What the Redwoods Can Teach Us About Church Community
If you’ve ever stood beneath a redwood tree, you know the feeling: awe. These giants, some towering over 350 feet tall, have been around for centuries, quietly standing through storms, fires, and time. But what’s really fascinating is how they do it. You’d think trees that big would have deep roots, but redwoods actually have pretty shallow root systems. So how do they stay standing?
The secret is in their roots—they spread out wide and intertwine with other redwoods. In other words, they’re literally holding each other up. That, to me, is such a beautiful picture of how the church is meant to be.
We're Stronger Together
Just like redwoods, we weren’t created to stand alone. Life throws all kinds of challenges at us—storms that can feel overwhelming. But when we’re connected to others in a meaningful way, we can face those storms with a strength that’s bigger than just ourselves.
Think about it: in Romans 12:5, Paul says, “So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” We’re designed to belong to one another, to be connected in a way that holds us up when life gets hard.
Getting Rooted in Community
The truth is, it’s easy to feel disconnected these days. We show up to church, listen to a sermon, and then go back to our lives. But is that really enough? Like the redwoods, we need to intentionally spread our roots and connect with those around us.
What does that look like? Well, it doesn’t have to be complicated:
- Join a small group: Sharing life with a few other people—praying, studying the Bible, or just talking about everyday struggles—helps us grow those deeper connections.
- Serve together: There’s something powerful about serving others with your church family. Whether it’s volunteering for a local project or helping someone in need, these shared experiences bind us together.
- Have real conversations: Don’t just stick to surface-level chats. Dive deeper. Ask how someone’s really doing, and be willing to share about your own life. It’s amazing how God can use those moments to strengthen our relationships.
Roots That Last
Redwoods can live for over a thousand years because of their interconnected roots. Similarly, when we invest in relationships within the church, we’re building something that lasts. Psalm 92:13 says, “Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.” The kind of flourishing God wants for us isn’t just about individual growth—it’s about community growth, too.
Hold Each Other Up
So, the next time you feel overwhelmed by life’s challenges, remember the redwoods. They don’t stand tall because they’re strong alone—they stand tall because they support one another. That’s how God designed the church to be: a place where we can spread our roots wide, lock arms, and hold each other up.
We’re not meant to do this life solo. Let’s be intentional about connecting, supporting, and growing together—because, like those mighty trees, we’re stronger when we stand together.