Group Rides are All About Community
I arrived at the south entrance of the Douglas Greenway Trail around 8:30 a.m. As I parked my truck, I looked for familiar cars in the parking lot. It was mostly empty. There were only a few vehicles from early patrons and workers. I felt anxious. Would anyone else come? Some people had already texted that they couldn’t make it to the group ride.
I checked my phone again. No new messages.
The previous month, I stepped out on faith, starting a group ride called Bikes & Bibles: Fun Ride. The event included a brief bike ride on the local trail, a short devotional, and time to fellowship over coffee. Since it was a holiday weekend, only two riders showed up, but the three of us had a great time. I was hoping people would attend this month, particularly since I’d planned for my daughter to start the devotion with some songs.
I stepped out of my Toyota Tundra, cycling cleats clicking on the pavement, and walked to the back of my truck. While unloading my Jamis road bike, I was surprised to see a strange car park nearby, but it turned out to be my friend Bonnie, who I hadn’t seen in a while. Bob, my other cycling friend, asked her to ride with us. Bob and Bo, two seasoned cyclists pulled in as I attached my lights, Garmin 820 GPS, and put my water bottles in their cages.
Gerald, Felicia, Penny, and Steve, members of my congregation, also arrived. The uneasiness settled, as people began unloading and getting their bikes ready for the group ride. By 9:00 a.m., eight riders and two support staff were waiting to listen to a couple worship songs and a devotion.
After we hit the trail, I enjoyed watching experienced cyclists ride alongside people who had just started using their bikes again that day. It made me happy to listen to people cheering each other on. That morning, and even days afterward, people shared with me how much they enjoyed the ride. It reminded me that group rides are all about community!
Biblical Truth
Humans long for connection. That was my goal in organizing this event. Although some introverts may hesitate to admit it, we are all social creatures. In creation, the only thing God labeled “not good” was for man to be alone.[1] God created us for community with others. However, God desires for us to have community with Him too.
In fact, the most important need for humans is to be in fellowship with their Creator. This profound truth underpins the very essence of our existence and resonates with the deepest longings of the human heart. We are created for connection, for a relationship with God, and this connection offers the ultimate fulfillment. God extends an invitation to this intimate relationship. He beckons us into His family through the transformative power of Christ, offering a path to experience the ultimate community, a bond of love and belonging that transcends all earthly limitations.
Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are no longer seen as outsiders, as strangers adrift in the world. Instead, they are adopted as children of God, welcomed into His eternal family. This act of divine adoption signifies a profound change in status, a shift from separation to intimacy, from alienation to belonging.[2] The believers inherit all the privileges and blessings of being part of God’s family, including His love, protection, and the promise of eternal life.[3]
And the most remarkable aspect of this divine invitation is its inclusiveness: this invitation is open to all.[4] Regardless of background, ethnicity, social status, or past deeds, the opportunity to enter this relationship with God is offered to every individual. It is a universal call to reconciliation, to forgiveness, and to a life transformed by the love and grace of the Creator.[5] The only requirement is faith – a belief in Jesus Christ and a willingness to embrace the divine invitation.
Scriptural References
[1] Genesis 2:18
[2] Galatian 4:4-7
[3] 2 Corinthians 1:20
[4] John 1:12; 3:16; Romans 10:13
[5] 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Kevin W. Bounds 
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