Navigating Relationships: A Journey of Faith and Community

In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of relationships and community in our spiritual journey. I stressed that God has given us the ability to navigate through various situations in our relationships, and that our ultimate goal should be to please God in how we handle these relationships. I urged the congregation to bear with one another, even in difficult times, because each relationship and each person is a gift from God. I also highlighted the importance of forgiveness, humility, and patience in our interactions with others, as these are qualities that God values.

In the second part of my sermon, I shared my personal journey as a youth pastor and how my relationships with other pastors led me to my current position. I emphasized that our relationships matter to our destiny and purpose, and that the idea that we don't need anyone else is a lie from the devil. I used 1 Corinthians chapter 12 to illustrate the importance of community and our need for one another. I concluded by urging the congregation to evaluate their relationships in light of God's word, and to avoid relationships that do not align with God's instructions.

Key Takeaways:
1. God has given us the ability to navigate through various situations in our relationships, and our ultimate goal should be to please God in how we handle these relationships ([32:48 ]).
2. Each relationship and each person is a gift from God, and we should treat them as such ([33:24 ]).
3. Our relationships matter to our destiny and purpose, and the idea that we don't need anyone else is a lie from the devil ([11:02 ]).
4. We should evaluate our relationships in light of God's word, and avoid relationships that do not align with God's instructions ([16:42 ]).
5. We should avoid relationships with people who are hot-tempered or given to angry outbursts, as we may learn their undisciplined ways and get trapped in a difficult situation ([18:21 ]).

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 5:11 [16:42 ]
2. Proverbs 22:24 [18:21 ]
3. Proverbs 13:20 [19:38 ]

Observation Questions:
1. What are the characteristics of the people Paul advises against associating with in 1 Corinthians 5:11?
2. What does Proverbs 22:24 warn about the consequences of associating with a hot-tempered person?
3. According to Proverbs 13:20, what is the impact of the company we keep?

Interpretation Questions:
1. What does 1 Corinthians 5:11 suggest about the importance of the company we keep as Christians?
2. How does Proverbs 22:24 relate to the concept of influence and personal growth?
3. How does Proverbs 13:20 emphasize the importance of wisdom in choosing our companions?

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationships. Are there any that align with the characteristics mentioned in 1 Corinthians 5:11? If so, how can you address this biblically?
2. Can you identify a relationship where you might be learning undisciplined ways due to the other person's hot temper, as warned in Proverbs 22:24? How can you navigate this situation wisely?
3. Considering Proverbs 13:20, can you identify relationships in your life that are helping you grow in wisdom? How can you cultivate more such relationships?
4. Are there relationships in your life that you need to reconsider based on the wisdom shared in these passages? How can you approach this process in a loving and respectful manner?
5. How can you ensure that your relationships align with God's word and promote personal and spiritual growth?

Day 1: The Idolatry of Expectations

We were never meant to have all our needs met by a community, another person, or the church. When we look to these entities to fulfill our needs, we are guilty of idolatry. The only relationship that is meant to fulfill all our needs is the relationship we have with Jesus Christ. Anytime we try to put something in the place of the void that only God can fill, we will always come up short ([29:58]).

Bible passage: Exodus 20:3 - "You shall have no other gods before me."

Reflection: Reflect on a relationship or community where you have been expecting them to meet all your needs. How can you shift your expectations towards God instead?

Day 2: The Importance of Discernment in Relationships

We must examine our relationships and ask ourselves if they align with the word of God. The Bible warns us against associating with those who are sexually immoral, greedy, idolatrous, or abusive. We must be careful not to fall into the trap of thinking we can change these individuals, as we risk learning their undisciplined ways ([16:42]).

Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 5:11 - "But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one."

Reflection: Are there any relationships in your life that do not align with the word of God? How can you address this in a way that honors God?

Day 3: The Gift of Relationships

Each relationship and community is a gift from God. We should treat them as such, bearing with one another and striving to please God in the way we navigate these relationships. People matter to God, and they should matter to us ([32:48]).

Bible passage: Colossians 3:13 - "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Reflection: How can you better honor the relationships and communities in your life as gifts from God?

Day 4: Relationships and Destiny

Our relationships matter to our destiny and purpose. We need one another, and the idea that we don't need anyone is a lie from the devil. We were born for community and relational community ([10:15]).

Bible passage: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."

Reflection: How have your relationships shaped your destiny and purpose? How can you foster a sense of community in your life?

Day 5: The Body of Christ

Just as the human body consists of many parts, so does the body of Christ. Each part has a role to play, and no part can say to another, "I have no need of you." We need each other to function as a whole ([11:43]).

Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 12:21 - "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don’t need you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I don’t need you!'"

Reflection: How can you better appreciate and value the different roles within your church community?

All right, we ready to dive into this word? It's second service, I know you're all ready.

All right, so we're beginning a series, and the series is called "Relationships." Okay, relationships. And over this series, we're going to be diving into the importance of relationships, the different types of relationships, why they matter, and what they mean to us, and not only to us, but what do they mean to God.

I feel like one of the most important things we do as people is develop relationships. We start in daycare. I never forget when I dropped Cadence off for daycare—excuse me, when I dropped him off in preschool. One of the things that I worried about the most, probably the only thing that I worried about when he got home, I asked him, "Hey, did you make any friends?" I didn't care about his teacher; I didn't care if he colored; I didn't care about any of that. I wanted to know, "Did you make friends?"

Right? That's how it happens in elementary school. We go to school, and when we get home, the first thing our parents ask us is the same thing: "Hey, did you make any new friends? Did you make any new friends?"

Then you get older—maybe grade school, high school, or college—and your parents want to know if you want to go do something, and what do you tell your parents? "Mom, Dad, I just want to go hang out with my friends."

This is just an affinity; there's something that's drawing us to community. You lost friends as you got older; you gained friends. The circle got bigger, the circle got smaller. We have this need for community.

The two most popular and longest-lasting television shows ever produced were about community. They were about friendship; they were about relationships. The first one: "I'll be there for you when the rain starts to fall." I'll be there for you. Yeah, I remember "Friends." For those of you who have no idea what that show is about—more seasoned saints—sometimes you wanna go... [Applause]

Where everybody knows your name. I ain't going to leave y'all out. Cheers! Right? It was about coming to a place—I don't know why—but coming to a place where everybody knew who you were, and you felt seen. You felt like you were in community.

We have this need; even the world has a desire for friendship, for relationships, for community. But as with anything, if we don't understand the purpose of a thing, it is inevitable that we will abuse it. It is inevitable that we will abuse it. Whether it's a platonic relationship, a professional relationship, or an intimate relationship, it is imperative—it is of the utmost importance—that we look at the relationship through the lens of our faith, through the lens of what we believe.

Our relationships matter to God. Relationships are more than just happenings in our life. They are not these things we just plump into and they happen. No, godly relationships are designed to move us and to assist us in getting to the destination and the destiny that God has prepared for us.

So, as I talk today and over these next couple of weeks, you'll hear me use these two terms interchangeably: the first term is community, and the second term is relationship. I will use these interchangeably because they basically—in our language—they mean the same thing.

Let's look at the definition of community first. Community is a perceived connection between a group of people based on an overlap of intent, identity, and experience.

Okay, now let's look at relationships. A relationship is a connection or association between two or more people characterized by emotional or social interaction, mutual understanding, and shared experience.

Community and relationship—and this idea or this concept, this language that we have around relationships, around community—isn't new. We are hardwired from creation by God to seek and find it. We cannot get away from the communal nature of humankind. We are communal people who serve a communal God.

Genesis 1, verse 26—we read this two weeks ago—but it was so nice we wanted to bring it back. Then God said, "Let us..." Us! Right there we see it: community. "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Right there we see community. We talked about the Holy Spirit; we talked about the triunity of God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. And in the scripture, we see that community taking place. God is a community calling us to be a people of community.

This idea that we have that we can be a loner, that we can be a lone wolf, that we don't need anybody—that is a trick of the enemy. That is a trick of the enemy. That is not God's design for our life. Isolation is where the enemy wants us to be because in isolation, guess what? Nobody can fight with us, and nobody can fight for us. Isolation. That's not God's design; that's not God's purpose.

And we have this idea, this thing that we say: "I don't need nobody. I can do this by myself. I don't need friends; I don't need community; I don't need relationships." And the fact of the matter is, when you say that, what you're really showing is that there's an immaturity there. There's an immaturity there, and/or you're just bad at relationships. And that's okay; that's okay. That's why you're here, praise God.

This shows us we have to grow in these areas. We can't continue to try to do life alone. Our relationships matter to our destiny and our purpose.

Okay, our relationships matter to our destiny and to our purpose. When I was in Atlanta, I went to a church, and I served there, and I loved being there. I began to develop a relationship with Alyssa and Ronaldo Worrell. Okay, that relationship changed the trajectory of my life.

So I met Alyssa and Ronaldo Worrell; they were the youth leaders at my church. As a result of that relationship, I began to want to do Christian hip-hop music. As a result of that relationship, I then got introduced to a gentleman by the name of Canton Jones. Canton Jones was a label owner who had a buzzing record label at the time. And because of my relationship with the Worrells, I began to develop a relationship with Canton Jones.

Okay, then I get signed; I begin to travel around the world. I begin to go to all of these places, and because of my relationship with Canton Jones, I got booked to minister on a cruise ship. And on that cruise ship, I began to develop another relationship with a very beautiful young lady at the time. And I began to develop a relationship and build a relationship with her. That lady is my wife, in case you didn't get that. She wasn't my wife at the time, but praise God.

So we began to develop that relationship, and as we began to develop that relationship, I began to come to California. My ministry began to take off as it pertained to being a Christian artist, and I began to rap and do more things. And then, because of that relationship, I had to go to church. And it would have been weird if I didn't go to the church that she went to; that would have been awkward.

So her father was the assistant pastor at a church. I began to go to that church and develop a relationship with Pastor Wy, who was the pastor of that church.

Okay, so at that time, I began to develop that relationship. He asked me to be a youth pastor at the church. Okay, so now I'm a youth pastor at the church, and now because I am a rapper and a youth pastor, I get a phone call to go to a church. And now I begin to develop a relationship with a gentleman who had a mohawk, who was about 61, 62, and had muscles that made no sense that he wasn't even using. And it's okay; it's okay; we make him use them now.

And Pastor Ryan—okay, so me and Pastor Ryan, our relationship begins to develop. Pastor Ryan introduces me to a gentleman by the name of Pastor Hector Gutierrez at Thrive Church. I begin to serve there; I begin to be now a young adult pastor and an assistant associate pastor. And then, as a result of my relationship with Pastor Hector, I now begin to have this idea to plant a church.

Now I begin to have this idea to plant a church, and now as a result of all of those relationships, I now move into the destiny and the purpose that God had for my life. Our relationships matter to our destiny and our purpose. We need one another.

This idea that you don't need nobody is a lie from the devil. Yes, it is a trick of the enemy. As a matter of fact, what has happened is now you have taken on the world's way of thinking and doing as it pertains to relationships because you were born for community. You were born for relational community.

Okay, 1 Corinthians chapter 12—Paul is talking to the Corinthian church, and they're having some issues. He begins to talk about this exact same thing. You see, they felt like they didn't need nobody; they were running things.

So 1 Corinthians chapter 12, beginning at verse 14, he says, "For the human body does not consist of one part but of many limbs and organs. If the foot says, 'Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,' is it not contrary still part of the body? If the ear says, 'Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,' is it not contrary still a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But now, as things really are, God has placed and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them, just as He has willed and saw fit with the best balance of function. If there were a single organ, where would the rest of the body be? But now, as things really are, there are many parts, different limbs and organs, but a single body. The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'"

Paul is talking to the church in Corinth about our need for one another. You know, you can't wake up one day and, you know, how many times you done stubbed your foot on the corner of the bed? And you hit it one time, and you say, "You know what? That's it! I'm not using my legs no more! I'm done! I'm done with you, legs! You can't seem to get it together! I don't like the pain! The bed has been here; you have been here! I'm done! That's it!"

'Cause I'm upset with you; I'm irritated with you; I got a problem with you, so now I'mma cut you off. I'm done with it. We don't get the opportunity to do that. Why? Because that's not how a body operates, right?

And so, as the body of Christ, that's not how we are supposed to operate. We don't get to make the decision and just throw people away because we don't like what they said, we don't like what they did, we don't like how they reacted. "They forgot my birthday; they didn't call me; they didn't show up; they didn't do this." That's not what the body of Christ is about.

He's saying it is impossible for one part of the body to say to the other, "I have no need of you." He said it's impossible. And when we look at the formation of the church, the very beginning of Christianity, community and relationship have always been the plan. It has always been the plan; it is where it started, and it was built off of relational community.

Acts chapter 2, verse 41—Acts chapter 2, verse 41 says, "So then those who accepted his message were baptized, and on that day about 3,000 souls were added to the body of the believers. They were continually and faithfully devoting themselves to what? To the instruction of the apostles and to fellowship and to eating meals together and to prayers."

Now, when you look at this word "fellowship," it's translated in the Greek to this word called "koinonia." Okay? This word means partnership; it means joint participation; it means community. This is how we are to do life. We're supposed to do life in partnership. We are supposed to do life in joint participation with one another. We're supposed to do life in community.

Relationships matter to our destiny, and they matter to our purpose. And because of every relationship, we have to look at it through the lens of our faith.

Okay, when we're looking at the people that we are associating with, the people that we are in community with, the people that we call friends, that relationship should be viewed through the scripture. How are we treating people that we are in relationship with? How are we treating people that we are in community with?

When we evaluate any and every relationship and those relationships that we are in, does it line up with what the word of God says? Does it line up with what we have been instructed to do by God? Does it line up? Just think about it, and the Lord will tell you. I ain't got to do no conviction; that's the Holy Spirit's job.

Look at the relationships that you are a part of and ask yourself, "Does this line up with the word of God?"

1 Corinthians chapter 5—let's see what the word says when it comes to our relationships. 1 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 11 says, "But actually, I have written to you to not associate with any so-called Christian brother or sister if he is sexually immoral or greedy or is an idolater."

Pastor, that's a big word; what does that mean? "Or is devoted to anything that takes the place of God, or is a reveler." What does that mean, Pastor? "Or is someone who insults or slanders or otherwise verbally abuses others, or is a drunk, or is a swindler." He says, "You must not so much as eat with such a person."

Wow! Don't get mad at me; I'm not saying this; this is the word! Come on! But he's having you address and look at your relationships. Look at the conversations that you're having; look at the people that you are associating with.

Proverbs chapter 22, verse 24 says, "Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts, or go along with a man or woman that is hot-tempered, or you will learn his undisciplined ways and get yourself trapped in a situation from which it is hard to escape."

Again, it's not me; it's the word. But you got to look at those things that are happening around you because notice he doesn't say, "Yeah, don't associate with someone who is given to angry outbursts, or somebody who's hot-tempered because you're going to change their life." No, no, no! It didn't say that!

It said, "You will learn his undisciplined ways." 'Cause some of y'all—I know my wife says I got this problem—some of y'all got superhero syndrome. Y'all want to save everybody, and it's just like, "No, no, no! They're going to be fine! I'm going to save them, and they're going to be better! It's okay! I'm going to stay in a relationship with them even though I know it's unhealthy, even though I know it's bad, even though I know it's not good because I'm going to change them."

Oh, 'cause you're the Holy Spirit? So you're doing God's job now? That's what you're doing? No! He says, "You will learn his undisciplined ways, and you will get yourself trapped in a situation which is hard to escape." This is what he's saying about our relationships.

Proverbs 13 says, "He who walks as a companion with wise men will be wise, but the companions of conceited fools are fools themselves and will experience harm."

That's right! Yes! But no, I just want to, you know, they're funny; they make me feel good; they make me smile; they make me laugh. Okay, keep playing.

Colossians 3:12 says, "Put on then, as God's chosen holy ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts." Are you compassionate? "Kindness, humility, meekness, and patience." Here we go: "Bearing with one another." Man, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other.

Wait, I'm not supposed to just hold that grudge? I'm not supposed to bring it back up every time they come around? I'm not supposed to tell my family and the rest of the people about how bad they treated me so whenever they come around we got something to talk about? No, that's actually not what he said.

What he said is what we're supposed to do is forgive one another. Man, forgiving one another. Well, how many times am I—'cause I don't know how many times I'm gonna let them keep disrespecting me. Oh, okay, how many times should we do that? Oh, "As the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive."

Come on! All right, you get it now. Later, it ain't make me none. He says that's how we're supposed to treat one another. But we want to throw people away so easily. We want to just forget you. Just, "No, you didn't—uh-uh! I ain't got nothing else to do with you."

No, he says we're supposed to bear with one another. Bear with one another; be gracious towards one another. Because how many times have we gone to the Lord with the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over and over? "Lord, here I am again! God, I know I said the last time was going to be the last time, but I think this time is the last time! If you could just help me out, Jesus!"

Right? And then we don't want to go to God because we think God is like humans, but he's not like humans. He's not up there when you come up. He's like, "Oh, here you go again! Here you go again! How many times do we have to have this?"

No, no, no! God is like, "Yes! Yes! Come! Come! I forgive! I've already forgiven you! I'm taking you here! Now let me show you!"

And he says that's how we are to give. 1 Peter 4 says, "Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling."

This is what God has to say about our relationships. This is what God has to say about our community. These are just a few markers that God has put in place for us as we encounter, develop, and build community and relationships.

Some of you may say, "Man, that's a lot of work! I don't know if I'm trying to do that." Yeah, anything worth having takes work. Anything worth having takes work. I know that we live in this microwave generation; we have immediate access to anything, and so we're so used to quick and easy.

But any relationship that is built just overnight isn't worth much in the morning. This thing is something that has to be built. I liken it to a Crockpot meal. That thing's got to stew for a minute; it's got to warm up; the juices got to come... I'm hungry right now! The juices got to come!

But this is what he's saying when it comes to our relationships. It takes time. And we want to rush, and then we wonder why the relationships don't go the way that I thought it would go. 'Cause you wanted it quick; you wanted it easy; you wanted it fast.

Relationships and community take time. It takes time. It's not just a friend request or just a shared interest. Real community and real relationships will require of you.

We can't have this idea that, "You know what? This person I got a relationship with, this person is worth it, and I'm going to invest in this one, but this one I don't really like, so I'm just going to leave that one, and I'm just going to let that do what it do."

No, no, no, no! Jesus was investing in each one of them. Jesus was there, and he is the Son of God. Come on! If anybody could come to the earth and do it on their own, it was probably Jesus. If anybody could come and be like, "I don't need nobody; I don't need you; I don't need you; I don't need you," or "I really don't need you," he was the one that had the opportunity to say that.

But yet and still, he came to this earth, and when his ministry started, he developed community. And even one of his betrayed him. But you mad, though? But you mad 'cause you find out they forgot your birthday or they didn't call you?

And up until the end, this is why Jesus is the example. Because up until the feast, he was still feeding them. He washed their feet! Do you understand that? And this is what Jesus has called us to do, right? This is what he has called us to. He's called us to community.

Anything, anything, when we are in relationships, it will require of you three things. The first thing is relationships will require intimacy. Especially guys, we don't really like intimacy. You know, we got our wife, and we're like, "That's cool; anything else, I'm good."

But guess what, guys? Men, husbands, we have to develop relationships. It will require intimacy. That means opening your mouth; that means sharing. This is what it requires of us. Relationships are not created overnight, and because it's intimate, it's not something that you throw away over trivial matters and issues.

That's the world's way of doing things; that's not what God has called us to do. The second thing: relationships require risks. It requires risks. We have this thing that we do: if you don't get close to me, you can't hurt me.

So what do we do? We keep everybody at arm's length. We keep everybody at arm's length. We don't let nobody get close to us because if you don't get close to me, you can't hurt me. This idea of self-preservation: if I don't let you matter to me, then you can't betray me.

Wow! And we will lead our whole life avoiding people, avoiding relationships, avoiding these people 'cause we're scared of being betrayed. We're scared of being hurt. And am I saying that that fear is not real and that thing is not real? No, I'm not saying that it's not real.

But what I am saying is that you have an opportunity in that moment to lean and trust in God. To lean in. And guess what? The best thing that God has given us as it pertains to relationships is time. Because time will tell.

And if we spent more time investing in our relationships before jumping into it, then we might see some things that will avoid us getting hurt and getting betrayed. 'Cause guess what, baby? If they talked about everybody else, what makes you think they're not going to talk about you?

You enjoying the conversation, and you're like, "Yeah, we're going to be friends." No, you're next! But it requires risks. Real community requires that you take risks.

But here's the thing where your peace comes in: you know what? If something should go wrong, my trust is in God. If someone should say something out of character, who claims to be a part of my community about me, I'm not worried about it. Why? Because God has my back.

He says vengeance is mine. I got to worry about nothing you say, nothing you did. Because why? My character, number one, will speak for itself. And second, I know that God has my back.

Good! Lastly, any relationship that you have is never going to be sufficient. What do you mean? Any relationship that you have is never going to be sufficient. You were never meant to have all of your needs met by a community, a person, or the church.

I'm going to say that again 'cause y'all might forget it in a couple of weeks. You were never meant to have all of your needs met by a community, another person, or the church. And if you're looking to have your needs met by a community, by a person, or by a church, then guess what? You are guilty of idolatry.

Oh, now he says, "I will have no other gods before me." The only person, the only relationship, the only community that is meant to fulfill all of your needs is the relationship that you have with Jesus Christ. That is it!

And anytime you try to put something in the place of the void that only God can fill, you will always come up short each and every time. You're like, "I wonder why this relationship, I wonder why this thing, I wonder why this person isn't fulfilling all of my needs."

It is unfair for you to make them because that's not why they were created to do. That is only a void that God can fill. And here's the thing—this is just a free one for me—here's the thing that I find: whenever you put something in God's place, God will remove it every single time.

I can't figure out why these relationships ain't working. I can't figure out why this boyfriend, this girlfriend, this thing—I can't figure out why it's not working. Because you put it in the wrong place! "I will have no other gods before me." None whatsoever!

Listen, true community and true relationships are a gift from God. And when we honor the divine purpose and the assignment of those relationships, and we fully understand the impact that those relationships can have on our life, it will change the way that we see each and every relationship and community that we are a part of.

It is divine! People are in your life for a reason. It is up to you to determine what that is. "God, why have you placed this person in my life?" Before I quit and jump and make an assumption of why they're in my life, "Lord, what are you saying? Yes! How would you have me treat this person? How would you have me communicate? How would you have me to love this person? How would you have me to show grace to this person? How would you have me to be hospitable to this person? Why have you brought this person into my life? What is it that you're saying?"

And I understand that when it talks about relationships, some of us, you know, we have broken relationships, and I understand that. But I want you to know that you have been given the ability through the word of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to walk through these situations, whatever the outcome may be.

What you want to know is, at the end of the day, "God is pleased with the way that I walked through this relationship." He says, "Bear with one another." Sometimes you got to bear with your family. I know they get on your nerves, but sometimes you got to bear with them.

Whether it may be, maybe there's a broken relationship with a son or a daughter—bear with them. God has given you the ability to walk through this because at the end of the day, that's all I want to hear: "Well done! Well done!"

Each relationship, each person, each community is a gift. We should treat it as such. People matter; they matter to God, and they should matter to you. They should matter to you. What has God called you to do? How has God called you to move in the area of your relationships?

1. "Anything worth having takes work. We live in this microwave generation where we have immediate access to anything and so we're so used to quick and easy. But any relationship that is built just overnight isn't worth much in the morning. Relationships and community take time, it's not just a friend request or just a shared interest. Real community and real relationships will require of you." 22:35

2. "Each relationship, each person, each community is a gift. We should treat it as such. People matter. They matter to God and they should matter to you. What has God called you to do? How has God called you to move in the area of your relationships?" 32:35

3. "One of the most important things we do as people is develop relationships. We have this need for community. Even the world has a desire for friendship, for relationships, for community. But as with anything, if we don't understand the purpose of a thing, it is inevitable that we will abuse it." 00:00

4. "Our relationships matter to our destiny and our purpose. We need one another. This idea that you don't need anybody is a lie from the devil. It's a trick of the enemy. As a matter of fact, what has happened is now you have taken on the world's way of thinking and doing as it pertains to relationships because you were born for community, you were born for relational community." 09:37

5. "God has placed and arranged the parts in the body, each one of them just as he willed and saw fit with the best balance of function. The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,' nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.' Paul is talking to the church in Corinth about our need for one another." 09:37