Ephesians 4:1-6 // Community builds resilience through shared experiences, shared resources, and shared convictions.

Mark 6:30–38 // The goal of both self-care and self-denial is that others would taste and see that the Lord is good and they can only taste and see that the Lord is good if we are living in a way that shows people the Lord is good. Only Jesus has the capacity, ability, and desire to care for you the way you deserve to be cared for because only Jesus died and rose again for you.

Ephesians 4:1-16 // Christians come together, not because they form a natural collocation, but because they have been saved by Jesus Christ and owe Him a common allegiance. In the light of this common allegiance, in light of the fact that they have all been loved by Jesus Himself, they commit themselves to doing what He says—and He commands them to love one another. In this light, they are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake. ~ DA Carson

Revelation 21:2-4 // Heaven. Our true home. Why is a view of heaven important for our lives on earth? What is absent from heaven? What will we experience in heaven?

Hebrews 4:15 // True resilience is a beautiful and it's a wonderful characteristic. It's something that God himself will shape in us as we continue to turn to Him little by little as best we can. Learn to abide in Christ, to connect to Him. Jesus is the source of our resilience. He is our strength. He is the one who gives us a different reality to stand on. When we do that, we find that the resilience that God shapes in us doesn't leave part of our humanity behind. It's not cruel to our emotions and it doesn't mean that you have to deny hurts or pretend that everything is fine so that you can just muscle up and carry on in the same way. As we continue to turn to God, we find that there is an ability to move forward. Not only do we have Christ, but we also have the body of Christ - His church. He sent us himself in human form with a nervous system and full emotions. Jesus came in the flesh. He then gave us His spirit and gave us one another to embody Him and be His hands and His feet through our care and love for each other.

1 Peter 4:12-13, James 1:2-5 // Only a re-imagining of suffering can lead to rejoicing, and only an understanding that something precious is being shaped in me can give me a sense of Spirit-empowered resilience. I can have a sense of joy in the context of suffering because there is a deeper intimacy that I experience with Jesus when I've gone through a time of suffering.

2 Samuel 6:6-12 // We can learn from the life of David that failure can build resilience, but sin builds hardness. When David was faced with the crippling consequences of his sin, he chose to repent and turn to God. Our failures can help build resiliency because we learn more about ourselves, we grow from our mistakes, and learn to ask for help from God and our community of fellow believers.

John 15:1-20 // Resilience is not the sweet fruit from trauma’s tree. It is abiding in Jesus, connection to others, and purpose (fruitfulness). Adversity is inevitable as a follower of Jesus Christ. Life with Jesus is not about what we do, but about how we respond to what Christ's Spirit is doing in us. Being held by God, abiding in Jesus, and being connected to His body (the Church), gives us eternal joy and a resilience that glorifies God.

Luke 24:1–12 // The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the hinge point in history! We are not saved because we follow His teaching, we are saved because He rose from the dead — He is alive! He doesn’t just live — Christ lives in me! What does that mean for our lives? To be a Christian is someone whose life is transformed, who is able to give and receive comfort, and who has an eternal hope and a current purpose!

Matthew 20:29-21:11 // Jesus came to earth in unexpected ways. He came in humility - not pompous. He didn't come to conquer Rome (worldly enemies) – He came to conquer the curse and bondage of sin and death. When the King comes into our lives, we are tempted to tell Him what we need. But, He actually tells us what we need – we need Him.