Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Hebrews 13:1-6
Service Well-Pleasing to God
13 Let mutual affection continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them, those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. 4 Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” 6 So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?”
In his influential book Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam argued that since the 1950s, “social capital” in the United States has steadily declined. Social capital refers to the relationships, trust, and shared commitments that form when people live in meaningful community. Putnam’s core illustration is simple: more people than ever (at least by 2000) were bowling, but fewer people were bowling in organized leagues. We were, quite literally, bowling alone.
Putnam argued that this kind of social erosion isn’t just a threat to bowling alleys. It’s a threat to democracy—and to human flourishing—because strong social bonds are part of what holds societies together.
The writer of Hebrews makes a similar appeal to the early Christian community, urging them to keep philadelphia—brotherly (or sibling) love—alive among them. This is the kind of love that expresses itself in hospitality, attention to those in prison, care for the downtrodden, and faithfulness in marriage.
The first-century readers of Hebrews had plenty of reasons to drift apart and quietly assimilate into the surrounding culture. We have those reasons on steroids. Digital devices pull us away from the people right in front of us. Many everyday needs can be outsourced with a subscription fee, so community can start to feel optional. Our neighborhoods are often sprawling, single-family mazes that make interaction inconvenient. And the pressures on our time and money can leave us so stressed that withdrawing from others feels like relief.
As we learned yesterday, God is calling us to be a different kind of people: a holy people who reflect our Savior in the world. And our Savior cared for friends, prisoners, guests, and family. Where do you feel like you’ve been “bowling alone” lately? What is one small, concrete way you could begin to turn your life toward deeper community this week?
– Pr. Jason
Jesus, thank you for always being the map back to who we are created to be: a community of love. Give us the courage to let go of our broken patterns that disable community and awaken us to your life giving rhythms of brotherly love. Amen.
