We are better TOGETHER
We Are Better Together
We just finished an incredible series on guardrails, and it left many of us doing some serious self-reflection. At times we could celebrate the areas where God has helped us grow and strengthen our boundaries. Other times we realized there is still work to do as we align who we are with who God created us to be. One of the greatest truths that stood out is this: I am not myself, by myself. God never designed us to reach our full potential alone. We need the family of God, the community He places around us, to become the best version of who He made us to be.
To illustrate this, consider the Canadian geese. When they fly in their well-known “V” formation, each goose creates an airlift for the birds behind it. This allows the flock to travel 71 percent farther together than they could on their own. If one goose falls out of formation, it feels the drag of flying solo and quickly returns to its place. When the lead goose tires, another steps forward to take its place. The geese honk to encourage each other to keep going. If one is injured or sick, two geese drop out of formation to stay with it until it recovers or passes away, then join another flock. Their teamwork allows them to travel hundreds of miles each day, pressing on toward their destination. The lesson is clear: together is always better.
In the same way, God created us for community. Yet our culture often pushes us toward independence. Over the last fifty years we have seen the family unit drastically change, dinner tables sit empty, and neighborhoods fill with strangers who never speak. We have traded face-to-face connection for digital interactions. Social media, food delivery, and endless entertainment have made isolation easy, but isolation was never God’s design.
The book of Acts shows us what God intended. Acts 2 describes the early church as a community devoted to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and sharing life together. They met daily, broke bread in each other’s homes, and cared for one another so that no one had a need. Their generosity was not forced but was a joyful response to God’s generosity toward them. That same spirit is what we are called to live out today.
Community touches every part of our lives. Spiritually, we are meant to pray, worship, and grow in the Word together. Physically, we are called to meet each other’s needs with tangible acts of love and service. Emotionally, we are wired to find joy and strength in relationships. Studies even show that people are happier when they are with others, no matter if they are extroverts or introverts.
The truth is that isolation is one of the enemy’s greatest tactics. When we allow fear, offense, or self-centeredness to take over, we drift toward loneliness and miss out on the very thing Jesus asks of us. Genuine fellowship is not about scheduled events or perfect homes. It is about letting others into our daily lives, even in the messy moments, and being present for each other in both joy and sorrow.
Scripture is full of “one another” commands. We are told to serve one another, encourage one another, forgive one another, carry one another’s burdens, and love one another. None of these can be lived out in isolation. They require intentional, authentic relationships that go beyond a quick greeting on Sunday morning.
At the heart of it all, Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Community is not just about us becoming stronger or happier. It is about showing the world who Jesus is through the way we love each other.
The message is simple but powerful. We need one another. We are better together. And when we choose to live in true biblical community, we experience the fullness of God’s design and reflect His love in a way that changes lives.
We just finished an incredible series on guardrails, and it left many of us doing some serious self-reflection. At times we could celebrate the areas where God has helped us grow and strengthen our boundaries. Other times we realized there is still work to do as we align who we are with who God created us to be. One of the greatest truths that stood out is this: I am not myself, by myself. God never designed us to reach our full potential alone. We need the family of God, the community He places around us, to become the best version of who He made us to be.
To illustrate this, consider the Canadian geese. When they fly in their well-known “V” formation, each goose creates an airlift for the birds behind it. This allows the flock to travel 71 percent farther together than they could on their own. If one goose falls out of formation, it feels the drag of flying solo and quickly returns to its place. When the lead goose tires, another steps forward to take its place. The geese honk to encourage each other to keep going. If one is injured or sick, two geese drop out of formation to stay with it until it recovers or passes away, then join another flock. Their teamwork allows them to travel hundreds of miles each day, pressing on toward their destination. The lesson is clear: together is always better.
In the same way, God created us for community. Yet our culture often pushes us toward independence. Over the last fifty years we have seen the family unit drastically change, dinner tables sit empty, and neighborhoods fill with strangers who never speak. We have traded face-to-face connection for digital interactions. Social media, food delivery, and endless entertainment have made isolation easy, but isolation was never God’s design.
The book of Acts shows us what God intended. Acts 2 describes the early church as a community devoted to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and sharing life together. They met daily, broke bread in each other’s homes, and cared for one another so that no one had a need. Their generosity was not forced but was a joyful response to God’s generosity toward them. That same spirit is what we are called to live out today.
Community touches every part of our lives. Spiritually, we are meant to pray, worship, and grow in the Word together. Physically, we are called to meet each other’s needs with tangible acts of love and service. Emotionally, we are wired to find joy and strength in relationships. Studies even show that people are happier when they are with others, no matter if they are extroverts or introverts.
The truth is that isolation is one of the enemy’s greatest tactics. When we allow fear, offense, or self-centeredness to take over, we drift toward loneliness and miss out on the very thing Jesus asks of us. Genuine fellowship is not about scheduled events or perfect homes. It is about letting others into our daily lives, even in the messy moments, and being present for each other in both joy and sorrow.
Scripture is full of “one another” commands. We are told to serve one another, encourage one another, forgive one another, carry one another’s burdens, and love one another. None of these can be lived out in isolation. They require intentional, authentic relationships that go beyond a quick greeting on Sunday morning.
At the heart of it all, Jesus said in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Community is not just about us becoming stronger or happier. It is about showing the world who Jesus is through the way we love each other.
The message is simple but powerful. We need one another. We are better together. And when we choose to live in true biblical community, we experience the fullness of God’s design and reflect His love in a way that changes lives.
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