“We all go six feet deep in the ground. The grave is a problem. So is sin. Jesus came down in the flesh and solved both of them. We would all be better off if we loved God and loved each other.” – Phil Robertson of “Duck Dynasty”
Then I’ll Go with You…
There’s a story told, from Civil War days before American slaves were freed, about a northerner who went to a slave auction and purchased a young slave girl. As they walked away from the auction, the man turned to the girl and told her, “You’re free.”
With amazement she responded, “You mean, I’m free to do whatever I want?”
“Yes,” he said.
“And to say whatever I want to say?”
“Yes, anything.”
“And to be whatever I want to be?”
“Yep.”
“And go wherever I want to go?”
“Yes,” he answered with a smile. “You’re free to go anywhere you’d like.”
She looked at him intently and replied, “Then I’ll go with you.”
And so with us.
That is discipleship.
Who better to follow than the One who saves us.
Greatest Show and Tell Project
I am a dad to four kids. That means I’ve done my fair share of helping out my kids with their “Show and Tell” projects.
As you know, the point of show and tell projects are for kids to pick out an object from home to bring to their classrooms to show their classmates and to talk about the significance of those objects.
I can’t think of a better description of what evangelism and the proclamation of the gospel is supposed to be like than “Show and Tell.”
Jesus gave the church the greatest “Show and Tell” mission when he said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before others so that when they see your good works they will glorify your Father in heaven.”
The problem in many of our churches is that, in time, we have become experts of good words. What’s missing in too many of our contexts are the good deeds.
I love what Bryan Meyers says. He says, “We want to so live and serve that people ask the questions to which Jesus is the answer. Why are you so kind? Why are you so committed to serve us? Why do you choose to suffer with us?”
You see, there is no such thing as the good news that is devoid of good deeds. The good news is predicated on real and tangible good deeds and good realities.
Tim Dearborn says, “When the needs of the world are irrelevant to the church, the church becomes totally irrelevant to the world.”
Our world is hurting. Our world needs what only Christ can provide. So, how are we participating with God to solve the problems and hurts of our communities?
Show and tell.
Let your light so shine before others that when they see our good deeds they will glorify the Father in heaven.
Show and tell.
Praxis: Faith in Action 