Chicken noodle soup on a cold day gives me comfort. Read Romans 12:3-5. We finally hit a stretch of warmer temperatures, but we have had 32 of 50 days in 2026 below freezing temperatures. Rhonda loves to make soup on cold days. It sits in the crockpot all day, and when we walk in the house from work, the smell of the soup greets us. The warmth of the soup comforts us. When we think of reaching young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, we often brainstorm ideas like using social media or appealing to their cultural norms. Although those things can be effective, one thing we know that really works is to simply provide a warm and loving community. We want to create a safe place for young people to find faith, ask questions about faith, and grow in faith. Today’s young people live in a loud and fast-paced world. We can offer a space to slow down, breathe, and reflect. We can be the "warm soup in a cold world" that feeds their soul. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he uses the word “belong” when describing the people of a church. We belong to each other. We have gifts that are important that can be used to encourage one another. In Paul’s ideal church, each member is welcomed, loved, and important.

Lord God, thank you for a warm faith-based community. Thank you that I am a valued part of my church. Help us to communicate to each person that they are loved, important, and that we belong to you and each other. Amen.