Refuge Church DNA - Part 4: Response
Together we engage the community around us and the greater world of lost souls through missional living. We equip ourselves to live out our faith while teaching and training others in the way that leads to salvation and eternal life.
Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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,"
Matthew 28:18-19 (NIV)
Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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,"
Matthew 28:18-19 (NIV)
Today, we wrap up this four part series unpacking the DNA of Refuge Church. You can read the other installments on our blog.
The final point of our triad of vision key themes is that of response. This is born out of the reality that the Gospel message of Jesus Christ necessitates a response. You either believe it or you don't. There is not really a middle ground there.
But that belief should extend beyond our heads and our hearts to our hands and feet as well. This means that we respond to the Gospel by demonstrating the same kind of love that God displayed for us in His Son, Jesus. In other words, we should be willing to lay down our lives for the sake of those around us. This kind of attitude and action takes belief to the level of response.
Look at how Eugene Peterson describes this dynamic in his paraphrase of James chapter 2 verse 18, from the New Testament in the Bible:
The final point of our triad of vision key themes is that of response. This is born out of the reality that the Gospel message of Jesus Christ necessitates a response. You either believe it or you don't. There is not really a middle ground there.
But that belief should extend beyond our heads and our hearts to our hands and feet as well. This means that we respond to the Gospel by demonstrating the same kind of love that God displayed for us in His Son, Jesus. In other words, we should be willing to lay down our lives for the sake of those around us. This kind of attitude and action takes belief to the level of response.
Look at how Eugene Peterson describes this dynamic in his paraphrase of James chapter 2 verse 18, from the New Testament in the Bible:
You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
However, we must be careful to note that the power and strength for these works that demonstrate our faith is found only through the Holy Spirit, given to us by God.
In this way, though, we can partner with God as He builds His Kingdom here on earth.
I've heard it said that the greatest way you can demonstrate love for someone is by telling others about them. This is part of our response to the great, great love that God has lavished on us in Jesus Christ. We RESPOND to that love by demonstrating it through our words and our works, sharing that message of hope to a world in desperate need of Good News!
In this way, though, we can partner with God as He builds His Kingdom here on earth.
I've heard it said that the greatest way you can demonstrate love for someone is by telling others about them. This is part of our response to the great, great love that God has lavished on us in Jesus Christ. We RESPOND to that love by demonstrating it through our words and our works, sharing that message of hope to a world in desperate need of Good News!