Community Updates from Dr. Bob: 11/1/2023
Transformation within a church community starts with individual transformation. We each need to stand ready in the recognition that God needs to do his transforming work within all of us, first individually and then as a community of Jesus-followers. In that spirit, let’s pray individually this week that God would be at work within and through us. As you are able and willing, follow along with the prayer below:
Dear Lord, I come before you, ready to be changed, holding nothing back. What needs to change in me to be ready for what you want to do through me? Please shape and mold me as a true disciple of Jesus: open, willing, and courageous. Work in my heart as I listen for the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Work in my mind as I see opportunities to live as Jesus lived. Work in my actions as I serve others in ways large and small. Work in my relationships as I seek to encourage others to live into what God is calling them to. Please help me become increasingly transformed into the image of Jesus as I become not just a hearer of the Word, but a doer of the Word.
If you want to follow up with a few concrete steps to take in this direction, consider some of the options below:
- Pray each day this week: “God, give me one person to share your love with today.” Commit at the end of the week to sharing the results with one other follower of Jesus.
- Brainstorm a list of creative ways you could make real connections with people who don’t yet know Jesus (e.g. clubs, hobbies, volunteering). Take a step forward into one of those this week.
- Find one way to serve with humility this week. Do it and don’t tell anyone about it.
Let me close this newsletter by encouraging you with what I am seeing. Clearly, God is up to something. He is working in people’s lives. New people are showing up. We are having some God sightings. I invite you to be a part of what God is doing among us.
