Switch: What’s Next?Sample

Your Own, But Not Alone

“You have to make faith your own, but you can’t do faith alone.” —Reggie Joiner

We’ve been talking about what it looks like to have a relationship with Jesus. A huge part of that is actively getting to know Him. That’s what the first part of this quote is about. If you like someone and want to start a relationship with them, you aren’t going to send your mom or your little brother to talk to that cute guy or girl for you. If you are really serious about wanting that relationship, you have to do it yourself. You have to own it. 

When it comes to our faith, it’s the same way. It may be really easy to ride the coattails of your parents or pastors. And sure, maybe they know more than you right now. But they can’t get to know someone for you. And the beautiful thing is, they don’t have to. Jesus died to have a personal relationship with you. Not a secondary relationship with you through someone else. 

But that doesn’t mean other people shouldn’t be part of the process. They absolutely should. Jesus Himself put so much emphasis on having a solid community around Him that when He was here on earth, He chose 12 guys to follow Him and do life with Him 24/7 for the three years of His ministry. It’s time to find your people!

See, other people are both helpful and vital to a great, personal relationship with Jesus. Think about the first time you bring that guy or girl home for family dinner (minus any and all awkwardness). Your family is able to shed light on the relationship by asking questions you may not have thought to bring up yet or pointing out awesome things you may not have noticed or may have started to take for granted. 

This is so cool because the same thing can happen in our relationship with Jesus! When we invite other people into the process, they can help spark our curiosity, remind us of what is true, keep us accountable, and provide another perspective we can learn from. This is why being part of your local church, small groups, Bible studies, or Bible Plans with friends is so great! They are that vital community that help us learn and make our relationship with Jesus even deeper and stronger.

Check out this video on ways to get plugged into your local church! And if you haven’t already, take the step of talking to your youth pastor about getting signed up for a small group today.