Pentecost: It's Our Turn Now! "The Need For Community in Adversity"

Because evil exists, we will inevitably face adversity in striving for our goals and in our fight for God's values. The story of the apostles in Acts 5 teaches us that though they faced imprisonment and persecution, their community was the bedrock from which they drew the strength to persevere against adversity. Precisely because the apostles were able to bounce back from hardship to fight for God's mission, we learn that the community of believers exists to encourage us when we feel too weak to continue towards our goals. That is why we need to cling to community not only in the face of adversity, but also in moments of joy so that we remember to celebrate overcoming our struggles.