I can't wait for tomorrow!  I know that the 40 Days of Community Series, which we start tomorrow, is going to be transforming in our life together.  While every time we worship together is an opportunity for transformation, certain times have additional potential.  For example back in the spring of 2007, when we went through the "Living in the Spirit" series, I knew God was going to do amazing things--and it was a pivotal time in our life together at New Life. 

This past spring when we went through the "Does the Devil Make Us Do It" series on the seven deadly sins, many of you shared that the series was so helpful in moving forward in your understanding of temptation and how to overcome it in the Lord. 

The reason I believe this series will be transforming is because it focuses us on a major truth:  We need each other.  Our culture has emphasized the importance of individualism for so long that we have forgotten God's powerful truth from Genesis 2:18  "It is not good for man to be alone." Genesis 2:18 (NLT) We were created for life together.  We were created to be in biological families together, and we were created to be in spiritual families together.  God designed us for relationship with Him and with one another.  Even though sin isolated us from God and one another, God has continued to call us to Himself and to relationship with one another.

As we worship together tomorrow, just our being together matters.  Jesus said, ²⁰For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20 (NIV) It isn't that Jesus isn't with us when we worship Him on our own--He Is.  It's just that He is with us in a more powerful way when we come together in His name.  I hope you will make every effort to be fully a part of the 40 Days of Community--be there in worship each Sunday, be part of a L.I.F.E. Group, read the daily Bible Readings here, and live out what we learn together each day!

Take a moment right now to think of a time when being together with other believers in worship, in a small group, on a missions trip gave you the opportunity to experience God's presence and power in an unforgettable way.  (If you've never had one of those moment, join us at New Life tomorrow at 8:45 and 10:15 at the South Butler Primary School in Saxonburg.) God wants us to be together, to worship Him together and to glorify Him together in His world!

Let's pray:  Heavenly Father, Thank You for creating us for life together!  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may embrace Your will for our lives, and that we may live that life together in joy.  Empower us to reach out to others who need to know the power of a relationship with You, that Your Kingdom and family may grow.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.