PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father,
In this quiet moment, we gather our hearts and minds and reach out to You with a prayer of deep sincerity and hope. We give thanks for the gift of family and friends, for the souls You have intertwined with ours, teaching us the beauty and strength of unity.
As we navigate the journey of life, with its myriad of challenges and blessings, we are reminded of the profound need to value interdependence. Help us, O Lord, to recognize that we are more resilient, capable, and complete when we are together. Teach us to act as individuals and as parts of a greater whole, understanding that our actions impact those around us just as theirs affect us.
Grant us the grace to listen with open hearts, give freely without expectation, support without reservation, and love without condition. Encourage us to lean on each other in times of struggle, celebrate together in moments of joy, and share the load when it becomes too heavy for one person alone.
Bless us with the wisdom to know that no one is meant to walk this path alone. Imbue us with the courage to reach out and connect, bridging the gaps that may arise. Help us see Your light in every family member and circle of friends, recognizing the divine spark that binds us with love and mutual respect.
In times of disagreement or misunderstanding, let patience and empathy be our guides, healing divisions and forging stronger bonds. Inspire us to work together, combining our strengths to overcome obstacles, build our dreams, and nurture our collective well-being.
Lord, we ask for Your guiding hand on our journey towards true interdependence. May we always remember the depth of our connections, the value of each contribution, and the power of working together in harmony.
In Your holy name, we pray.
Amen.
SERMON
POINT: If you didn’t come from a healthy family, make sure a healthy family comes from you.
Ephesians 4:25-30 NRSV
So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
Fail Point #1: Idolize independence.
POINT: Interdependence lies at the core of the Christian community.
Genesis 1:28 NRSV
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
Matthew 28:19-20 NRSV
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Fail Point #2: Constantly dredging up past mistakes that your spouse, child, or friend has sincerely apologized for.
Fail Point #3: Use your words to tear down instead of build-up.