Stronger Lives is part of New Beginnings which we looked at and agreed to pursue  over a year ago. It is about relationships. My relationship with God – with my own family – with one another and the church family – with my neighbours and community. We are made for relationship and it is sad when relationships fail and just as sad when they stagnate and do not grow and deepen as God intended.

Stronger Lives is a great opportunity once or twice a month when we can all at the same time engage in seeking to deepen our relationship with God and those around us – not to attend other churches or hold separate meetings. The more I reflect on our church life the more convinced I am of God’s will in pursuing Stronger Lives. I know that some would prefer to have an evening meeting. Can I ask you please to consider is that purely tradition?  If we had been brought up with just one meeting, it would not be an issue at all. Perhaps it is that you are on your own and would prefer not to be.

Stronger Lives is about getting together with someone else – it could be a family member, a neighbour, someone else in the church in order to deepen relationship with them.  Could it be we are actually scared of a commitment to deeper relationship? We make ourselves a little more vulnerable, perhaps accountable? Be encouraged to engage for the blessings will be greater than the risk. Could it be I just don’t want to change? We live in a constantly changing world and the church is becoming less and less relevant to it. Failure to be relevant sounds the death knoll.        

Sermon series such as “You” and “No perfect People Allowed”   addressed the issues of the need to relate with those in our community, to accept them as they are without passing judgment. Can I share with you that I fear if we don’t learn to relate better and deeper with those with whom we already have a relationship, what hope do we have of ministering in Jesus name to the deep needs of those around us?  Could it be we don’t know how to relate more deeply? If so we will address that issue. I have provided today a sheet of suggestions for those who would like to take the opportunity of Stronger Lives to strengthen their relationship with God.

So church I encourage you to engage positively with Stronger Lives, to bless others, to be blessed and to be confident that in this we are following through on our commitment to the God given “New Beginnings”.  

Pastor Graham