Being and doing
Our church renewal process is now in full swing, and we are inviting you, our congregation, to begin asking God two specific questions:
These questions are placed in this order for a reason: who we are determines what we do. Our tendency is to focus on doing rather than being, because we humans are generally task-oriented in nature. As we do this, our identity becomes wrapped up in what we do instead of who we are. In fact, when we first meet someone new and they ask us about ourselves, we often share our profession as our identity.
Jesus did not find his identity in how many people followed him or what types of miracles he did. His identity was firmly rooted in the words of his Father, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” (Matthew 3:17). God the Father said this about Jesus before he called any disciples and before he performed any wonders. His identity as the Son was already established, and this identity then moved him to do the Father’s will. His heart determined his actions.
As individuals, we are people who have trusted in Jesus and follow him. Our identity as children of God determines what we do. In the power of the Spirit, we exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). As a local church body, we are a Jesus community that exhibits this fruit in our relationships with one another and demonstrates them to the world around us. Our identity is in Christ and the fruit of the Spirit is an outflow of this identity, as we are submitted to Christ.
As you pray, I ask you start with that first question as a personal prayer of, “Lord, who do you want me to be?” Meditate on the fruit of the Spirit, and seek to cultivate these characteristics into your life throughout the day. Then move to the collective question, “Lord, who do you want us to be?” Envision what it looks like to exhibit that fruit as you interact with members of your church family, and what it looks like for us as a larger group to exhibit it as we interact with our community. Pray over these pictures in your mind, and then ask, "Lord what do you want me to do?" and as He reveals this, continue with the final question, "Lord, what do you want us to do?"
As God answers these prayers for you, write them on a prayer card and place it in the basket in front of the connection center in the sanctuary on Sunday or Wednesday, or type them in the online prayer card and send them. Keep in mind, you can submit more than one. The renewal leadership team will look at these and pray over them as we continue to develop the vision for our church.
Together, let’s trust the Lord to lead us.
- Lord, who do you want us to be?
- Lord, what do you want us to do?
These questions are placed in this order for a reason: who we are determines what we do. Our tendency is to focus on doing rather than being, because we humans are generally task-oriented in nature. As we do this, our identity becomes wrapped up in what we do instead of who we are. In fact, when we first meet someone new and they ask us about ourselves, we often share our profession as our identity.
Jesus did not find his identity in how many people followed him or what types of miracles he did. His identity was firmly rooted in the words of his Father, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” (Matthew 3:17). God the Father said this about Jesus before he called any disciples and before he performed any wonders. His identity as the Son was already established, and this identity then moved him to do the Father’s will. His heart determined his actions.
As individuals, we are people who have trusted in Jesus and follow him. Our identity as children of God determines what we do. In the power of the Spirit, we exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). As a local church body, we are a Jesus community that exhibits this fruit in our relationships with one another and demonstrates them to the world around us. Our identity is in Christ and the fruit of the Spirit is an outflow of this identity, as we are submitted to Christ.
As you pray, I ask you start with that first question as a personal prayer of, “Lord, who do you want me to be?” Meditate on the fruit of the Spirit, and seek to cultivate these characteristics into your life throughout the day. Then move to the collective question, “Lord, who do you want us to be?” Envision what it looks like to exhibit that fruit as you interact with members of your church family, and what it looks like for us as a larger group to exhibit it as we interact with our community. Pray over these pictures in your mind, and then ask, "Lord what do you want me to do?" and as He reveals this, continue with the final question, "Lord, what do you want us to do?"
As God answers these prayers for you, write them on a prayer card and place it in the basket in front of the connection center in the sanctuary on Sunday or Wednesday, or type them in the online prayer card and send them. Keep in mind, you can submit more than one. The renewal leadership team will look at these and pray over them as we continue to develop the vision for our church.
Together, let’s trust the Lord to lead us.