A couple of years ago we put up a map of greater Adelaide on the wall of the church and got everyone to put a red dot on the map where they spent most of their time during the week. This highlighted the “reach” and “footprint” of PBC between our weekly Sunday gatherings – and the spread was huge. We also did a map of the world and looked at all the places PBC has people serving! Many of us don’t live near the church but it was encouraging to see how much of Adelaide (and the globe) had someone from PBC in it most days. So although we are limited a bit in “local mission” we have this massive opportunity to be missional every week across our city and beyond. Starting more “programs” may not be the most effective thing we can do. Rather if each of us were open to God using us and actively praying for him to use us in the places we spend most of our time, I believe that would be extremely missional and dynamic. If Sunday is a time where we get “fed” or “grown” in our faith, then that surely should overflow and be worked out in the places we find ourselves each day.
“If Sunday is a time where we get ‘fed’ or ‘grown’ in our faith, then that surely should overflow and be worked out in the places we find ourselves each day.”
This doesn’t and shouldn’t be hard work! Rather it should be a natural thing where everything we do and all the relationships we have are a place and opportunity for God to be at work. Even in the most mundane and boring tasks of life. Our lives, our choices, and the way we go about our tasks should stand out in a culture that is often self-consumed and materialistic. We only have one life to live and our church mission statement exhorts us to live that life wholeheartedly for Jesus. That does not mean we have to be cheery and happy little Christians who never have problems. But even the way we deal with suffering and hardship can be an amazing testimony to those around us of Gods amazing grace and love. Our dependence on God to get us through can speak volumes.
I believe if we start the day offering a short prayer of availability to God and genuinely mean it, then he will take that and open up conversations with people in the most unexpected places. I think the Holy Spirit wants to partner with us where we are every day and all he needs is an invitation from us to say we are ready and willing to be used. So where is your “dot” and how can God be at work in and through PBC Monday to Saturday? Because the “dots” matter!
Grace and Peace – Garry
