Did you know that you need your sisters in Christ? There are no lone rangers in the body of Christ. We need one another.

From my book, Closer Than a Sister: How Union with Christ helps Friendships to Flourish (Focus for Women):

"I’ve talked to people who shrug at the idea of commitment to a local body of believers. They think of church as a place you go to hear an inspiring message. They go for a pick-me-up to inspire them for the coming week at work or for a boost of self-help instruction to encourage them at the end of a difficult week. And if they don’t have time to attend church on Sunday morning, they can always listen to a podcast or read a blog post. This kind of half-hearted involvement with the church misses the purpose of the church altogether. They don’t realize their vital need for the Body of Christ.

Because we were created for community and designed to reflect the three-in-one community of our Triune God, we need to be in spiritual community with our church family and share our common life together. We need flesh and blood, face to face, interactions. Online relationships and interactions are no substitute. We simply cannot know others or be known in a virtual world. We also cannot know or be known when we slip into the last row of church ten minutes after it starts and leave right after the benediction. We cannot give or receive true Christian fellowship if we are not actively engaged in sharing a common life with our family in the Lord.

God uses our fellowship with one another to encourage us spiritually. He also uses us in one another’s sanctification as we point out the truth to each other. He uses us to carry one another’s burdens as we help each other in practical ways. He uses our prayers for one another to carry out His will. He uses us to disciple and to teach one another in the Word and the way of faith. We need that community and without it, we are weakened."

Do you know this kind of friendship? Perhaps as you read this, a specific sister in Christ came to mind. With Christmas around the corner, Closer Than a Sister would make a great gift to give to another sister-friend. Perhaps you and your friend could read it together and grow in what it means to be united to Christ and to one another in the church.

With that in mind, I have a giveaway! Two copies of Closer Than a Sister—one for you and one for your sister-friend and a bracelet with the phrase 'sisters in Christ' stamped on the inside. Simply leave a comment below and you will be entered for the drawing. US residents only, please. Giveaway ends December 8 at 7am.