A couple of years ago, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness a public health epidemic. In a culture with endless ways to connect—smartphones, social media, video calls—many still feel deeply disconnected. We might blame busy schedules, digital distractions, or the simple fatigue of daily life. But whatever the reason, heart-level connection is lacking.
I’ve seen this firsthand. I recently spoke with an elderly woman in a care facility who told me about her children. When I asked if she saw them often, she sighed and said, “No, they’re too busy with their own lives.” A college student shared how lonely his first year away from home was—most days spent in his dorm room, unsure how to find real connection. New mothers also often describe seasons of isolation, spending long hours alone with their babies, longing for adult interaction.
Maybe you’ve felt it, too.
One of the most powerful ways God meets us in our loneliness is through the Church. Through faith in Jesus, all believers are united with one another. This bond isn’t based on personality, age, or background—it’s rooted in Christ Himself.
Local congregations offer a tangible expression of this spiritual reality. When we gather to worship, sing, pray, and learn together, we’re reminded that we’re not alone. Something beautiful happens in corporate worship that doesn’t happen when we’re by ourselves. The encouragement and strength we receive from being with fellow believers are real and life-giving.
Scripture reminds us of who we are together. First Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession.” These are words of plurality. The verse does not say, “But you are a chosen individual, a royal priest, a holy island unto yourself, a person for His own possession.” The passage calls us a race, a priesthood, a nation, a people. Those words are collective. Through Christ we’re united as one body.
We’re united only because Jesus was first separated. On the cross, He experienced the deepest loneliness imaginable—rejected by people, even isolated from His Father. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46) No one has ever been as alone as Jesus was on the cross.
But the stone that was cast off did not remain tossed aside. “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” (1 Peter 2:7) The world rejected Him. Sinful humanity cast Him aside. But God the Father did not. The Father resurrected His Son and made His Son the singular point of unification for all people. Through Christ, we have a unity that transcends anything else in the world.
We are who we are because of who He is. We are a chosen race because Jesus, the Chosen One, has made us His own. We are a royal priesthood because the King of Kings intercedes on our behalf with the Father. We are a holy nation because the Holy One of God died a sinner’s death on the cross. We are a people for God’s possession because God’s Son willingly gave up all that He possessed, and then He reclaimed His glory in His resurrection.
Through Him, we’re no longer isolated individuals—we’re family.
That’s why many churches are finding creative ways to strengthen community. Whether it’s meals before worship, Bible study groups, fellowship events, or serving together, these moments help us live out our identity as God’s people. At Shepherd of the Hills, we’re having conversations about how we can strengthen community among us to better manifest the reality of our fellowship in Christ.
Along with scheduled activities, individual actions make a difference, too. A small gesture of kindness, like saying “hello” to someone new, can make an impact and foster community.
The world can be a lonely place. The church should never be a lonely place. Isolation in the church is antithetical to who we are. We can all do our part to make the church what it’s supposed to be – a community, a home, a family, a unit.
Pastor Chris Kennedy 