Paul said: “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). When I withdrew from relationships with other church leaders, I wasn’t bearing their burdens or allowing them to bear mine. That isolation wasn’t just unwise. It was disobedient. 

Church can be one of the most powerful places for this kind of growth, a community where children learn to love like Jesus, share joy, and build relationships rooted in faith and grace. 

This article looks at the lessons two very good friends have learned over four and a half decades of friendship.

Love, as defined as friendship with Jesus and God through Jesus, is not sentimental but ultimately realized in the cross. Abiding in Jesus produces fruit which makes us friends with Jesus.

As followers of Jesus, we must embrace the urgent call for Christian unity, recognizing its power to influence this generation.

In a world marked by isolation and digital disconnection, Christ offers a kind of belonging that transcends superficial social ties. He calls his church to be an authentic Spirit-led community where lonely hearts find companionship.

In a time when people can’t talk about hard things anymore, how can Christians be different?

In the end, it will not be the size of the crowd you preach to that sustains you, but the strength of the companions who walk with you.