Our need to be right rather than being right in relationships seems to impede our ability to spread the gospel of love and kindness to others.
We Are Witnesses
Over my front doorway, I have a sign that says, “You are now entering the mission field.”
Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses in Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” I’ve seen this verse attributed to missions. Although that is a way to use the Scripture, did you know your community can also be a place to put Acts 1:8 into place? We are not all called into the international mission field. Our communities can be places we can share the gospel message without ever leaving our home or local area. We can be witnesses in our backyards.
Share the Gospel in Your Community
Our communities are great places for us to share the gospel with those hesitant to attend church but who want to know more about who God is in their lives. As Christians, we can be praying for our communities on a regular basis. Although I don’t pray as well as I should, I can impact my community simply by praying for it. By looking at my newspaper, I can see the needs within my region and seek to meet them.
Here are four prayers to pray over your community:
1. A Prayer for Humility
Lord, keep us humble- 2 Chronicles 7: 14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” God promises us he will heal our land if only we will become humble. Pride appears to be one of the biggest issues our world has. Our need to be right rather than being right in relationships seems to impede our ability to spread the gospel of love and kindness to others. When we can listen to others’ points of view without proving the need to be right, we can develop within ourselves the humility it takes to truly heal our land.
I can demonstrate humility in my community by being a volunteer. It is easy for me to talk myself into thinking I don't have enough time to volunteer. But many organizations are only looking for a couple hours a week to keep their non-profit organizations running smoothly. For example, I can pray at a pregnancy crisis center or participate in their 5K to raise money to help pregnant women receive education and resources they need.
2. A Prayer to Imitate Christ
Lord, help us reflect you- 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” It's easy in our society to let pride get the best of us. We can be a walking example of humility, grace, and mercy. Our community, however, seeks to be in competition with rival towns and cities. but it's not good to stoop to a level of competition with other towns but rather seek to elevate and put others above ourselves. God sought to put the needs of his community first. He dedicated his life to driving out demons, healing the sick, and preaching the good news. As we go about our weeks in our jobs and in our homes, let's seek to be the light that God wants us to be in our towns and cities today.
One way I can be an example of God in my community is to invite my church to participate in local community events. Rather than setting up an atmosphere where people need to come to my church, I can be the church and participate in activities that are important to my community. I can donate clothes or purchase clothes from the local community thrift store. I can eat at local restaurants instead of chain restaurants and purchase clothes from small businesses rather than big chain stores. Every time I put my money into a store that is owned by my local community, I'm promoting local businesses in my town and keeping people's dreams alive and the community bustling with people. People want to move to a town that has lots of things to do. By supporting my local community, I am allowing people to find this area desirable and to move here so that I can continue to spread the gospel message.
3. A Prayer for Revival
Lord, let us experience revival- Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Revival starts in our hearts. As we dedicate our time praying and fasting for our community, our hearts change. As my heart changes, I influence others’ hearts to change as well. This spreads to my church and then influences other churches to do the same. When churches change, communities change. If we hope to be able to speak a message of hope and redemption to a dying world, it must first start in our local community.
Encourage your church to be a sending church. As people hear from God, they will be influenced to become pastors and missionaries. God’s message then spreads because of it.
One way to experience revival in my community is to be a light in public. Instead of getting angry at my local grocer or posting a bad review of my hair stylist, I can act with grace and recognize I, like everyone else, am human and make mistakes. In the “cancel culture” in which we live, we are apt to end a relationship simply because someone posts something we disagree with on their social media feed or takes a political position opposite ours. Politics, at one time, used to be a private matter. Keep political leanings separate from religious beliefs. I refrain from posting a particular party on the front lawn. This causes division and polarization rather than unity. I also strive to use my social media only for posts about family or special events or announcements. People in the community are watching and what is said can cause hurt feelings or alienation from others.
4. A Prayer for Unity
Lord, help us achieve unity- Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” We are less in unity than ever before. God promotes unity for wholeness throughout Scripture. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Do not give up the habit of meeting together, as dome are in the habit of doing, and all the more as we see the day approaching.” We are to worship God together to be a driving force of hope and redemption within our community. Do not let the enemy divide, but rather keep us unified. Political parties come and go, but the Word of God stands forever.
One way I can be a conduit for unity in my community is to participate in activities of other churches in my community. For example, if a church is filling shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, we can partner with them rather than make another meeting place at our church. We can partner with other events such as Griefshare and other programs for people struggling with addiction such as Celebrate Recovery. The more I make connections with pastors in my area, the more of a united front we can be to stand up against the evil in the world. I can go to community days and other events where congregation members from other churches are present. Meet them and seek to partner with them, sending church members their way. I can’t allow the fear of congregation members moving to other churches to stop me from spreading the gospel. I must be the change people want to see in the world, and it begins by not living in isolation and instead moving towards unity and oneness.
Another way to do this is to participate in community events like Halloween parades and Christmas tree lighting events. Go to the local community center and figure out what the community is passionate about. Seek to adopt its mission and work to make a difference, not only will it make a difference for the community, but also for the world.
Our community is our Judea. Seek to be where people can understand hope, redemption, and then, through your example, salvation.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/vadimguzhva
