Welcome back to Resident Strangers! Steve and Rich are picking right back up with the importance of the Church. When someone comes to faith in Christ their priorities should certainly include the body of Christ. We are not only saved from sin but saved into the Church. Have you ever thought about what it would like if everyone was living fully invested in the body of Christ? God designed each person to be a part of this community. Steve uses the analogy of a cheetah stalking its' prey to talk through the protection that comes with being in the community of God. The evil one will always go for the one who is not living in that protection. Rich points out that being in the Church not only brings protection but also growth towards maturity. A key aspect of this involves humility and that is hard to deal with in the culture we live in. Sarah speaks to the importance of the Church when it comes to dating and marriage relationships. It's vital! Sometimes as Christians there has to be a willingness to call out and question behaviors and decisions. Steve brings up the unfortunate reality that church hurt does exist. There can be pain in the church, but Jesus gave us a way to deal with this in the community of faith. Steve shares that so many of the situations he is brought into as a pastor are because people don't deal with interpersonal relationships the way Jesus said to. Matthew 18:15-20 is a crucial passage to understand. This episode covers truths that are so important for believers to understand. We hope it encourages you and causes you to reflect on the importance of the Church. 

Nate Fish's testimony on The Stories Collective, Episode 47 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1W8TIZTri2BtdeACRwOSDw?si=a9b0edb9ce474e06

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Desert Springs' Doctrinal Statement -https://www.dscchurch.com/values-beliefs

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