A Gifted People

Church growth is about the Spirit at work through genuine relationships. “Our good news didn’t come to you only in words. It came with power. It came with the Holy Spirit’s help. He gave us complete faith in what we were preaching. You know how we lived among you for your good” (1 Thess 1:5).

You may be the only Bible our neighbors ever read. You know and I know “there is no way to love Christ and not love his church.” But they don’t know that. We want people to love Christ. What Christ are they seeing in you and me? Christians are called to live “a life that needs God’s love to explain itself.” So be winsome to win some.

Any married couple can tell you this lesson learned the hard way: there is no substitute for quality time together. And while quantity does not equal quality, increasing the quantity provides more opportunity for the quality. But hearts on fire for Christ, solely focused on the one their hearts adore, long for this. With glad and generous hearts, the church loves and serves.

What is giving all about?Hear the true story of a giving people. Giving is part of who we are, since we are children of the Father of every good and perfect gift. Giving is part of the fabric of our lives because we are clothed with Christ the Giver. Giving flows from the depths of our souls, for we are indwelled by the Spirit who is the Giver of Life.

Creating unity has often failed us (Gen 11). Maintaining unity is what will heal us (Eph 4). By the Spirit, we have “all things in common” (Acts 2:44). The only question is this: what will we do with it (John 17)?

The God who created us, who lives in us…is with us today. He’s here in this place. And as we sing, the God who sings listens to our praise. Our praise joins with the praise of all the ages, and all the angels. Sense the awe!

Prayer is pervasive in the New Testament. Just as Jesus prays at all the major events of his life, even so the followers of Jesus pray at all the significant turning points in the book of Acts. Just as prayer was habitual and routine in the life of Jesus, the early Christians devoted themselves to prayer.

Isn’t it funny how a meal can nourish and sustain you—literally give you life—and we hardly even notice? What if we paid attention to what was happening inside? What if we noticed who else is being given life by this meal?

We share faith. Because we share Christ. And the most visible place where that is put on display is in the church assembly. It’s what the word means.

I’d like to know what exactly they devoted themselves to. It must have been powerful (Acts 5:28). It must have been interesting. It must have been centered and focused (Acts 13:12).

What the New Testament calls for is intimate connection through deep commitment within a covenant community. One that blesses those inside, blesses those on the outside, puts the world on notice and causes the world to take notice. A people who inspire because they have been inspired.

If you are still standing against the fence, fingers clutching the metal rings, hoping against hope that today just maybe you might get picked, I’m here to tell you – you have been added. You’re on the team. You’re on the roll. You’ve been picked. The “less thans.” The “missing outs.” Welcome to the assembly of the wanted. The added. That includes you.