LifeLink Devotions for Monday, June 24, 2024

In our last devotional we asked some questions that dug deep into our attitudes about church. You may have discovered some things that may be hindering the natural growth of your church that is being facilitated by the Holy Spirit.

Today let’s discover some things we can do to have a better attitude about what Jesus meant when He said that He would build His church. Here’s one major attitude adjustment that may be needed: the church does not exist to meet your individual needs: the church exists to glorify God by the sharing of the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost world so that the Kingdom of God grows. That means every church is designed by the Head of the church to grow. But that means we must change some attitudes so they match the following criteria.

1.      You may not be personally acquainted with everyone who attends.  That’s why we encourage small groups where people can do life together and provide the intimacy we all desire.

2.      You may be crowded in your building for a while, but remember the parable of the mustard seed. Jesus intends for more birds to show up.

3.      You may have to develop new ministries and use a variety of methods to reach the most number of people. Here’s what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.  For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

4.      We must accept all newcomers who sincerely seek to follow Jesus, and no one will be considered an outsider.

5.      We will be blessed with new workers. Those who already lead ministries will be able to train up new leaders, and those who are currently not serving in any ministry will be motivated by the Spirit of God to begin serving. 

Friends, let’s make sure that we are not the ingrown toenails of our church. Let’s ask God to give us the Spirit of Christ to reach out and serve rather than to be served.

Pastor John