Plant the Gospel and God will build the Church

I heard that quotation on Twitterverse this week and it has been sloshing around in my mind since. “Plant the Gospel and God will build the Church.”

I’ve heard amazing stories this week of God showing up in people’s lives in unique and fresh ways.

– I had a friend who visited Mexico City. His sister-in-law works as a missionary there in the heart of the prostitution epidemic. They use a salon there to reach women by offering them medical attention, safety, escape, and ultimately the message of Jesus Christ.

– I have a friend who is a tri-athlete who trains alongside several other adults. This group began a book club several months back, which somehow resulted in a prayer chain for prayer requests that the athletes had. My friend notes that before events they gather to pray; sometimes this prayer time is not instigated by the usual Christian suspects in the group.

– In the midst of a Bible study this week we meditated on Galatians 2:19-20 which speaks of a metaphor for Paul’s trust in Christ. “The life I live I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” One of the ‘levers’ of Galatians is this idea that, in Christ, God trusts the church with His mission- we are leaving the law and tutor behind and emerging into the calling that God always desired for His people. Not only can we believe in Jesus, but in some way, Jesus believes in us. As I shared this in this men’s Bible study, I could feel the weight of this truth begin to work. The Gospel has the power to melt away the self-hatred and guilt that we all deal with because the God who holds all things together looks at us and says, “I believe in you… I trust in you.” Imagine what that does to someone who has never heard that before.

– I met with a friend this week who is going through a season of major decisions. In the middle of all these decisions is the hope that his current girlfriend would decide to marry him. He pulled an engagement ring out of his pocket and, with holy pride, showed me the ring he wants to give her. I could sense a pure confidence that he had because he knew that he wasn’t going to walk through this anxious season alone, but that, by God’s grace, he would have lovely company with the woman he loves.

– I saw a guy who, on his 30th birthday, wanted to do nothing else but try and help fix the brakes on his friend’s car.

– I listened to a good friend give me an honest answer when I asked him an honest question.

– I heard that a new women’s Bible Study at church began this past Wednesday by cramming 17 women into a crowded living room and begin the journey of dealing with insecurity issues in their lives.

– I saw my wife Ginger work extra hours this week to prepare our home for a family member’s arrival simply because she wants to open up our home to other people so we can share life with them.

– I heard of a friend who is considering taking a pay cut to re-enter into work that he truly loves and knows that he might be able to help young people discover Jesus.

– We have some friends who are going to have a garage sale this weekend in 100 degree temperatures and giving all of the money to help a ministry to single teen moms.

The Gospel is being planted all around us. May we have eyes to see and ears to hear. May we have the courage to plant.