Life Is Better Together

Look at Book: The reason for the church

ESP: Counterfeit institutions

ONE WEEK: Back to Church: Life Is Better Together

Scripture: Matthew 18:20 // Ecclesiastes 4:9-10// Hebrews 10:24-25

Write Up: In a world where isolation often seems like the norm, Life is Better Together reminds us

that we were created for connection,

and our faith was never meant to be experienced in isolation.

Jesus promises to be present when we gather in His name, and that presence is what makes church more than just a building—it’s a community where we find encouragement, purpose, and hope.

This sermon will explore the power of community, the presence of Jesus, and the importance of church as a conduit of God’s love to members and to the community around us. Life is better when we have people to walk together with.

Think: We were designed for connection, not isolation. The presence of Jesus makes our gathering powerful.

Feel: Feel encouraged to move beyond surface-level connections and engage in deeper relationships with others in the body of Christ.

Do: Decide to regularly attend church and engage in the life of the community, not just out of obligation, but out of a desire to grow together in faith.

Sermon:

Good Morning! We’re so glad you’re here with us on this Back to Church Sunday. Whether it’s your first time here, the first time in a long time, or part of your regular rhythm, we are so glad that you are here!

If you are a guest today, I want to assure you that no matter where you are on your faith journey, please know that you matter, and you belong here.  Life can be hard, and stressful - and it can be difficult to navigate on our own. However, when we walk through life together, with honesty and grace, we begin to see God more clearly and feel His presence more deeply. The Church, imperfect as we are, is meant to be a place where we experience God’s love through community. Being part of a church family isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about showing up, building real relationships, and discovering the hope, healing, and purpose Jesus offers. We believe that as we open our hearts to each other, we also open ourselves to the powerful work God wants to do in us and through us. And that is why we believe that we are better together.

STORY: Have you ever noticed that in life there are some things that are just better together.  Like Oreos and milk. Amen? Oreos are good and milk is good, but Oreos AND milk is like magic. What about movies and popcorn? What is it about that? It could be a mediocre movie, but when you add popcorn into the mix it’s a whole new experience! How about peanut butter and jelly? Batman and Robin? Peas and carrots? Beach and sunsets? Bacon and ANYTHING? What may exist as perfectly good things on their own become winning combinations when they are put together.

As true as this principle is in random everyday life, I believe it is also true, and maybe most true, when it comes to the relationships we invest in and the community that we exist in. Think about your favorite memories.  Chances are they are your favorite memories not because of what you were doing, but because of who you were with. That is the beauty of being a part of a church family. When we gather together as God’s church, Jesus is present. And as we learn more about Him, we learn to work together, serve our community and set our eyes on His priorities. This is a claim Jesus makes himself in the Gospels.

READ Matthew 18:20

This verse is part of a broader conversation where Jesus is teaching about community life, particularly how believers should handle conflict and seek reconciliation as a way of honoring one another and honoring God. Jesus is making a very important point here, that no gathering is too small to matter to God. Whether in a quiet living room, around a kitchen table, or in a sanctuary, Jesus promises to be with us when we come together with Him at the center. It’s both an invitation and a promise: when we seek Him together, He shows up.

POINT #1: WE WERE CREATED FOR CONNECTION

From the very beginning, God designed us for relationships. In Genesis, when God said, “It is not good for man to be alone,” He wasn’t just talking about marriage—He was revealing a deep truth about human nature. We are made in the image of a relational God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That means we are wired for community, not isolation. We are meant to be connected to God and in doing so, we can experience a deeper connection with one another.

STORY: There’s an old story about a man who stopped going to church. He didn’t make a big deal about it—just slowly drifted away. One cold evening, his pastor stopped by for a visit. The man welcomed him in, and they sat by the fireplace in silence. After a few minutes, the pastor picked up the fire tongs, grabbed a single glowing coal, and set it aside on the hearth. As they watched, the coal slowly dimmed and turned gray. Still, no words were spoken. A few minutes later, the pastor picked up the cold coal and placed it back into the fire. Within moments, it began to glow again, bright and hot. The man looked at the pastor and said, “I’ll be at church on Sunday.” Alone, we cool down. Together, we stay warm. That’s the power of connection—and the kind of belonging God designed us for.

When we isolate ourselves, we miss out on one of God’s greatest gifts: each other. True connection helps us carry burdens, celebrate victories, and grow in our faith. As we walk together, we have the opportunity to reflect God’s love in powerful ways, and the world can see the beauty of Christ-centered community in action.

The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes speaks to this powerful truth as well.

READ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Ecclesiastes is an Old Testament book in the wisdom tradition. It is interesting to me that a portion of what the author writes about as wisdom is concerning relationships.

The author makes a simple observation, “two are better than one” – I have heard it said before that alone we can go fast, but together we go far. When people work together, they can accomplish more than they could alone. Life inevitably includes moments of failure or weakness, but having someone to help in those times is invaluable. The author uses an illustration to communicate the need to be in connection with others. He says one, by themselves can be overpowered, two can defend themselves better, but a cord of three strands is not easily broken.

POINT #2: YOU + ME + JESUS = STRENGTH

Illustration: Think about holding a single wooden dowel rod in your hand (Consider having three with you on stage). It’s not very thick, and it snaps easily with just a little pressure. That’s what life looks like when we try to do it on our own… vulnerable, easily broken. Now imagine holding two dowel rods together. It takes a bit more effort, but with enough force, they can still be snapped. But if you take three dowel rods and bind them together, suddenly it’s a whole different story. It’s nearly impossible to break them with your bare hands. That’s the power of community. That’s the wisdom Ecclesiastes is teaching us.

With this kind of strength in our lives, it equips us to be change agents and difference makers in the world around us. I have seen the Church rise to the occasion so many different times to provide for others in need, to rebuild after tragedy, and to offer hope when times get tough. In fact, the late Anglican priest, William Temple, once said, “The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of its non-members.” And that’s exactly the kind of community Jesus calls us to be, a people who don’t just gather for our own sake, but who exist to bring light, love, and hope to a hurting world. We gather not only to be filled but to be sent out. Church isn’t just about what happens in this building—it’s about how we live outside of it. When we are united in Christ, we become a force for good, stronger together, shining God’s love in every neighborhood, school, workplace, and community we exist in.

The book of Hebrews is a letter written to the early Christian church as it began to take shape after Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. The small group of believers was being tempted to throw in the towel on their Christian community because of persecution and pressure. The author writes a plea for those in the church to stay strong and continue to gather with one another.

READ Hebrews 10:24-25

In the early church, some believers had stopped gathering—perhaps out of fear, weariness, or discouragement. But the author of Hebrews makes it clear that meeting together isn’t optional; it’s essential for staying spiritually strong. The word “spur” used in this passage goes beyond a gentle encouragement—it suggests a kind of loving provocation, a stirring that pushes us toward deeper faithfulness. Picture a cowboy using spurs on his boots—not to harm the horse, but to prompt it forward with energy and purpose. In the same way, believers are called to challenge and inspire one another. The only way the church could carry on the mission Jesus began was by coming together again and again—encouraging one another, strengthening one another, and staying united in purpose.

POINT #3: COMMIT TO COMMUNITY

Committing to community means more than just attending church when it’s convenient. It’s about making a decision to belong, to show up, and to pour into others as much as we receive. The early church didn’t gather out of habit or obligation; they gathered because they knew they needed one another. In the same way, we are called to be intentional with our relationships and consistent in our presence. True community happens when we move beyond surface-level connection and into deep, Spirit-led relationships where we can be known, challenged, and encouraged by one another.

STORY: In Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes about his time leading a secret seminary during Nazi Germany. It was a small, tight-knit community of young men training for ministry under extreme pressure and threat. Life was simple, often difficult, but rich with spiritual depth. They shared meals, prayers, Scripture, and confessions. One day, someone asked Bonhoeffer why he insisted on maintaining such a close-knit Christian community in such dangerous times. He replied that the gift of being together in Christ was not something to be taken for granted—it was a divine blessing that many Christians throughout history had longed for and gone without. Bonhoeffer believed that being with other believers, even in suffering, was essential to faithfulness. He wrote, “The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.”

When we commit to a community, we are saying “yes” to the kind of transformation that only happens in the context of real people doing real life together. And in so doing, we become part of something bigger than ourselves, a movement of love, grace, and truth that reflects the very heart of Jesus in the world. So, we don’t just attend, we belong. We don’t just visit, we invest. And being a part of a community isn’t about convenience; it’s about a calling to a heavenly family.

As we gather this morning, I want to encourage you to consider making a commitment to this church, to make it a place you truly call home. We believe that we are better together and that includes you! This church is not just a building; it’s a family where we support, grow, and encourage one another. So, take a step today. Consider joining a small group. It's where deeper relationships are formed, where you can share life, pray together, and grow in your faith. Consider serving in one of our local mission efforts. There’s something powerful about coming together with others to make a difference in our community and reflecting God’s love to those around us. Consider participating in one of our mid-week classes. It’s a great opportunity to dive deeper into Scripture, learn more about what it means to follow Jesus, and build lasting connections with others.

This is your chance to invest in something that will last—community, faith, and relationships that can change lives. Take that step today, and let’s walk this journey together. We promise, you won’t regret it.

PRAY

Questions:

●  Why do you think Jesus emphasizes the importance of gathering together in His name (Matthew 18:20)? How does His presence make our gatherings more meaningful?

● In what ways have you personally experienced the power of connection in your Christian community? How have relationships with others in the church helped you in times of difficulty or joy?

● Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 speaks about the strength found in community. How can we apply the concept of "a cord of three strands" to our relationships in the church and our walk with Jesus?

● The author of Hebrews encourages believers to gather and spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25). What are some practical ways we can spur each other on in our faith within the church community?

● Dietrich Bonhoeffer emphasizes the importance of being physically present with other Christians. How can we cultivate deeper, more meaningful relationships within the church, moving beyond surface-level interactions?