Christian Commentary Encouraging Devotions

The community where we live is not a place where we look for prospects to help our church.

It's not just a population pool from which growth in attendance and budget can come.

It's a place where we, as Christians, are called to serve and minister.

We don’t ask what the community can do for the church;

we ask what we can do for the community.

Our church needs to be so consistent with caring for and loving our community

that leaders from the community turn to us when they have a need.

We don’t have to have a formal outreach program,

because we are already in the community

and because the community comes to us...

if we're consistently loving them and serving them.

As Christians we are on a mission in the community.

The community is not just a place where the church is located;

it is a place where Christians are sent to demonstrate the love of Christ.

We do not go to work, to the shopping center, or to the schools

merely to carry out transactions.

We are missionaries wherever we are in the community.

When we are in the community,

we try to see the people we encounter through the eyes of Christ.

It makes all the difference in the world.

(Re-worked from an unnamed source.)

This is what I'm talking about.

Making it happen.

Living radically for Christ in a hurting world.

What'll they think?

Who?

My "friends".

Sound like a fear here.

Fear of losing "friends".

Fear of what they'll think.

Bible calls it fear of man.

Better to fear God.

And... be about His business.

Fear cripples, thwarts, paralyzes.

Lord, do Your work in us.

May we trust You more and fear less.

Perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4:18

Drives it out.

Don't believe the lies of the enemy. Galatians 5:1

Get on with it.