Lasting Change Requires a Small Group
By Rick Warren
"Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body." Ephesians 4:25 (NCV)
When you decide you want to make a change, you may be eager to jump in and start the process on your own. But you’re never going to succeed without the support of a few trusted people in your life. God did not make us to go through life alone. We're better together.
Lasting change requires community. There are some things in your life so big that you need a team to tackle them. In American football, an opposing player may be so big that no one person can bring him down on their own. It takes several players working together to tackle him. In the same way, you need people who will support you and help you tackle some tough areas in your life. You need a small group.
A small group is just that—a small group of people. You can't be honest and transparent about big changes in your life with 25 people. But you can find a group of five or six people that you can be authentic with. You don't have to bare your soul with everybody you know. You don't need to tell everybody what you're working on—but you do need to tell somebody.
If you're serious about changing, growing, and resetting your life, then you're going to have to face your fear about being gut-level honest with just a few people. The moment you tell just one person about the changes you believe God wants you to make, you get instant power you never had in any other way. You have someone to walk with you through it. You have someone to help carry the emotional load.
Ephesians 4:25 says, "Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other in the same body" (NCV). What is this "same body" where we all belong to each other? It's not your neighborhood or your work or your school. It's God's family. And, as a Christian, you belong to God's family.
You will only become what God wants you to be by sharing your life with a small group of people who will love you, hold you up, and encourage you as you reset your life.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Be Encouraged Each Day to Live Out God’s Purposes
As thanks for your gift below to help share the gospel with more people around the world through Daily Hope, we’ll send you Pastor Rick’s new book, Daily Hope Devotional: 365 Days of Purpose, Peace, and Promise.
Each devotional starts out with a Bible verse, followed by teaching that explains God’s Word and shows you how to apply it daily so you can face any challenge and live the life you were created to live.
As a special bonus when you give, we’ll also send you What's Driving Your Life?: A 10-Day Turnaround for a Fresh Start. Featuring 10 hand-picked devotions from Pastor Rick’s new book, they’ll guide anyone feeling stressed, worried, or discouraged toward seeking God for a fresh start.
Request your copy below when you give—and take the first step towards a year of real purpose, lasting peace, and unfailing promises.
Thank you for your partnership!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
