New Ground
Week Three - We Need Each Other
Hebrews 10:19-25
Bottom line: We will not always want each other, but we need each other.
Most of us would really rather not need each other.
We’re happy to be needed (usually).
We’re happy to be with each other when things are good and we’re choosing to be together.
But, we would really rather not
So, why are y’all at a church with a mantra that says, Life is Better Together, followed by three core values:
- We need God
- We need Each Other
- Summerville needs us
From the beginning, the only “not good” thing in creation was that the man was alone. (Genesis 2:18)
-Adam wasn’t actually alone. He had God. And we need God.
-But he also wasn’t God. And he was alone in that place. So, God did something about it.
-He took one of Adam’s ribs and made Eve.
-From the beginning, having a helper cost him something. It had to have been uncomfortable, but it also worked, it fit.
Adam said, “This is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.” And they were both naked, and felt no shame (Genesis 2:25)
This is how things were meant to be, designed to be, made to be.
Only, because it was so good like this, the multiplication started to happen. More people…siblings…rivals…
And so we tried to wind it back…
How can we figure out how to do life more independently? How can we have each other for the good stuff, but not need each other?
There has to be a
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Hebrews 10:19-25
Since Jesus did all the heavy lifting…
*…our job is to hold on to one another and keep going together*
- We need each other to push us closer to God
- We need each other to hold on to our faith
- We need each other to push (spur) us toward the stuff we really need to be doing but don’t want to do because it’s hard - love, good deeds
- We need to get together which isn’t convenient, but it’s how we encourage each other - sharing physical reality is more encouraging than our best pep talk
If we want the
Sharing our needs, letting others in is how we find our way into deep, meaningful relationships.
Real community consists of people who know how to give and receive.
Start small -
Ask your neighbor for the missing ingredient in your recipe
Ask for a ride to the airport
When someone offers to pick up your kid, let them
Keep going -
Join a small group
Show up to something
Life is too hard to go it alone.
We can’t and God doesn’t want us to.
We will not always want each other, but we need each other.