Connection Points

A church and its people will either be known as a church that is a part of the community, as a church isolated from the community or as a church that is in opposition to the community. Being a part of the community will open doors for evangelism and church growth. I believe that God wants Christ-followers (A.K.A. “the church”) to be in their community shining our light in the darkness.

God creates “Connection Points” for us to share the gospel to our surrounding community. A connection point can be a city council’s meeting, PTA meeting, and/or Chamber of Commerce meeting for pastors and church’s leadership to see what the needs of the community are to see if the church can meet any of them to show the community that we care.

God can use a Christ-follower’s interests to create connection points. If a person is into working out, God can create a connection point to reach the members of the gym you attend. If you play sports, your team will be a connection point. Your place of work, school, and even your home all can be connection points that God can create opportunities for you to share the good news of the gospel.

God created a “Connection Point” for Paul in Athens on Mars Hill. God used Paul’s knowledge of the Truth and Paul’s knowledge of the current thinking of gods and philosophy to reach the “educated” people of Athens. Not all those present received the truth, but some did. That tells us that we should be willing to be used. God is the One who draws people to Himself.

We can’t reach all people. God can. God uses our interests, abilities, personalities, heart, and our experiences to reach those people He has for us to reach. Be mindful of possible “Connection Points” that God can use to use you to reach the dieing around us.

Thanks for reading, and until next time grow where God has you.

Forming God's Team

According to the book “S.H.A.P.E.: Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose in Life” by Erik Rees, a Christ-follower has a better chance to be used to their fullest by God if he/she knows their “S.H.A.P.E.” I agree with this, and feel each of us needs to discovery how God can use us in our uniqueness. S.H.A.P.E. stands for Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. God, in His greatness, has given each of us gifts to use along with the abilities and experiences that have fine tuned these gifts. Along with the abilities and experiences to use the gifts He’s given, God has also uses our heart and personalities to fulfill His purpose in our lives. All the experiences, good, bad, or indifferent, have added to who you are at this time in your life.

God puts Christ-followers with different S.H.A.P.E.’s together to form a body (or Church) that will fulfill the purpose He has them to complete for His glory. With the idea of Church Planting, God will put people with the skills, experiences, abilities, and knowledge together to establish a body of Christ-followers to go and reach out to the community around them and share the good news of Christ.

God knows what is needed to establish a church in any country, state, city, or community. He knows the types of people that will be needed, and He works everything out to bring these people together in His time. According to the book of Ephesians, God knew us even before He created the universe, and He has already established works for us to accomplish in our lives for His glory. It is He who has formed us with the Heart, the Personalities, and the Abilities we have. He’s the One who has given us the Spiritual gifts we have. And He is the One who has either put us in or allowed us to go through the experiences, good, bad, or indifferent, to make us the people we are and are growing into be.

With this in mind, I pray that God shows me the people whom He wants to join us in the planting of the church in Suffolk. I’m only one person and am in need of help. God knows who I need and the S.H.A.P.E. these people will have to have to join me to establish Level Ground Church. I know that whatever will be, it is He (God) who will do the work. He is the “Hand” and I’m merely the work glove.

Thanks for reading, and until next time grow where God has planted you.