This past Sunday I started a series of messages “Living Life On Purpose”. There are really three parts of the teaching series followed by the On Purpose Tailgate Sunday.
This past Sunday we looked at the teaching of the Bible related to growing on purpose. We grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus. We often call that maturity, discipleship or spiritual growth. It does not happen automatically. As the old book says “disciples are made, not born”. One of our sister churches has this motto: We make disciples that make disciples that change the world. I like that. We seek to grow on purpose, to develop deeper faith and a deeper relationship with our Lord. It is also about growing wider, that is growing numerically. The Great Commission is to go into all the nations/people groups and make disciples. We usually refer to this as evangelism, missions, an outward focus. It is one beggar who has found bread (Jesus the Bread of Life) telling another beggar where to find it. Three ways we can do this. First, pray for God to open our eyes to the harvest around us. We believe God is working, ask that He gives us eyes to see where He is at work that we may join Him. Second, invite someone you know. Please do not underestimate the power of a personal invitation. It is still a very powerful, perhaps the most effective outreach tool that we have. Invite someone you know (family, friend, coworker, your server where you eat, etc). Invite them to your Connection Group party or to the next outing to see the Riverdogs or Stingrays. Let them rub shoulders with people changed by God’s grace. It is powerful. Third, plug into your passion. What has your heart? What do you spend time thinking about, wishing something could be done about? Want to help teach a child to read, help feed the hungry, be a mentor to an teenage mother, help supply basic necessities for orphans, give support to those who have an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy? We are committed to helping you live out your God given passion to make a difference. Last, why not go ahead and get a passport? Maybe you will go on a beautiful cruise…or say a mission trip. We have JIBC connections in the following countries: Asia, Nepal, South Africa, Ukraine, Romania and Guatemala. Don’t see a place you like? Let us know. Our International Mission Board probably has someone serving where you would like to go.
It is not either/or, missions or maturity, discipleship or outreach. It is both/and. Let’s go get them. We can do this together, on purpose.
See you Sunday, Pastor Tom
