This is the sermon from our 8/2/26 service. We compare Christian community to the environment of river rocks clanging together over time, discussing how God uses the people around us to refine us and make us more like Him. Today’s key Scripture verse is: “And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head— Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part” (Ephesians 4:11-16).

We all want to be known. We all want people we can count on. We all want relationships that make us stronger. In today's culture it's easy to be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone. It's possible to attend church every week and never really feel like you belong. But that's not the life God designed for us. Church was never meant to be a place where we simply attend. It was meant to be a place where we belong. Where grace is real. Where truth is spoken. Where people encourage one another, pray for one another, and help one another become more like Jesus. Join us for our series, Community Is Where We Grow, as we discover how God uses relationships to shape our faith, strengthen our lives, and transform us into the people He's called us to be.

This year, our focus is on building Stretchy Faith—a kind of faith that moves us beyond what’s comfortable and grows us in the areas that matter most.