Making a difference

It has been an exciting few weeks as we have launched into some major changes at Crossroads.  Our 12th anniversary with John Chapman was a great encouragement to push on with the gospel and to live it out in our church community in a spirit of love. The letter of 1 Peter has challenged  us to consider again who we really are, and what is our God-given purpose. We have seen that God is calling us to live very different lives in the world, so that he is glorified and people are  drawn to him through the gospel. We are keen to see 2008 as a year where we make a difference – as a church, and as Christian individuals. Our prayer is that people will be attracted to God by what they see in us, and that we will be prepared to point them to Jesus.

Looking back at 1 Peter, please let me ask you a few questions:

1. Will you pray that God will transform your life so that you attract people to God?
   
2. Will you pray that God will open opportunities for you to talk to people about what and why you believe?
   
3.  Are you able to explain clearly to someone who might ask what you believe and why? And if you are not sure about this, will you take steps to be prepared?
   

I don’t think that this means we all have to be ‘evangelists’, that we will all be on ‘the front line’, or that God has gifted us all in the same way. However, it does mean that as a church we are keen to work together to see people’s lives transformed. Together we can use what God has given us to pray and work and live and speak to promote Jesus and invite people to follow him. Please think of church, not only as a catch up with Christian friends, but as an opportunity to connect people with Jesus. Please consider your home groups and gospel groups as a time to be spurring each other on in making a difference for God. Please ask God to make a big difference in your life, that is evident to all.

There are two books that I would recommend as we explore these things together, and they are: Promoting the Gospel by John Dickson and Know and Tell the Gospel by John Chapman. These books are readily available at all Christian bookshops and well worth a read. We have also enjoyed a good relationship with both authors. Chappo encouraged us last month, and we are looking forward to John Dickson spending a few days with us in early May. John has a TV documentary on The Christ Files showing on Prime TV at noon on Good Friday and he will be speaking at church on 4th May. Please pray and plan now to invite friends to hear him.