Why is Community Important?

As I've been preparing to lead this new group, one question keeps coming to the front of my mind: "Why is community important?" I know it is important. I know it is part of God's plan. I've experienced the joys and benefits of living in community. But why did God design us as human beings to thrive in community? What is it about community that God is after? As this new "community" begins to form over the summer, I want us all to be asking these questions.

We shouldn't just meet together once a week because it's a good, churchy thing to do. What's the point of that? Then we'd just be having another meeting to go to - another obligatory service to attend. No, we should meet together because as we meet, a community will be developed. Relationships will be forged and renewed. But this brings us back to the question: "Why community?"

I have some ideas about why God wants us living in community, and I plan to share some of those thoughts when we get together next Wednesday. In the meantime, what do you think?