• 4 Biblical Truths:
• God is always with us.
• We were designed and created to live life in relationships without people. We need people in our lives.
• We long to belong.
• The people that we do life with have a tremendous influence upon the people that we are becoming as well as the trajectory of our lives.
• Church is the beautiful creation of God.
• Within the church, there is a great diversity of people.
• The one thing that we all have in common is Jesus.
• We are called to life together.
• As one person suffers, we all suffer together. As one person celebrates, we all celebrate together. 
• As a church that seeks to encourage one another, we want no one to ever have to walk alone.
• God’s message to us is, “I’m with you.” Our message to one another is, “I’m with you.” 

In Psalm 9, the psalmist recounts the wonderful deeds of the Lord. In verses 9-10 we read:

⁹ The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰ And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

Oftentimes, the church is God’s instrument to provide this stronghold, this place of encouragement and strength when life knocks you sideways.

• What challenges and difficulties have you faced in your life and how have the people of God come together, even in small ways, to encourage you and help see you through?

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul compares the church to a body. In this rich image, we are able to see how the whole of the church is necessary not only to carry out the work of ministry but to care for and encourage all the various parts of the body together. God has created each of us uniquely and called us together as the church in a way that complements one another in our needs and skills.

• In what ways have you seen the Body of Christ in the local church come together to encourage and uplift those in need?
• How have the unique ways in which God has gifted individuals been a part of what makes the church a place of encouragement?

Being a part of a community gathered together in the name of Christ is what makes the church unique.

• What can you provide to the community at Our Savior to help encourage those in need?