Our study of Acts of the Apostles has been a study of a church intent on living out Christ’s call to be His witnesses. As we’ve learned what this meant for Peter, John, Stephen, Philip and others, my prayer has been that we will be encouraged as a church and as individuals in living out our witness.
As a church, we describe our task of witnessing in terms of our mission statement: Leading people into growing relationships with Jesus Christ, His Followers, and His world. The incredible love and grace of God leads us to lead others to experience the blessing of these relationships, with God (UP), with other followers of Christ (IN) and with those in the world whom we are called to serve (OUT).
But this call to lives of UP-IN-OUT is not just for us collectively as a body. It is a call to each of us in our lives as followers of Jesus. How has the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit been leading you in these directions?
- Am I growing UP? Am I growing closer to Christ through His Word, Worship, Prayer, and other means? Am I growing more like Christ as His disciple?
- Am I growing IN? Am I growing in my relationship of love and fellowship with other followers of Christ? Does my kindness and compassion evident to all?
- Am I growing OUT? How am I living Christ’s call to serve those outside of His church? To humbly give of myself to share His love by word and deed?
May the Holy Spirit lead each of us to grow UP and IN and OUT as we are shaped by His grace more and more into image of Christ.
Pastor Mike
