Transition is a challenging time for most people. Going from a college student to a full time employee has brought about many changes in my life. While in school, Jake (my husband) and I had a group of friends to spend time with each week. Friends who laughed together, lost together, and walked together. We miss that- and God is working in us during this time to show us, grow us, and reveal to us what we took for granted about community before this. After lots of reflecting I’ve realized I need to start asking more questions. Think about your sphere of friends and our church body. Let’s start asking:
“How are you doing? Where are you going? How much do you know about Christianity? Where could you grow? How can I pray for you? Who can I care for? Who can I welcome each Sunday by name? Who can I befriend over time?”
We are responsible for ongoing mentoring and discipleship of all generations. There is a gap in our community with millennials and everyone else that we can close with intentionality, time, and effort. Just by asking questions to those we are unfamiliar with. Doing this can lead to so many great things in the church’s ministry to everyone in the body.
“Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.” Hebrews 10: 24-25 (The Passion Translation)
It is biblical and vital that we be intentional with those around us. Discipleship to Christ within the church body constantly challenges our priorities and calls us to realign with the kingdom of heaven. We need to understand that our calling to minister and love others around us is crucial to following Jesus.