Greetings
Pastors and Church Leaders,
As you know,
there is so much going on in our world and culture that needs our prayers today
and every day. I encourage you to
continue to lift up the things that disturb us to the Lord, knowing that He
will prove faithful in the end.
The reason I am
writing this today is that I believe God has been speaking to me and has asked
me to share what He has laid on my heart and mind with you. So here goes…
One thing
that God continues to ask of me is, “What are you doing to minister to those in
and around our community?” And within this larger question comes smaller but
just as important questions such as…
- How many people have I personally led to the Lord in the past year?
- How many people outside of our walls have I shared the gospel with in the past year?
- How many people outside of our walls have I served in Christ name in the past year?
- What am I doing each and every day that models Christ to the people in and around our community?
I believe there are three things that stand out as the heart of what our mission should be: 1. Love God 2. Love Others 3. Go and spread the gospel (good news).
I have no doubt that people have heard in the past several weeks at FBC Tullahoma (my church home) that they need to live on mission. But the questions come, “Are we as pastors/leaders leading those under our care and influence by example?” And… “What tools/service projects/ministry opportunities are we giving them to practice living on mission in their own cities and/or towns?”
Bottom line: We can tell a person what needs to be done; however, if they don’t see us doing it they will likely not jump on board with doing it. No one likes the boss who tells the workers what to do but isn’t willing to get their own hands dirty.
Let me just say that all of the above is based on what God is asking of me right now and I am afraid my response isn’t what it should be. I know I need to change this and am determined to do so. If we really want to see change in our culture, revival in our cities and towns, we have no choice but to set the example by being doers of the Word and not just teachers and/or planners primarily focused on those within our church walls.
BTW… If you get a chance, I would strongly encourage you to look through the pages of this month’s Outreach Magazine which deals with many of the same things I am sharing here.
Let me conclude with some scriptures…
Jeremiah 29:5-7 - “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.
Mathew 9:35-38-35 - Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Isaiah 6:8-9 - Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” And He said, “Yes, go!”
Thank you for your time, be blessed and be a blessing!
Christian Watts
http://fbctullahoma.org
http://christianwatts.org
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