The Benefits of Staying Connected to the Flock
God looked at everything He created and said it was good. But then He looked at Adam, alone in paradise with direct access to God Himself, and said something wasn't good, man was alone. Even in a perfect world with a perfect relationship with God, something was missing. We were designed for relationship with one another.
Fast forward to the New Testament, and Jesus is still emphasizing this same truth. In John 10, He talks about one flock under one shepherd. We're not meant to be scattered individuals doing our own thing. We're called to be a unified community, a body working together.
And here's what amazes me: God looks at us with all our frailty, all our mistakes, all our shortcomings, and says, "You're still My plan A for reaching the world."
Sometimes I think when I get to heaven, I'm going to ask God, "What were You thinking?"
Fast forward to the New Testament, and Jesus is still emphasizing this same truth. In John 10, He talks about one flock under one shepherd. We're not meant to be scattered individuals doing our own thing. We're called to be a unified community, a body working together.
And here's what amazes me: God looks at us with all our frailty, all our mistakes, all our shortcomings, and says, "You're still My plan A for reaching the world."
Sometimes I think when I get to heaven, I'm going to ask God, "What were You thinking?"
The Benefits of Staying Connected
1. Spiritual Protection
Hebrews 3:12-13 warns us not to develop a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from God. So how do we protect against that?
"Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
Satan's strategy is simple: isolate you from the body. Because when you're isolated, you lose the voices that can speak into your life and illuminate your blind spots. Every single one of us has blind spots. If you don't think you have one, that IS your blind spot.
We actually need one another. I know that's anti-American in our independent culture, but it's biblical. Two are better than one. If one falls, the other can lift him up. A cord of three strands is not easily broken; you, me, and God in the middle.
2. Strength for Your Heart
Ever been overwhelmed? Burdened? Ready to wave the white flag? That's when you need the body.
The word "encourage" literally means to give courage to someone. When you're discouraged, experiencing a loss of courage, you need people to deposit their courage into you. You need people to add faith to yours when yours is shaking. You need someone to come alongside and help carry the burden you're tired of carrying alone.
Here's the thing though: you don't come to church to GET God. God is already with you everywhere you go. You come to church to GIVE to others what God has revealed to you. That's how the body functions.
In the body, burdens are shared, faith is strengthened, hearts are encouraged, freedom is experienced, wounds are healed, sin is confronted (in gentleness), and victories are celebrated. That's what happens when we're connected.
3. Jesus Manifests His Life
God has given you gifts specifically designed to benefit the body. But here's what happens when you disconnect:
Think about this: What if you've been praying for months for an answer, and you choose to disconnect from the body on the very day God placed that answer in someone else's heart to share with you?
You miss the answer to your prayer because you disconnected.
That's why Satan works overtime to divide, limit, and distort the body. He knows what happens when we come together with completed lives.
Hebrews 3:12-13 warns us not to develop a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from God. So how do we protect against that?
"Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."
Satan's strategy is simple: isolate you from the body. Because when you're isolated, you lose the voices that can speak into your life and illuminate your blind spots. Every single one of us has blind spots. If you don't think you have one, that IS your blind spot.
We actually need one another. I know that's anti-American in our independent culture, but it's biblical. Two are better than one. If one falls, the other can lift him up. A cord of three strands is not easily broken; you, me, and God in the middle.
2. Strength for Your Heart
Ever been overwhelmed? Burdened? Ready to wave the white flag? That's when you need the body.
The word "encourage" literally means to give courage to someone. When you're discouraged, experiencing a loss of courage, you need people to deposit their courage into you. You need people to add faith to yours when yours is shaking. You need someone to come alongside and help carry the burden you're tired of carrying alone.
Here's the thing though: you don't come to church to GET God. God is already with you everywhere you go. You come to church to GIVE to others what God has revealed to you. That's how the body functions.
In the body, burdens are shared, faith is strengthened, hearts are encouraged, freedom is experienced, wounds are healed, sin is confronted (in gentleness), and victories are celebrated. That's what happens when we're connected.
3. Jesus Manifests His Life
God has given you gifts specifically designed to benefit the body. But here's what happens when you disconnect:
- Your gifts go unused
- The body goes under-supplied
- Someone else misses out on what God placed in you
Think about this: What if you've been praying for months for an answer, and you choose to disconnect from the body on the very day God placed that answer in someone else's heart to share with you?
You miss the answer to your prayer because you disconnected.
That's why Satan works overtime to divide, limit, and distort the body. He knows what happens when we come together with completed lives.
A Personal Word
The last two years have been hard for our church. We've faced health crises, staff transitions, family emergencies, and spiritual attacks on every member of our leadership team. There have been moments when we've looked at the waves instead of the One who controls them.
If we've missed the mark, if there were needs we didn't see, if we've disappointed or wounded you, we're truly sorry. We ask your forgiveness. Your limited view isn't wrong, but it's also not the only view. There's a lot happening when several hundred people gather together.
But here's what I want you to know: We're not going anywhere. We're not quitting. We're not backing up. In fact, we're more resolved than ever. And I genuinely believe God is going to do more in 2026 than we've ever seen before.
No one likes pruning. No one enjoys the refining process. But on the backside of that comes a work the Lord completes in His perfection.
If we've missed the mark, if there were needs we didn't see, if we've disappointed or wounded you, we're truly sorry. We ask your forgiveness. Your limited view isn't wrong, but it's also not the only view. There's a lot happening when several hundred people gather together.
But here's what I want you to know: We're not going anywhere. We're not quitting. We're not backing up. In fact, we're more resolved than ever. And I genuinely believe God is going to do more in 2026 than we've ever seen before.
No one likes pruning. No one enjoys the refining process. But on the backside of that comes a work the Lord completes in His perfection.
The Bottom Line
You need the body as much as the body needs you. We're in this together, and we're going to see God do incredible things. Don't lose heart. God is sufficient. God is on the throne. God is doing what He does.
Stay connected to the flock, it's God's design for your protection, your strength, and your growth.
Stay connected to the flock, it's God's design for your protection, your strength, and your growth.
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