The Church | God’s Antidote for Loneliness

Scott McFarland
07/09/23 - Sun AM Worship

Matthew 16:15-18

Last week, we started a mini-series called, “The Loneliness Pandemic” where we looked at the increased isolation and loneliness present in society and the way this is affecting people. We looked at the Bible’s repeated promise from God that “He will never leave you or forsake you” as the answer a desperately lonely world needs.

This week, we’ll continue and end the mini-series looking at the Church, God’s physical answer for our loneliness. It is the church that provides community and relationship to make it through the difficulty of life. Someday I might do something more than just a bulletin article on it, but there are 59 “one another” passages in the New Testament—specific commands given to the church of things we should be doing for each other: love one another (John 13:34), be devoted to one another (Rom. 12:10), live in harmony with one another (Rom. 12:16), teach one another (Col. 3:16), comfort one another (I Thess. 4:18), be kind and compassionate to one another (Eph. 4:32), stir up one another to love and good works (Heb. 10:24), etc. There’s a lot of them!

Sometimes we don’t realize the great responsibility we have as brothers and sisters to take care of each other. It can be easy to forget, with the business of life and all that goes on, and we just pop in and out of worship and Bible study without spending time to check in on each other and “one another” each other. So, I’ll challenge you as we look at the church today—how are you “one another-ing”? Are you taking care of your brother and sisters well? It’s part of God’s design—"one another” well!