and experiences that gave people space in their lives to ‘keep company’ with Jesus.”     

Some of my most profound moments of “keeping company with Jesus” have been through communal experiences. I’m so grateful for the many places I have experienced profound community that have moved me further towards keeping company with Jesus.  I’m incredibly thankful for the countless opportunities I’ve had to be a part of the body of Christ that have helped me know Jesus better, follow him more closely and to become in some mysterious way, wrapped up into his presence. I’m grateful for my family, my small groups, the teams at my church that I’m privileged to serve on, my co-workers in ministry and the community of believers at my church and beyond that I get to do life with. Community has blessed me and grown me to have stronger spiritual disciplines than only on my own.    

Regardless whether you prefer to do things together or by yourself, there is a biblical principle of doing life together. In the early pages of Genesis, we read about God’s triune relationship. God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Gen 1:26, emphasis added). We are created for teamwork and togetherness, created in the image of God. Then in Gen 2:18 we see “It is not good that man should be alone…” These two verses set the stage for the biblical principle of “one another” and the power of togetherness.  

In Acts 2:42 we see some of the first believers at the newly formed church in Jerusalem practicing communal spiritual disciplines. We read, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and prayer.” The desire to better love and know God fueled these practices. Then, as the church grew, they encountered new situations and as a result we have more examples from the early church on the pages of Acts as to how they went about preserving the company of Jesus. We see many other examples of the practice of spiritual disciplines throughout the Book of Acts.  One observation about many of these practices is that many of them are practiced in community. 

As you pursue the desire to grow towards God, would you intentionally consider how you could strengthen your spiritual disciplines within your preexisting community? Proverbs 27:17 proclaims that “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This simple statement has been a calling for many generations to understand the idea that no one is alone.  To make yourself stronger, there is mutual benefit to pursue the practice of spiritual disciplines in community.  

There are so many Scriptures about doing life together! We even have a list on the e2 website of over 50 positive uses of “one another” in the New Testament. I’d suggest this as a great place to be more intentional in the practice of communal spiritual disciplines. Choose one of the “one anothers” – “love one another,” “serve one another,” “pray for one another,” “forgive one another.” Practice living one particular “one another” every day with your preexisting community for a week. Then make it a discussion item the next time you are together asking, “what was this practice like for you?”  

Consider the people in your sphere that have little experience of the biblical “one anothers.” How could you intentionally bring a “one another” experience to these people? Please, plan a time to do so!  I believe you’ll find that is “sweet” experience!  

As a beekeeper I’ve always enjoyed the places in Scripture that refer to honey. Fun fact: it shows up over 60 times. Frequently it is used to illustrate the goodness of God and his provision. One of my favorite places that honey is mentioned is found in Psalm 19:9, where the Psalmist is comparing the Word of God to the sweetness of honey. When talking about the ordinances of the Lord he writes, “they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.” 

It's my prayer that you will take me up on the challenge to intentionally practice spiritual disciplines in your community! While you put into practice the “one anothers” that we find in the New Testament, may it be sweeter than honey!