Craig T. Owens

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The letters we’ve looked at so far—B, A, S, and I—are bringing about greater fruitfulness and joy-fullness in our lives, which is then enhancing our personal testimony. So the B, A, S, and I all lead up to the C—community involvement. 

One of the first things we need to consider about our community is our role—both what the Bible says is and isn’t our area of concern. Jesus helps us with a parable about wheat and weed and its explanation a few verses later (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43). 

(Check out all of the Scriptures in this post by clicking here.) 

From Jesus we learn that the world was created good—that’s what God said at each day of Creation. Since the fall of man, satan has sown his evil seeds alongside Christ’s good seeds. 

• Our responsibility isn’t about pointing out what’s wrong in the world 
• It isn’t about rooting out the evil in the world 
• It isn’t about judging the evil or even the evildoers in the world 
• Our responsibility is to proclaim how good our God is 
• Our responsibility is to bear as much God-honoring fruit as we can 
• Our responsibility is to embody biblical principles and proclaim the benefits of God’s Kingdom to others 

The apostle Paul helps us see our role in our community with his payer in Ephesians 1:17-20. Paul desires that we know…  

1. The hope to which God has called us. A rock-solid, irrevocable, eternal hope! 
2. The riches of His inheritance in His saints. The treasure is in us. We get to be God’s blessing to those around us. 
3. God’s incomparably great power for us. We’re never lacking anything because His power is for us—God Himself is for us! 

When our eyes are opened to this, we can see better how to live in our communities. God has placed us and equipped us to proclaim His glorious Gospel in our Personal Mission Field. The PMF includes places like our: 

• Family—John 1:35-42 
• Friend group—John 1:43-46 
• Neighborhood—Colossians 1:3-8 
• Workplace—Ephesians 6:5-9 

How do we do this? 

• We talk about the daily interactions you have with Jesus—make it clear that He is a real Person with Whom you have a relationship.  
• We live out our biblical worldview. 
• We stay in fellowship with out saints so that we are sharpened and prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope we have. 
• We continually monitor our conversation and attitude to make sure they are Christ-like. 

Let us saints be known for what we’re for more than for what we’re against! 

Instead of railing on the evil, proclaim the favor of God, proclaim the soul-satisfying joy of a relationship with Jesus, and proclaim the advantages of the Holy Spirit’s continual counsel. 

If you’ve missed any of the previous messages in our series B.A.S.I.C. Christianity, you can find them all here. 

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