Why We are Better Together

Here's the September article for St. Stephen's Newsletter, The Sounds.

THE LONG VIEW
Why We are Better Together

Community. It seems like a no brainer doesn’t it? We need each other. Life was never designed to be done alone. Now, we all kind of know that. And we may even seek out community intentionally. But it can be a difficult conversation to have here in the States where we are defined by things like The Declaration of Independence, and The Bill of Rights, articles that protect the rights of individuals and perhaps less so communities. I’m not arguing over whether or not these documents are good things. They are. Unequivocally. But I have to wonder how our society would look different, less litigious, and more cooperative if The Declaration of Independence had been The Declaration of Interdependence.

As we hit the ground running with the Power of One, 40 Days of Community Campaign here in September, this is what we’ll be tackling together in conversation, in small groups, in worship, and as we do mission together in our communities. We in fact DO need each other for this journey of faith. Not only that, we are BETTER together in this journey of faith than we are by ourselves. It’s the way God designed us.

So here are some of the key concepts that we’ll be interacting and wrestling with…things for you to begin to process right now as you try to decide whether or not you should be involved in this ongoing small group effort here at St. Stephen:

1. You need others to WALK with you in this life of faith
2. You need others to not just walk with you but to WORK with you in this life of faith
3. You need others to WAIT AND WEEP with you in this life of faith
4. You need others to WATCH OUT for you in this life of faith
5. You need others to WITNESS with you in this life of faith

As we journey in community together…at the very least we will discover these things:

6. Community is God’s answer to LONELINESS
7. Community is God’s answer to FATIGUE
8. Community is God’s answer to DEFEAT
9. Community is God’s answer to DESPAIR
10. God’s answer to fear is COMMUNITY

I want to invite you all into a new, ongoing, transformative sort of journey. It’s the sort of journey that will take you deep in to community, and where YOU will discover that YOU are better when you are together with others in Christ.

Passionate for you and for Jesus,

Pastor Nathan

40 Days of Community is LAUNCHING!

It's almost here! This fall St. Stephen Lutheran Church, Longwood, Florida will embark on 40 Days of Community, journeying together in discipleship, faith, community, and mission. Beginning Sunday, September 7th, you can check in here daily (www.thespiritporch.blogspot.com) for Pastor Nathan's personal and communal chronicle of this 40 day journey! Hope to have you all stop by!

Deep peace, passionate mission, and purposeful living to you all!

PN