Westside Community Church

View Original

BetterLife Episode 2: Kick Loneliness to the Curb

Steve Barker

More than any season in our lives, COVID has elevated our individual need to redefine, reinvent, and improve our lives. How’s that going for you? 

To Take the BetterLife Challenge:

Text BETTER to 503-905-9067


This week’s episode clarifies HOW loneliness derails our BetterLife, WHY we all experience loneliness, and WHAT to do in order to kick loneliness to the curb. 

Join us as we explore a page from Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus (chapter 2). 

Note: Pastor Gabe referenced our strategic partnership in Indonesia. For more on Westside’s Global Partnerships, click here. 

Here are today’s key thoughts:

  • Loneliness reduces immunity, increases inflammation, and compounds stress & anxiety. How are you doing?

  • TWEET: “It’s not your circumstances that make or break you - it’s your community.”

  • Paco Story

 

5 Key Words from Ephesians 2: 

DEAD
SAVED
MASTERPIECE
PEACE
BELONG

Ephesians 2:13-19

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

 

ACCEPTANCE IS THE ONLY CURE FOR LONELINESS

  • As a follower of Jesus, are you taking full advantage of your new (or renewed) connection with your Creator? How does that impact your stress, your relationships, your impact, your anxiety? Are you ready to help someone else take their next steps in making that connection?

Join or Host a Watch Party


  • If you’ve never said YES to Jesus, to receive His unconditional love and acceptance of you, are you ready to make that change and kick loneliness to the curb for good?


Consider praying this prayer:

Jesus​ ​I​ ​give​ ​you​ ​my​ ​life. Thank​ ​you​ ​for​ ​saving​ ​me. I​ ​believe​ ​in​ ​you. Your​ ​life. Your​ ​death​ ​on​ ​the​ ​cross. And​ ​your​ ​resurrection. Forgive​ ​me​ ​of​ ​my​ ​sins. Fill​ ​me​ ​with​ ​your​ ​Holy​ ​Spirit. Lead​ ​me. And​ ​teach​ ​me​ ​to​ ​follow​ ​you. And​ ​I​ ​ask​ ​it​ ​in​ ​Jesus​ ​name.

For Resources to Grow in Your Faith:

Text JESUS to 503-905-9067


QUICK CLICKS: