Category Archives: Faith In Action
Small Groups on Mission Together
Love what one Northshore church is doing to get their small groups On Mission For Others. FBC Mandeville is having each of their Life Groups choose a “NEAR Mission Project” to engage in together. They’ve started a blog to communicate local opportunities for mission. Check it out: http://fbcmandeville.blogspot.com/.
New Testament Discipleship included Relationships built around the Word of God AND the Mission of God (See my related post on Relationships + Mission and the New Old Way of Movement Making).
Imagine the possibilities for your Small Groups or Sunday School classes…
Home for the Holidays: Maddie & Grady Jenkins
Maddie & Grady Jenkins lived in their Madisonville home for 50 of their 58 married years. Isaac’s surge sent over two feet of water into the house 
and they’ve been displaced since that time. Several of our churches have been working on this project with the goal of getting them back in by Christmas. Here’s a list of things still to be done in case you, your church, or your personal network could help with this project over the next few weeks:
- Painting! Next week we’ll be ready for paint. The house will be open all week if anyone would like to volunteer some time.
- Floors! We are in need of someone to sand & refinish the floors. Anyone know how, enjoy, know someone, etc.?
- Trim & Doors! The trim will need to be painted white then installed. It will be ready to paint next week.
- Furniture still needed: Refrigerator. 36×68 inch.
We have at least three more elderly homeowners in Madisonville still to be done. Let me know if you’re up for a spring mission trip to SE Louisiana to help with one of these projects.
Are You Producing Thanksgiving?
Generosity and on mission living comes with a promise: It will “produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11 ESV). Or as another translation says, “Then many people will thank God…” (2 Corinthians 9:11 CEV), as a response to the generous, on mission Christian. So, who is giving thanks today, because of you and your investment in God’s kingdom that has impacted them? Has your life of obedience to God produced thanksgiving in others? Is the community giving thanks for your church because of the on mission members scattering for their good?
A goal for next Thanksgiving: Produce Thanksgiving to God in others by following Jesus into an ON Mission life lived FOR Others.
#FaithinAction Sunday Recap:
“not to be served, but to serve” Matthew 20:28 (NLT)
Our Faith in Action Sunday was wet, but we were able to serve several residents in the Madisonville area. Big thanks to those who were able to make it out for Bridge Church’s last official FIA of 2012. We were able to move two homeowners that suffered flooding from Isaac forward in their recovery. We also took care of a couple of remaining downed trees. And delivered “We Care” baskets & baked goods to 10 or so residents. We even had some visitors show up at 10:30am for our Worship Gathering & they jumped in & served as well. We also had an East St. Tammany congregation who are exploring starting their own Faith in Action Sunday join us for the experience.
I love Faith in Action Sunday b/c…
- it’s unscripted, like our lives & the lives of those we serve. Flexibility is required & makes stretching our faith & relying upon the power of Another possible.
- it reminds me of how many needs there are in my community. I drive by them everyday, seldom thinking about what’s on the other side of the fence or door.
- it reminds me that I can make a big difference. Things that are simple for me (changing a lock, fixing a shower head, cutting up a downed limb, believing that someone cares about my needs) are HUGE issues for someone else.
- it makes way for “along the way” relationships & discipleship. Serving & sharing with someone builds deeper relationships connections than just sitting beside them in a service.
- Playing w/power tools is just one of the cool things about Faith in Action Sunday.
- it adds something rich to the story of our lives. Jackson, our 10 year old, was telling the story at the bus stop this morning.
We fall short if putting our Faith in Action is just a date on the calendar. Jesus said he came “not to be served, but to serve” Matthew 20:28 (NLT). That’s the way of life for a true follower of Christ. So let’s keep looking for opportunities & courageously doing our part to follow Christ.
More info about Faith in Action Sunday here, including recap videos from previous FIA’s & answers to the question “why?”
Wisdom Applied leads to #FaithinAction
The New Testament book of James teaches us that applying wisdom means:
- That we should live, not just learn the Bible [James 1:22]
- That pure religion cares for the orphan and widow [James 1:27]
- That loving our neighbor is the “royal law” [James 2:8]
- That mercy triumphs over judgement [James 2:13]
- That faith without deeds is worthless [James 2:16, 20]
- That knowledge should result in humble deeds [James 3:13]
- That wisdom from heaven is full of mercy [James 3:15-17]
- That failing to do “good” is sin [James 4:17}]
- That in our neglect we become oppressors [James 5:1-6]
(list found in the Barefoot Church Primer by Brandon Hatmaker)
“It may be simpler to live as if our actions and words function independently of each other, but one thing’s for certain – our observers never separate the two” ~ The Barefoot Church Primer
ON Mission Christian Should be a REDUNDANCY
Something is REDUNDANT when part of a phrase can be left off without loss of meaning.
Here’s a few examples:
- Basic fundamentals
- Armed Gunman
- Unexpected surprise
- Working Mother
- On a can of bug spray I once read, “Kills Bugs Dead”
Some redundancies from famous folks:
- “sometimes you can observe a lot just by watching” ~ Yogi Berra
- “Smoking can kill you, and if you’ve been killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life.” ~ Brooke Shields
- “If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure” ~ Vice President Dan Quayle
The Apostle Paul would add “On Mission Christian” to the Redundant list as well.
If our identity is In Christ, On Mission will follow. But here’s the question: Why don’t we see more Christians on Mission? Why is it so hard for us to pursue the mission of God? Why do I settle for going to church, when God’s calls us to go into the world on mission?
Here’s a few possible reasons that I’ve felt:
- We don’t think it’s our responsibility. Somebody Else will take care of that. Or we hire pastors to do those things.
- We don’t see the opportunities. We drive by the needs of the world so often that they become too familiar and we just accept them.
- We don’t think we can. It’s just too hard. I don’t have the gifts. I don’t know how.
Here’s the truth: It is hard. And the Bible never promises that it will be easy.
In Colossians 1, the Apostle Paul talks about his life as a follower of Christ and he spells out some of the reasons many opt out:
1. We’re called to suffer for the sake of others. http://bible.us/col1.24.esv. To not consider self first – “deny self, take up your cross, follow me” Luke 9:23. Paul says life In Christ, On Mission is “labor, striving…struggle” v. 29, 2:1. These word mean to work to the point of exhaustion, to agonize, strenuous effort. These are athletic terms used to describe a runner in a race. It’s not easy to give yourself for others. There must be a willingness to suffer and give and sacrifice.
2. We’re called to Make Mystery Known. http://bible.us/col1.25-27.esv. Yes the Gospel is so simple to understand that a four year old can receive it, but to effectively share it with others we have to work to communicate it in their language and through their cultural baggage. And we have to have the patience and willingness to answer difficult questions and silly arguments and to explain how God works through difficulty and pain. These are not easy 1-2-3 conversations to have. But it’s part of being On Mission. I’m afraid the majority of Christians have given up and given in to the excuse, “I don’t know what to say.” The stats back that up. A recent Lifeway study found that most Christians believe that sharing faith is important but they themselves don’t do it.
It’s hard. But we seem to find a way to negotiate our vacation packages, new car deals, and home mortgage rate reductions. It’s not that we’re incapable of understanding hard things. It’s a matter of willingness and responsibility.
3. We’re called to help EVERY man – http://bible.us/col1.28.esv. Paul had the audacious goal of presenting EVERY person complete in Christ when this life is over. How quickly have I given up on people and shrugged with, “you can’t reach everyone” or “some people will never change.” This EVERY man mission would require a radical reorientation of our lives. It’s an all-consuming mission to suffer for and make mystery known to EVERY person. We can’t do it alone. We can’t do it in our own strength. But it’s what the On Mission Christian aims for.
And the good news is, we don’t have to do it alone. Paul says it’s his strength that powers this mission. “For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” http://bible.us/col1.29.esv.
I often ask God for strength. For safety, for provision, for help when I screw things up. He wants us to bring all our needs to Him. But how often do we ask God for strength for the EVERY man mission of suffering for others & making mystery known. His strength is promised for mission, not for the comfort of casual Christianity. So what does your prayers say about your identity.
If you’re identity is in Christ, On Mission living should follow.
This month, Bridge Church is studying through the New Testament Book of Colossians. Join us Sunday’s, 10:30am at the West St. Tammany YMCA. Or find the messages at bridgenorthshore.com or on Itunes.
Being Present in Crisis
The most deformative experiences in life often turn out to be the most formative. In times of crisis, we can help people see this as we are present with them.
What can I do? 
- Be a NAP. Non-Anxious Presence. Be there in some way. Make that call. Send that note. Share that picture. Help move that debris. Listen to that story. Ask, “How can I help?” “What do you need right now?” “How can I pray for you?”
- Go. If you are able, go. “I’m not sure if I should.” A little saying that I heard years ago that has never let me down: “If you don’t whether to go or stay, Go. If you don’t know whether to go now or later, go now.” I’m always glad when I’ve applied this.
- Be present. Aloneness and Isolation are among the most painful emotional & spiritual experiences. Yesterday, we made assessments of property damage in one of our hardest hit areas, and we found broken people that feel alone. And when you’re alone, small issues get bigger & bigger & can overwhelm the heart. Do what you can to be present.
Today, we’ll be working on removing trees from homes of some elderly residents, purchasing grocery store gift cards for people who are returning home to spoiled refrigerators, & doing what we can to be present for those hurting in our community.
You can give to the Hurricane Relief Efforts of Bridge Church here.
Blessing Local Schools #faithinaction
We often hear laments about churches not being able to “get into the schools”. Most of the time, we’re trying to get in on our terms
instead of thinking of ways to be a blessing (see Matthew 5:16, Philippians 2:3-4). We found one way that is enthusiastically accepted 100% of the time at our local schools: stuffing gift baskets full of goodies for teacher’s lounges at the beginning of the school year, holidays, & end of school. This year as part of our Faith in Action weekend, we focused on snacks, healthy & not so healthy. We’ve also done baked goods & office supplies. And always with a note of encouragement.
Praying for our local schools!
What are other ways that you or your church have been a blessing to your local schools?
What if every teachers lounge was filled with encouragement from local churches all year long?
Reading: Easy #OnMission Opp
“The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure.” ~ US Justice Dept
Over 70% of inmates in America cannot read above a fourth grade level.
Want to be On Mission? Get involved in a tutoring/reading program at the local school, Community Center, or start one at your church.
Our Association is working with STAIR (Start the Adventure In Reading) which targets 2nd graders in at-risk communities. Hoping to open several sites this fall. Message me to get involved.
Could one hour a week of our time save a life?
Lane Corley 