faithfulness is not a permanent state of enthusiasm

This past Sunday, Maddie continued our sermon series on Cultivating Fruits of the Spirit, by preaching about Faithfulness.

Together we looked at the Book of Judges, which is about a time in the history of God's people when God felt far away, and when the people and idea of the Promised Land no longer felt enchanting. We examined what it means to stay faithful to God, to people, and to communities when the feeling of enchantment has worn off — and how that feeling of enchantment can often be misleading.

This week, we're offering three resources to build on what we talked about.

1. A Bible Project Breakdown of the Book of Judges
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If this Sunday's sermon got you curious about the Book of Judges, check out this video from The Bible Project that goes into more depth about the context for that book and the stories in it. 

Judges tells us about a time after the Israelites reached the Promised Land when there was no king in Israel and everyone did what they wanted. The Israelites would periodically turn away from God and engage in behaviors that made it more difficult for them to experience God's love -- which then made it hard for them to love one another. God would periodically send flawed people, "Judges," to deliver the Israelites from their suffering, but inevitably the cycle would repeat itself.

As you take a closer look at this book, consider the ways in which it speaks to your own life and also to our current moment. Where is God in this book and where are we? What can we learn from it as we endeavor to stay faithful, even when it's hard?

2. "Love is Not a Permanent State of Enthusiasm" by Esther Perel

Couple's therapist Esther Perel is famous for saying that "Love is not a permanent state of enthusiasm." She counsels couples on how to work through periods when the state of enchantment has worn off. In this lecture, she lays out her ideas about how to do this. She talks about how emotional commitment is a daily practice, how love can be a mirror for self-awareness, and how we can move from focusing on enthusiasm to emotional depth. 

As you give it a listen, consider what her insights might have to tell us about how we relate to each other as friends and community members, and also how we might relate to God. How might de-centering enthusiasm or enchantment help us to remain faithful in hard times?

3. Interview about Building Community with Casper ter Kuile

Sam Pressler is a researcher at Harvard who is focused on the breakdown of community in America and its implications for our shared life. In this post he interviews community entrepreneur Casper ter Kuile.

Casper ter Kuile reflects on his journey from studying the decline of traditional religion to exploring how spirituality is transforming through secular spaces, rituals, and new forms of community. He emphasizes the importance of hospitality and belonging, drawing from personal experiences and mentors who taught him the depth of theology and tradition. His current work, including the Joyful Belonging newsletter, focuses on cultivating joy, play, and hospitality as core practices of community life. Rituals — whether inherited, reimagined, or newly created — are central to how he sees people connecting, belonging, and activating collective meaning. Ultimately, he envisions a future where covenantal relationships and spiritual innovation sustain communities beyond institutional decline, grounded in love and joyful belonging. 

As you read through this interview, consider the beliefs that you hold about community. What is the importance of community to you? Why do you believe that community is important? How do you live out those beliefs and how do you think that you could live them out better?