Soul Architecture: Iron Sharpening // Rev. Matt Kennedy // Feb 8 2025

One of the foundations of the gospel is that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection ensures a union to the life of God and no person or institution needs to stand in between you and your maker except Jesus Christ himself (1 Timothy 2:5). We sometimes call this our "personal relationship with Christ". But even though our faith is deeply personal, scripture simultaneously tells us our faith is not private. A personal relationship with Jesus is also a mutual participation in the Christian community we call church. The New Testament never commends "lone wolf" Christianity, but is persistently calling us to share our very lives with one another (1 Thessalonians 2:8).Much of our sermon series on spiritual disciplines has focused on habits one can practice as an individual, but some disciplines are inherently cooperative and communal. This week we'll consider what it means to have spiritual companionship with other believers who can hear your confession, share your burdens, offer you guidance, and sharpen your belief and conduct. One of the great gifts of the gospel is that God's marvelous grace empowers us to open the deep places within us (even with their wounds and sins) and find common grace with a person you might have little in common with except a shared love of Jesus.