This month, our Youth series is entitled "Better Together". I can't think of a better testimony than the one delivered last week by our dear sister, Melanie Thatcher. Melanie opened up about hardships…trials and tribulations. We've all been there; we've all struggled at times; some of us are still struggling. But Melanie's testimony is proof that you don't have to do it alone. Melanie may be recovering from her surgery, but she knows that she's never alone!

In our lessons, we have learned that even Jesus didn't do it all alone. He had His disciples, who He sent out in pairs (not alone) to cast out unclean spirits and to spread the Word of God. He knew it wouldn't be easy for them, but He reminded them that they were "better together".

Moses is one of the greatest examples of what happens when you try to do everything by yourself. He managed to burn himself out because of his pride. Moses, just like us, needed to learn that we are not the heroes of our own story. It took someone else, his father-in-law Jethro, to give him guidance on how to find people to help him carry all that burden.

One of the ways that we are "better together" is to hold each other accountable. Disciples of Christ are called to hold each other accountable (without judgment). It may seem like a small thing to some, but accountability matters! Accountability is meant to help us grow closer to God and to each other. Jesus outlines the four main steps to follow so that we can hold our brothers and sisters accountable in Matthew 18:15-17. This is just another example of how the Bible is our guidelines for life. If you have a problem or a question, there is an answer in the Bible. If you can't find that answer, "better together" teaches us to reach out to someone and ask, because we have spiritually gifted brothers and sisters in the areas of Wisdom and Knowledge. They will gladly point you in the right direction.

We have one more lesson left in our series, so I don't want to give too much away. But we sometimes forget one simple fact: we are sheep. Not a very flattering comparison, I know! But think about it. We exhibit the same patterns: we have a habit of wandering away, we need a shepherd to guide us, and we tend to think about ourselves often. In these moments, we allow our sin to guide our lives, and we sometimes push others away and isolate ourselves.

Jesus holds the key to all of this. In a community of faith, we support each other’s journeys because disciples of Christ don't try to follow Jesus on their own. We invite people into our lives to help us see what we can't see and be willing to listen to the hard truths because disciples of Christ listen to wise counsel. We understand that accountability is meant to help us grow closer to God and to each other and we don't hold any ill will toward those who try to hold us accountable. Jesus demonstrates that anyone can be restored in relationships, just look at Peter who denied Him three times. Jesus even changed Peter from a sheep to a shepherd because disciples of Christ are more shepherd than sheep.

Our church is a living testimony of "Better Together" and it was even the theme of our merger and the mission is clear. The mission of Christians is to spread the gospel and make disciples by loving and serving others. This mission involves proclaiming the good news, nurturing new believers through teaching and baptism, and responding to human needs through service. It is driven by love and empowerment from the Holy Spirit, not just duty, to bring reconciliation and restoration to the world. And let me tell you my brothers and sisters, it can’t be done alone, we must do it together.

-Stevie Taylor