Key Takeaways

We were made for connection because we were made in the image of a relational God.

Every one of us was made for connection. Because we were created in the image of a relational God, friendships and healthy relationships are part of what it means to be human. In John 1, we see Jesus invite people closer, form meaningful relationships, and help them become more like him. The question is not simply whether we carry God’s name, but whether our lives resemble him.

• Come and see – Jesus invited people into relationship before demanding that they have everything figured out. Like Jesus, we can move toward people with curiosity and invitation instead of judgment or shame.
• Connection requires presence – We have more ways to communicate than ever, yet we still experience relational poverty. Healthy friendships require more than just contact. They require time, presence, vulnerability, and people who truly know us.
• Don’t settle for the surface – God created us to be known and seen. We need people who can speak truth, remain present through difficulty, and help us become who God created us to be. The goal is not for everyone to become our closest friend, but to make sure someone truly knows us.
• Become the spitting image – Carrying the name of Jesus is not the same as resembling Jesus. Our resemblance is seen in how we love, forgive, welcome, handle conflict, and treat people. Through the spirit, we are being renewed to reflect our father more clearly.

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Pray

As you pray, give thanks that we were not created to do this life alone. Ask to be transformed into people who reflect God to everyone we encounter.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for creating us in your image and reminding us that we were never meant to live alone. You are a relational God and you have woven relationship into the very design of who we are.

Like the disciples who encountered Jesus and immediately invited others to “come and see,” give us hearts that draw people toward you rather than push them away. Help us recognize the people you have placed around us not as interruptions or strangers, but as opportunities to experience and extend your love. Remove the old patterns and ways of relating that do not reflect who you have made us to be.

Make us a church where people are welcomed, seen, and transformed. May our relationships bear witness to the reality of Jesus and show the world what it looks like to live as people created in the image of a relational God. Help us become more like you in the way we love, forgive, and serve one another.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Worship

Bring the worship set into your slot and spot this week and praise God that he is a relational God.

Alleluia – Elevation Worship

Mighty Name of Jesus – Hope Darst

Inhabit – Lakewood Music

Learn

This week, read through the scripture shared in the message and dive deeper into God’s word.

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him. – Genesis 2:18

• Scripture – Genesis 2:18
• Scripture – John 1 35-50
• Scripture – John 8 42-44
• Scripture – Colossians 3 9-10(NIV)
• Read – Jesus Is . . . Relational  a 4 day devotional
• Watch – God from Bible Project
• Listen –John 1 from Through the Word

Reflect

Reflect on these questions during your slot and spot/discussions with others.

Throughout the message, Pastor Wayne challenges us to consider whether our lives resemble Jesus in the way we interact with others.

• When people spend time with you, what do you hope they notice about you?
• What does being the “spitting image” of someone mean to you?
• What is one step you can take this week to become more like Jesus?

Read Genesis 2:28 and John 1:35-50. God created us for relationships and Jesus modeled what it looks like to move toward people and invite them closer.

• What do these passages reveal about God’s design for connection?
• What stands out to you about Jesus’ invitation to “come and see”?
• How can we create more opportunities for meaningful connections in our lives?

Pastor Wayne introduced five friendship depths and reminded us that healthy relationships require both vulnerability and wisdom. We are reminded that connection requires more than simply being around people. Check out the 5 Levels of Friendship by Pastor Wayne Francis.

• Are there ways technology or busyness have replaced meaningful connections in your life?
• Do you tend to keep people at the surface or give people deeper access too quickly? What has shaped that tendency?
• Is there a specific relationship where you may need to establish a healthier boundary or take a step towards greater vulnerability?

Next Steps

• Every day this week, set aside a slot and spot – a time on your calendar, and a place you go alone – to read the Bible and pray.

• Take a next step in your faith by joining us for Plugged In, a simple, three-step path designed to help you find your place, purpose, and part in our community of faith.

What’s one thing you learned from this message that you want to apply to your life this week? Share it in the comment section below.