Revolution

[00:00:07] Speaker A: Welcome to the weekday podcast of Sugar Hill Church, where we desire to help you know God and discover your purpose, whether you're exercising, driving, meditating, or just hanging out while you tune in with us today. Thanks. We hope these next five minutes help you feel encouraged and inspired for your day. [00:00:22] Speaker B: Hi, everybody. Pastor Chuck Allen back with another weekday podcast. And today I want to talk about the relationship revolution. Paul writes in Galatians 513 for you have been called to live in freedom. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Now remember, Paul starts this off by saying, you have been called to live in freedom. Don't use it to satisfy you. Use it to serve others in love. Imagine a marriage that's been transformed, friendships that have grown deeper, family bonds that are strengthened. It sounds like a dream, right? I mean, but what if I told you that the key to this relationship revolution was right at your fingertips? I'm not suggesting it's a magic potion or a secret formula or something you could sell on CNN or Fox News. It's just simply much simpler. But it's profoundly powerful. Serve others together. You see, when we join hands to help others, something wondrous happens in our own relationships. It's like God takes our acts of service and uses them as cement to bind our hearts together. Science and scripture agree on this one, folks. Humble individuals have stronger social bonds and more satisfying relationships. Think about it. When was the last time you and your spouse worked together on a project that wasn't about y'all? When did you and your kids last team up to help somebody in need? I mean, can you remember a time when you were a friend and you just got together and joined forces to make a difference in your community? If you're drawing a blank, don't feel bad. Don't worry. You're not alone. I mean, in this crazy, busy, self focused world, it's so doggone easy to forget the power of serving others. But today, I want to challenge you to stop start a relationship revolution in your life. So if your marriage might feel strained or communication breaks down, try this. Serve other people together. Cook a meal for a neighbor. Volunteer with a local shelter. Serve at your local co op. Help with meals on wheels. Go cut somebody's grass, man. Sometimes just go visit somebody and encourage them. Or simply lend a hand that someone's in need and watch as your heart aligns and your connection deepens. When you're struggling to connect with your adolescent child, don't just lecture them about the importance of giving back. Invite them to join you in service. Clean up a local park together, visit a nursing home, help out a food bank, work side by side in the kitchen and meals on wheels. Deliver a meal together. You'll find all kind of topics to discuss and new respect for each other. And you'll find a shared sense of purpose. If you're feeling distant from a friend instead of just meeting for coffee, why not meet to serve? Help your local co op help them pack bags, help us pack backpacks, organize a fundraiser together, mentor a child together, or participate in a community project. As you collaborate for a cause greater than yourself, watch how your friendship takes on a new path, a new depth, and new meaning. You see, something wondrous really does happen when we serve together. We step out of our own little worlds and into a bigger story. We trade our self focus for other focus, and in the process we discover new facets of each other and ourself. When you're elbow deep in soapy water washing dishes at a shelter, you see a side of your spouse you might never see at home. When you're painting a classroom at an underfunded school with your kid, you have conversations you might never have had otherwise. When you're planting trees in a local park, you create memories and inside jokes that strengthen your bond. These things happen on mission trips and on mission all the time. But it's not just about what serving does for your relationships with each other. It's also about what does for our relationship with the Lord. When we serve others together, we're living out our faith in super tangible ways. We're being the hands and feet of Jesus, and there's something powerfully bonding about that shared spiritual experience. Now I know what some of you are thinking. It's like, chuck, dude, this all sounds great, but we're all so busy already. Where are we supposed to find the time to serve others? I hear you. Life is super hectic. I got it, man. But here's the thing. Serving others doesnt always require a huge time commitment. It can be as simple as checking in on an elderly neighbor together or helping a new family move in down the street. Start small, but start somewhere. When we make serving others a regular part of our life together, it is pretty wondrous. It could be once a week, once a month, or once a quarter. The frequency matters less than the consistency in the shared commitment. Here's a little secret. The busier you are, the more you need this. Did you hear that? It's worth saying again. The busier you are, the more. You need this. Serving others together can be a refreshing break from a daily grind, and it can remind you of what really matters in life and help you refocus on your priorities. So friend today start your own relationship revolution. Look for opportunities to serve others with the people closest to you. It might feel a little awkward at first, it might require some sacrifice, but I promise you its worth it. And as you serve together, watch how your relationships transform. Notice how your communication improves and also how your understanding of each other deepens. You know what? Ive discovered your love even grows stronger. So dont be surprised if you find yourselves coming not just closer to each other, but closer to to the heart of God. I think we ought to revolutionize our relationships through service. Let's love each other by loving others together, and in doing so, let's create a ripple effect of love and service that changes our families, changes our communities, and changes our world. You want to supercharge your relationship? Serve others together. It's the secret ingredient to stronger bonds and deeper love. God bless you friend. Thanks so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast. [00:06:47] Speaker A: Thanks so much for joining us today for the weekday podcast. Our prayer is that the encouragement you just heard would help you live more like Jesus today. We would love to see you at Sugarhill Church for one of our gatherings each Sunday at 915 and eleven. And we're always streaming live at Live Sugarhill Church. Thanks again for joining us today. As always, if today's message encouraged you, share it with friends and family by tapping the share button. Have an awesome day.