How to Go in Christ's Name
Theme of the Week: Serving with a Passion
Robert Lewis
Saturday, March 20, 2004
 1 of 1
Q. You urge enlarging the church's concept of ministry. What do you mean?
A. The tidy definitions of ministry in an isolated and cramped church—teaching Sunday school, ushering, or serving on a board or committee—become inadequate in light of the cross planted in a real world of dire need. Explode those comfortable borders, and the limits for the work of the church are practically endless.
Anything done in the name of Christ, in the name of love, is ministry. Anything! Nowhere does the Bible "qualify" good works, and neither should we. Instead, we should celebrate the infinite ways people can "go in Christ's name." Let members' passion for public schools, politics, sports, the elderly, city development, and moral issues be potential areas of ministry. We must bless, affirm, and be willing to release our people into areas of personal ministry that may not directly benefit the church.
Give us an example.
Our church "adopted" an inner-city housing project called Eastgate. Over the last 12 years, hundreds of our youth and adults have taught reading-readiness programs, served as mentors, formed friendship clubs, led Bible studies, and coached sports teams. Through this highly organized program, STEP (Serving To Equip People), scores of inner-city youth have found a new life in Jesus Christ. But as life-changing and hope-inspiring as STEP has been for these young people, this kind of exposure has made an even greater impact on our own church body.
Robert Lewis is pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Adapted from The Church of Irresistible Influence (Zondervan, 2001) by permission.
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
1 of 1
 share this page
Thank you, Lord, for creating me to play a unique role in your Kingdom. Guide me to fruitful service in that role.
Men of Integrity
Connect with God | Transform my Mind | Live by His Power
Relate Better | Make an Impact
Home | Archives | Contact Us
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!
|
 |
|
No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.
If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.
Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
RSS Feed
