Tuesday November 15, 2022

Today is Tuesday, November 15 and we are exploring what the Bible says about our church’s mission statement.

Making Disciples of Jesus Christ who love God, love others, and serve the world.

I am here to pray. I still my body, quiet my mind and slow my breathing. As I inhale, I breathe in God’s love, joy and peace. As I exhale, I breathe out negativity, worry or fear.

Pause and Pray

Holy and Loving God, I draw near to Your presence this morning and listen for Your voice speaking into my life. Open the ears of my soul and the eyes of my heart so I may gain understanding of Your perfect will for me. Amen.

I seek God’s sustaining presence and praise Him with the words of Psalm 92.

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, ‘The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.’ Psalm 92:12-15

Pause and Pray

This week I take a brief respite from my journey through The Sermon on the Mount to consider the timeless mission of the church. I am to make disciples for Jesus Christ – inviting people to follow Him. Inherent in the work of making disciples is the work of maturing disciples. Once I have decided to follow Jesus, I undertake a lifelong journey of growth in the Christian faith. I study, learn, grow, practice, strengthen and progress through the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit at work within me. This activity of maturity happens in the body of believers – the church. The community cares for me, teaches me, prays for me, encourages me and provides me opportunities to care for, teach, pray for and encourage others. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul encourages the early church to grow in unity and maturity as the body of Christ.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:11-15

Jesus Christ is the head of His body the church. The church belongs to Jesus and it is He who appoints pastors, teachers, leaders and workers in His holy church. Jesus does this for an important reason and specific purpose to build up His church. He wants His followers to reach unity in the faith, grow in knowledge of His truth, become mature believers and seek to become more like Him. Jesus does not desire for me to remain an infant in the faith, immature and unable to discern false teaching. Jesus does not desire for me to be tossed about by false doctrines and deceitful leaders. I am to mature in His truth found in His church and I am to share that truth with others.

Ask: How has my church helped me grow and mature in the faith? How am I working to help others find maturity in the Christian walk?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord Jesus, You are the one who builds up Your body the church and You invite me to participate in this effort. Help me understand the role You have for me in my church and the gifts and skills You have given me to share. Teach me the soundness of Your truth and inspire me to confidently share with others, building up the body of my church so that all may grow in unity and maturity together and bring You glory. I read Ephesians again, listening for the message You have for me today.

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. Ephesians 4:11-15

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

Jesus is revealing new truths to me today about my maturity in the faith and the next steps on my spiritual journey. I endeavor to listen to His wisdom. Whatever thoughts or ideas this passage inspires within me today, I will carry it with me and seek to grow in understanding of Christ’s desire and will for me.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, Come and reveal Your truth to my heart and mind. Remind me of my own journey of spiritual growth from a babe in the faith to the stature I can now claim. Reveal the people in my church who You want me to pour into and mentor to grow in maturity. Show me the next steps I need to take in my own life of faith. Amen.

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29

I leave this time of prayer relying on the Holy Spirit to lead my growth in Christian maturity. I seek to pour myself into the lives of others to help them grow strong in Christ.

Amen