Why Do We Feel Lonely at Church?

A local church should be a place of true community and connection—where people belong to God and one another. But in our individualistic culture, many Christians end up struggling with social isolation and loneliness. Lacking a sense of authentic belonging within the church, some eventually stop attending or question their faith altogether. How can believers overcome these negative cultural effects and restore the biblical vision of belonging in their churches today? In this concise booklet, author and pastor Jeremy Linneman encourages readers to pursue a life of fellowship through 5 practices: taking initiative in hospitality, being patient in building friendships, maintaining relational stability, persisting through conflict, and praying together. By understanding the human need for belonging and reflecting on Jesus’s lifestyle of mission, ministry, and care, readers will be better equipped to build fruitful communities that bear witness to Christ’s glory and purposes alone.

Publisher: Crossway
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781433591693

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Jeremy Linneman serves as the lead pastor of Trinity Community Church in Columbia, Missouri. He writes on spiritual formation and community for the Gospel Coalition and is completing his DMin at Covenant Theological Seminary. Jeremy and his wife, Jessie, have three sons.

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“There is no denying the perennial problems of loneliness, isolation, and lack of meaningful community in the local church. Jeremy Linneman has identified these problems and digs deeply into the root causes and, better still, a cure. If you are among the many who have been wounded by the church or have abandoned it altogether because you never felt genuinely connected, this short book is for you. It may well prove to be your first step back into the spiritual life of the body of Christ, the only place where meaningful community can be found.” Sam Storms, Founder and President, Enjoying God Ministries