Sunday Morning Hustle | Northpoint Church

This week, Pastor John hands over the TAGD keyboard to Marti Wiegman, Northpoint’s Director of Women’s Ministries.

Sunday Morning Hustle

On Monday morning, two of our staff members here at Northpoint, Andria Brucks and Amber McEwen, challenged each other to a Fitbit “Workweek Hustle”—a competition to see who can get the most steps in from Monday through Friday.

By the end of the workday on Monday, Amber was 5,000 steps ahead of Andria. But she didn’t stop there. After work, she went for a walk and built up her lead to 9,000 steps by the time she got home. Feeling great, she sat down for dinner and put her feet up to watch a show. An hour later, she glanced at her Fitbit and was shocked to discover Andria had crept ahead of her! So Amber started pacing in her living room. Seeing Amber’s count climbing again, Andria in her home several blocks away, began dancing while she was doing the dishes. That’s when Amber decided to go for another walk. Not to be outdone, Andria did the same. By 10:30 p.m., the dueling steppers decided to call it quits—Amber falling into bed and Andria into her hot tub. Both ended with over 21,000 steps for the day!

Amber insists I mention that she was slightly ahead when all was said and done Monday night. Of course, she’ll be a little less excited about me sharing that she could hardly get out of bed the next day. Come to think of it, Andria was moving pretty slowly on her treks past my office on the way to the photocopier on Tuesday. We’ll have to see who the ultimate victor is on Friday.

Which brings me to this question: What is it about doing things together that makes us better than we can ever be alone? We push harder, dig deeper, last longer, and laugh more when someone is running beside us.

This is just a glimpse of a far more vital spiritual reality. Throughout the New Testament, we encounter teachings about how we are called to live the Christian life in community together. Here are just a few of my favorites:

Hebrews 10:23-25—Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Ephesians 4:15-16—Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Philippians 2:4—Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

John 13:34-35—A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

I am so very thankful for this church family here at Northpoint, which has been a spiritual home for my husband, Tom, and me for over 20 years now. A lot has happened in our lives during these years. Like many of you, we have no earthly family nearby—the nearest are in Texas. But we have never been alone because of our family in Christ. Here we have always found a circle of friends to share the joys as well as the tears and fears. I’m grateful for every prayer lifted on my behalf, every hug at just the right moment, and every verse texted that so perfectly matched the need of my heart. And Tom is especially grateful for some friends here who include him in trips to the Cowboys training camp each summer. How sweetly our God blesses us in each other.

I sincerely long for every person in our church family to experience this depth of fellowship and love. And I pray for those still aching to make those connections. To be honest, it doesn’t just happen and it’s not always easy. It takes time, commitment, and effort. These relationships Tom and I so cherish weren’t formed sitting in Sunday morning worship services. They came through a variety of small group ministries we have been a part of as, well as opportunities we have had to serve.

Here’s the great news! This is the perfect opportunity to begin forming these relationships here at Northpoint. Our Get Connected ministry fair begins this Sunday—a time set aside to encourage and stimulate biblical community throughout our church family. Every Sunday for the next three weeks, we will have information tables set up on the Heritage Hall Patio to provide you with the information you need to find a place to belong and to serve here at Northpoint. With the ministry year just about to begin, this is the perfect time to join in.

So here is my “Sunday Morning Hustle” challenge for you: this Sunday, don’t hustle out the door and off to your favorite restaurant. Instead, take some time to hang out with us, learn about the opportunities available, and consider how you can deepen your involvement at Northpoint and grow in your walk with Christ.

Living for Him together,

Marti