“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another.” — Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

I’ve been reflecting today on the power of Bible studies, life groups—whatever you want to call them—and the fellowship that flows from them. I am blessed to be a part of a life group that’s not just close, but committed. A group that has taught me not just what it means to have a brother, but what it means to be one.

Some of those lessons came from brothers who are no longer with us—men like my brother Joe. But here’s the truth: the message doesn’t die when they do. What they poured into us doesn’t pass away. They carried the love of Jesus like a torch and passed it on to us… and now we carry it forward.

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is this: you have to be present. You have to show up. Brotherhood is not built through convenience, but through consistency. Jesus loved us with a sacrificial, intentional love—and we’re called to love others in the same way (John 13:34-35). That kind of love shows up even when it’s hard.

My brother Joe modeled that. Even when he didn’t feel like being there, he came. Not for himself—but for others. He poured into people. He showed up. And because of that, people could count on him. And that, my friends, is how bonds are formed—by presence, by persistence, by pouring into others.

People often ask me, “What makes your life group so special?” The answer is simple: we show up. Week after week, heart to heart, struggle to struggle. We sharpen each other (Proverbs 27:17). We lift each other. We grow together. We don’t just read the Word—we live it out together.

And as my brother Brian said the other day—a little humor with a lot of truth—

“You can have Bible Study Fellowship, but without the fellowship, all you’ve got is BS.”

Let’s not just go through the motions. Let’s show up. Be there. Be the brother or sister someone else needs. Because that’s where real transformation happens—in the presence of one another and the presence of God.

-Rev Carlos Figueroa