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Last year, I joined a new church and on my first day I couldn’t help but feel like a bit of an outsider. I did not yet have fellowship with anyone there. There were tons of people there in the middle of New York City and I didn’t know a single soul! But when it came time for the congregation to shake hands and “pass the peace,” something interesting happened. I was about to shake hands with someone when she looked at me and said, “Wait! I know you.” She remembered meeting me outside of church, maybe years earlier. In that moment, I felt not so alone and like God was trying to tell me that I belonged. A message delivered through a complete stranger encouraged me to keep going to that church.
It’s moments like those that highlight how important spiritual connection can be, whether it’s a brief encounter like the one I experienced or deeper fellowship forged in faith that can be found in, say, a prayer group or Bible study.
So why is fellowship so important and what is the purpose of spiritual friends? Let’s dive into things further…
What is Fellowship, Anyway?
You can think of fellowship, in a spiritual sense, as a way of meaningfully communing with and connecting with others in a way that supports, builds and bolsters faith. Kind of like a “spiritual family” outside of your biological family that centers around a love of God.
Fellowship can take many different forms. For instance, I meet with several women from my church on a regular basis to connect and pray. Fellowship can also take the form of a worship activity, like choir practice, or a group activity, like a book group or community volunteer crew.
Whatever form it takes, fellowship forged in faith is truly a beautiful—and powerful—thing. Just consider what Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
The Purpose of Spiritual Friends
Just read through the Bible and you’ll see that we aren’t meant to “go at it alone,” so to speak. God gives us families—whether they’re related to us or not—that are forged in faith and there to offer support and guidance for spiritual growth. That’s not to say that solitude and alone time don’t have their merits. But even Jesus had community and devoted friends—and not just the apostles.
Not only do these spiritual brothers and sisters help you grow in your faith, but they can offer a different point of view than some of your friends or family members. They can shed light on certain things or model a host of different spiritual principles, such as empathy, patience, and forgiveness. I love meeting with my fellowship group regularly because the group is made up of people in different life stages. Through this diversity you get different perspectives on whatever issue you might be going through, as well as varying opinions on the topics being discussed.
Spiritual friends also reflect God’s church. Think of it like this: We come from various backgrounds and walks of life, but we all come together to celebrate God and His love—despite those differences. So whenever you commune with someone through fellowship, you’re highlighting that very truth—we are God’s people, and His love connects us all.
How to Make Spiritual Friends
So how can you make more spiritual friends and build a spiritual family forged in faith? Well, first thing’s first, ask God to lead you to community and meaningful fellowship. Make Him a part of all your friendship hopes.
You can also see what groups or community activities are available at your local church. Sign up for an upcoming event or volunteer activity. And if you join a group, challenge yourself to go at least three times before deciding whether to stick with it. The first meeting or two may feel awkward. It’ll just take a little time to feel comfy.
And, when in doubt, you can also form a group of your own. Get creative with what it could be! Fellowship doesn’t have to take place at a church. It could be a sports team that gets together every other week in the summer. Or a cookie swap group that thrives during the holiday season. Pick a hobby you love and find spiritual friends that way. After all, God gave you passions, talents, and interests for a reason. And you’ll be better able to make lasting spiritual friends if you have some hobbies or interests in common.
Bible Verses About Friendship & Fellowship
Take a moment to reflect on these verses all about fellowship and community forged in faith:
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” —Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” —Colossians 3:12-14
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” —Proverbs 27:17
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving 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 10:24-25
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” —Galatians 6:2
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:11
As these verses show, connecting with others in fellowship is a wonderful way to celebrate God, share His love, and grow in faith—together.
Listen now to a short segment of an Abide meditation based on Galatians 6:2. Let God speak to your heart about the importance of fellowship in carrying each other’s burdens.
Let Abide be a part of your daily experience of fellowship with other believers. Our more than 1500 biblical meditations all exist to help you draw closer to God—and live in unity with others. Download the app and start a premium subscription to unlock our entire library of content. Use this link for 25% off.
Diana is a writer and editor based in New York.
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