What feelings come to mind as you think about sharing the good news of Jesus and being involved in God’s mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ?

As part of the Thy Kingdom Come initiative, at Grace Church we spent some time reflecting on the different feelings we might have that make us apprehensive or generally negative about speaking or pointing to Jesus Christ – and how we might prayerfully counter those feelings with God’s word…

Feeling like you’re on your own?

Jesus: ”The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field” (Matthew 9:37–38).

Feeling like it’s just not politically correct?

Jesus: ”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20).

Feeling like people are too bruised for religion?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Feeling apathetic?

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36)

Feeling afraid of what others will think?

“Do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honuor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:12–13)

Feeling inadequate for the task?

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say” (Luke 12:11-12).

Feeling too weak?

“And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:1–2).

Feeling like Jesus is nothing to be proud of?

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16).

Feel like it’s someone else’s job?

“How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (Romans 10)

Feel like Christianity is insignificant?

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20). 

Feeling like nothing seems to make a difference?

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:6–9, NIV).

Feeling unsure what steps to take next?

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:2–6).

Feeling opposed or isolated?

So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time (2 Timothy 1:8-9).

Feeling you’ve got nothing to say?

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).

…

What other feelings would you include and what Bible verses would you point someone to in response?

Seven up…

1) The Word Speaks Again and Again – A really encouraging little anecdote about the power of God’s word.

2) The Scruton tapes: an anatomy of a modern hit job – Following on from the news about rugby player Israel Folau last week, here’s another example of the intolerance of tolerance and our culture’s worrying rush to feel offended.

3) Sri Lankan Sunday School Was ‘Willing to Die for Christ’ on Easter. Half Did. – We’ve all seen the news reports after last Sunday’s devastating bombings in Sri Lanka. As Christians around the world were celebrating Christ’s resurrection and its personal significance, for Christians in Sri Lanka that personal significance was all too real. This is a helpful report from Christianity Today.

4) How our capacity for wonder was challenged by the black hole image – Perceptive cultural reflection on the way we responded to the US National Science Foundation announcement a few weeks back about the first photo of a black hole.

5) Free eBook: The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson – This is well worth snapping up whilst it’s available for free from Crossway. It’s probably the book I’ve heard most commended over the last 3 years. While we’re on free books, Richard Coekin’s rich and devotional book on Ephesians is also free to download if you sign up to the Good Book Company’s mailing list.

6) Don’t Crash Your Ministry Trying to Fly Like an Ace – What’s ministry got to do with German fighter pilots in WW2? John Stevens has a word of warning…

7) Avengers: Endgame Cast Sings ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ – For something a bit different, if the opening of the final (?) Avengers’ Movie was a big deal for you this week, then maybe you’ll enjoy this.

Sharing is caring. Know someone who might find these links interesting? Why not forward it on?

The other week I was licensed by the Bishop of Carlisle into a ‘permanent’ ministry role here in Barrow, based at Grace Church Barrow, as opposed to the temporary nature of being a ‘curate’.

To mark the occasion, we also wanted the service to act as ‘marker’ for Grace Church; an opportunity to give thanks to God for the way He has been at work amongst us, and to formally be ‘commissioned’ as a church community, especially given the presence of representatives from some of the churches that have prayed, supported and encouraged us since ‘Grace Church 1.0’ first began in October 2017. In the Church of England, whilst there’s a suggested liturgy for when a new minister is licensed, there wasn’t anything to use to commission Grace Church. This gave us the opportunity to craft a short and simple set of words to ‘send us on our way’. It also gave us a way of allowing us to express our commitment to each other and the church’s vision.

We’d just started a series in Titus, and so we allowed some of Paul’s words to Titus to feed into the words we used. For what it’s worth, I thought I’d share them, as below.

(It may be worth saying that the service included other formal aspects, adapting our Diocese’s licensing service template, but these aspects were the ‘bits’ that most related to the commissioning, rather than my own legal licensing.)

—

The Call to Ministry

Representatives of the new church gather around the new minister to present symbols of ministry.
Presenting a Bible, one says:

X, be among us as one who studies the Scriptures, proclaims the Word and encourages us with sound doctrine.
With God’s help, I will.

Presenting Water for Baptism, one says

X, be among as one who rejoices in bringing new Christians to Baptism and to share with them the Living Water, Jesus Christ himself.
With God’s help, I will.

Presenting a book of prayers, one says

X, be among us as a man of prayer,
dependent on God in all things and praying for God’s people and the Lord’s work.
With God’s help, I will.

Presenting Bread and Wine, one says

X, be among us as one who boasts in Christ and him crucified,
 leading us as we remember the Lord’s death and resurrection.
With God’s help, I will.

The new minister places each of the symbols on a table. When all the symbols have been given, the new minister responds

I pledge myself to care for the community that gathers here, to share with them the Word of God and the work of ministry, to celebrate with them the sacraments of the new covenant, and to encourage them in their discipleship. Together may we continue to experience this place and community as one where Christian people are equipped for their life and witness in God’s world and where through trust in Christ, people become heirs of the hope of eternal life.
All: Amen.

Commissioning of Grace Church

Members of Grace Church are invited by the Bishop to stand, as they are commissioned to continue serving and proclaiming Christ:

In the beginning, God spoke into darkness and there was light.
God continues to bring life and light through his powerful word. One sows, and another waters, but it is God who brings the growth. We rejoice in all that God has being doing, in and amongst you as Grace Church.

Will you love your neighbours and serve your communities, being eager to do what is good?
With the help of God we will.

Will you see all of life as opportunities to worship God; in the workplace and at home; at the school-gate and at school; with those you love and those you struggle to love?
With the help of God we will.

Will you seek to be ‘good news people’, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with compassion and conviction, always prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you?
With the help of God we will.

We recognise the ways the gospel is bearing fruit amongst you. Jesus calls us to go into all the world, to be his disciples and make new disciples of Christ. As you continue to be a community on mission for Christ, we commit to praying for and supporting you.
Together, by God’s grace,
We will be Christ’s people at work in the world.