Unlonely
Dying to be Together; Rising to the Occasion
Unlonely: Part 1
April 12, 2020
Loneliness is an empty feeling; hence the expression, “Lonely as the grave.” Strange how you can be lonely in a crowd. Equally strange: the word lonely doesn’t have an antonym. You can be social, affable, even beloved, but still lonely. How can we cure loneliness? Paradoxically, the solution is an empty grave! 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18 // But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Check out today's worship playlist here: http://bit.ly/2xwlmkl
Unlonely: Part 2
April 19, 2020
Roughly 60 million people in the United States experience loneliness as a major source of unhappiness in their lives. If only they could all get together! But let’s face it, getting together and staying together are two very different experiences. How can we stay together? EPHESIANS 4:1-7 // I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Check out today's worship playlist here: http://bit.ly/3bmmi8v
Unlonely: Part 3
April 26, 2020
Social isolation has an adverse impact upon your health comparable to high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity, or smoking. Therefore, it is more important than ever to regard others as more important than yourself, right? Wait. How does this work? I’m healthier if I care more for others than myself? PHILIPPIANS 2:1-8 // So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Check out today's worship playlist here: http://bit.ly/2vbve66
Unlonely: Part 4
May 3, 2020
Being alone does not necessarily mean being lonely. In fact, many pleasurable and productive actions often involve solitude: research, endurance exercise, art, and prayer. These actions are done alone, and with others. We are called to do both. JAMES 5:13-18 // Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. Check out today's worship playlist here: http://bit.ly/3b451jp
Unlonely: Part 5
May 10, 2020
The social pain of loneliness, like pain, results in observable behaviors. Unfortunately, when we feel lonely, we begin to think and act in self-defeating ways. We can become anti-social and the symptoms reinforce the disease. But there is a cure. EPHESIANS 4:25-32 // Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Check out today's worship playlist here: http://bit.ly/2yzziaa