Make a Difference in 2016!

As 2016 prepares to absorb us in, I find myself sitting here contemplating what this New Year holds for the church. Above my desk, I have this saying penciled on a Sticky-Note:  “Don’t get so wrapped up in the church you can’t be the Church!” Every time I sit down at my desk that reminder is staring me in the face. It reminds me that GOD has a mission for His Church which stretches out so much further than we, in the church,  recognize. We have “played church” so long, we don’t even recognize her true mission any longer. We have spent so much time being “inward-focused”, we have lost sight of the outside world we have been called to reach.

Earlier today, I ran across this saying: “I want to be a part of a church that lives out the Gospel of Christ everyday, not just talks about it one day a week.” My heart and life was challenged to make that my motto for 2016. As a pastor and a preacher of the Word, I intend to make that my “call to action” in 2016.

As I search the Word, I find Jesus commanding His Church  to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Or His words found in Acts 1:8: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Interesting to me is the fact that we the church are commanded to do this but most don’t. It is not a suggestion. It is not based upon our times of availablility. It is a command for all of us to go and to witness continually. One big problem we have in the church today is that the church is failing to make opportunity for their people to fulfill their ministry duties.

I am not talking about a once a year trip to hand out gifts at the homeless shelter or the nursing home. I am not talking about giving in the Salvation Army red kettle. These are certainly worthy causes but the Scripture speaks of so much more. I am talking about a way of life that is constant. Church leaders, I encourage you to incorporate programs and ministries into your church fabric that give your people places to minister and serve according to their giftings.

Instead of planning a trip to go skiing in the mountains, plan a mission’s trip to Mexico, Central America or elsewhere. Instead of finding a group of kids to give Christmas gifts to once a year, start a constant outreach ministry in an area of town that is in need. Instead of taking your people on a sight-seeing pleasure trip, take them to a place where they can fulfill the command of Jesus. Give your people an opportunity to get involved in the ministry workings of the church.

2016 is upon us. What plans has your church made to make 2016 a year of impact? The doors for ministry are open all around us. We need to step through in the power of the Holy Ghost and make a difference. Make this your motto, Church: “I want to be a part of a church that lives out the Gospel of Christ everyday, not just talks about it one day a week.”