We’ve been building a foundation – which is critically important but it then must move into application – living out our faith in real life – in our everyday lives. We talk about being on mission – when we hear that what do we most often think? We might think giving to an offering or going on a mission trip… natural response. But what if we realize that was only a small part of it? What if all of us really took seriously our call to consider our own backyard, neighborhood, a mission field just like our missionaries do who go overseas or to other parts of our nation? What if we lived like that? That’s missional living – seeing and understanding our call to live missionally – live like a missionary every day of our lives with the people who the Lord has placed around us!
Our call is to help people understand that they are broken, that our world is broken and what they can do with that brokenness. We have tremendous opportunities when others share their brokenness with us or when we choose to get involved in the brokenness of other people’s lives. We have the chance to speak the truth and good news of the Gospel into their lives. This isn’t always easy, though just sharing the Gospel should be normal and natural for us. I really believe the Lord is calling us to get involved in the brokenness of people’s lives so that we can share the great news of the Gospel.
People who thought their life was over, dreams were shattered, the darkest of nights they had ever experienced that didn’t seem to have an end, disillusioned, wondering where Jesus was now and His plan? They were tired, weary, afraid, they had really lost all hope. Can I go on? Can you relate today? Have you been there before? We will all have these kind of days, weeks, or even years sometimes. The real question then comes: How do we get to other side? How can we see Life Begin Again?
Paul wasn’t one of those people who just talked about sharing Christ with those who were lost, he actually did it! We can see the heart that Paul had and we see these things displayed in his life.
The first place we start is the reminder that it was Christ who started the Church, He died for the Church and set the Church on it’s course of world redemption. And Anything that Christ starts works, and will continue to work. I believe that the church still has the power of God flowing through it and that God wants to bless the church today!
The first place we start is the reminder that it was Christ who started the Church, He died for the Church and set the Church on it’s course of world redemption. And Anything that Christ starts works, and will continue to work. I believe that the church still has the power of God flowing through it and that God wants to bless the church today!
Church still works today! It is God’s plan for world redemption until Jesus comes back for us His church. Anything that Christ starts works, and will continue to work. There is much skepticism of the church today. Is it relevant? People on the outside are wary of the church. Is it worth my time? Why should I go? There are a bunch of hypocrites, seems like they fight there a lot, they are always wanting my money, is it really necessary?, etc. I believe that the church still has the power of God flowing through it and that God wants to bless the church today! There is no plan B!! This is it, so we must succeed. We have to!!
It first starts with our transformation in every area of our lives. This is the prerequisite and the requirement before we can do anything. Once we allow the Lord to do this transformational work in our lives then the Lord can begin to use us to be a conduit, a vehicle through which He can move in the lives of people so their lives are transformed as well!
Somebody might say “Isn't our church getting big enough?” But we don't grow for our benefit. We grow because everybody needs Jesus, because people need the Lord. See, the wrong question is, “How big should we get?” The right question is, “Should anybody be left behind?” The answer is no! The church that doesn't want to grow and reach out is basically saying to the world, “You can go to hell.” And when you don't ever share your faith, you are saying to the world, “You can go to hell. Beats me. I’m in. Best of luck to you.”
You were made to make a contribution, not just to consume. God made you to make a difference. What matters is not how long you live, but how you live. We’re all meant to give something back. We’re all meant to make a contribution. The Bible says we’re created to serve, we’re saved to serve, we’re gifted to serve, and we’re shaped to serve.
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