AMBASSADORS OF GRACE

How powerful words are when they speak to our heart! When they strengthen us in our weakness.  When they impart peace amid turmoil.  When they build us up when others have been tearing us down.  When they refresh our weary spirit.

The writer of Proverbs reminds us that "reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing" (Proverbs 12:18).  And later he says that "the tongue has the power of life and death" (Proverbs 18:21).  What powerful statements!  And we know from experience that they are true.  We've all felt the sting of sarcasm, mockery or putdown jokes at our expense.  We've also felt the pleasant summer breeze of words that refresh, fill us with hope and leave us feeling special.

The New Testament has a parallel passage that urges us to be men and women who speak grace-filled words.  In Ephesians 4:29 we read, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear" (NASB).  This is a powerful thought that the apostle Paul is urging on his hearers.  Can you hear him saying, "Your words can communicate grace.  They can be God's words to someone else"?

It's true.  Our words can build others up.  (By the way, the word “edification” was used in Paul's day to describe how a carpenter would build a house.  It's a construction word.)  Our hearers can feel strengthened, refreshed or affirmed by our words.  As men and women who are empowered and led by God's Spirit, our conversations can literally be a means whereby the Spirit communicates His grace to the one who is listening to us.  That's why the next statement Paul makes is "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" (Ephesians 4:30).  Do you see what he's driving at?  When we are not speaking to others in a grace-full manner, we deny God's Spirit the opportunity to encourage or strengthen someone else.

We think that's a powerful truth.  We think it's exciting to know that we can be our Lord's ambassador of good news to those around us. 

-- Dr. Norm Wakefield & Jody Brolsma in “Men Are from Israel, Women Are from Moab” 

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MAKING DISCIPLES IS A JOURNEY – Part 2 of 2

In small groups, we find a community of believers who support and encourage one another. It is in these intimate, face-to-face settings that we can share our struggles, celebrate our victories, and grow together in our faith. Small groups offer a safe space for honest conversations, deep reflections, and mutual accountability.

COMMITT TO A SMALL GROUP: If you are not already part of a small group, consider joining one. Look for a group that aligns with your spiritual goals and where you feel comfortable sharing and growing.

ENGAGE IN PRAYER AND BIBLE STUDY: Make prayer and Bible study a regular part of your small group meetings. These practices are essential for spiritual growth and for understanding God’s will for our lives.

FOSTER CHRISTIAN CONVERSATION: Encourage open and honest conversations about faith, life, and challenges. These discussions can lead to deeper insights and stronger relationships.

PARTICIPATE IN SERVICE: Find opportunities as a small group to serve in your church and community. It will be a witness to the impact Christ is having through small groups.

SEEK ACCOUNTABLITY: Find a trusted member of your small group to hold you accountable in your spiritual journey. Accountability helps us stay committed and focused on our growth.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of community and the opportunity to grow together in faith. Help us to be diligent in our journey of discipleship, seeking You with all our hearts. May our small groups be places of transformation, where we are molded into the likeness of Christ. Guide us, strengthen us, and fill us with Your Spirit as we strive to make disciples and grow in our faith. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry, compiled from a variety of sources

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MAKING DISCIPLES IS A JOURNEY – Part 1 of 2

“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 NIV)

Making disciples of Jesus Christ is not instantaneous. It takes work. Faith formation is a constant movement of God’s people who are desiring and seeking to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

In our “we-want-it-now” world, we often look for quick fixes and instant results. However, the process of making disciples is a journey that requires patience, dedication, and intentionality. It is a journey that involves the heart, mind, and soul, and it is deeply rooted in our desire to seek and know God in Christ more intimately.

Faith formation is the work of small groups. Small groups are vehicles for those who desire God and who seek to be molded by God. This molding happens when people strive to strengthen their faith through prayer, Bible study, Christian conversation, and service. Small groups provide the best place for this molding to take place. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry, compiled from a variety of sources

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AN EXCLAMATION POINT

“Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

In order to begin a new chapter, you must end an old chapter. The way to do it is with a simple punctuation mark. You can put a period on the page. It gets the job done. But if you want to be more dramatic, you can use an exclamation point. It’s more decisive, more definitive. Then you turn the page and begin a new sentence, which begins a new paragraph, which begins a new chapter.

What’s true in grammar is true in life.

If you want to break a habit, stop a conflict, or just leave the past in the past, you need a punctuation mark. A comma won’t cut it. Neither will a semicolon. You need an exclamation point in your life! 

-- Mark Batterson in “All In: You Are One Decision Away from a Totally Different Life”

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CO-LABORERS WITH GOD

“For we are laborers together with God…”  (1 Corinthians 3:9a)

Our union with God -- His presence with us, in which our aloneness is banished and the meaning and full purpose of human existence is realized -- consists chiefly in a conversational relationship with God while we are each consistently and deeply engaged as His friend and co-laborer in the affairs of the kingdom of the heavens. 

-- Dallas Willard in “Hearing God”

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PRAYER IS A RELATIONSHIP

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”  (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)

Prayer is not a one-way conversation where you simply recite everything you want God to do for you. It is a two-way fellowship and communication. You speak to God, and He speaks to you. Prayer also includes listening. In fact, what God says to you in prayer is far more important than what you say to Him. After all, God already knows what you’re going to tell Him, but He has amazing things to reveal that you don’t know.

Prayer is a relationship, not a religious activity. Through prayer, you adjust to God; God doesn’t adjust to you. He wants you to pray, but He doesn’t need you to. You, however, need to pray because of what God wants to do in your life during your prayer time.

When the Holy Spirit reveals a truth to you in prayer, He is present and actively working in your life. This kind of prayer is a divine encounter.

-- Henry Blackaby, Richard Blackaby and Claude King in “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God”


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