PurposeA Call to Prayer for Revitalization. We encourage all churches to pray, even if you're not actively involved in the initiative. ArchivesCategories |
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Authentic Intentional Evangelism11/9/2020 For 7 weeks in November and December, we invite all members of the presbytery to pray for the revitalization of our churches and presbytery. Our weekly prayers are based upon the 7 marks of a vital congregation. The focus of this week’s prayer is Authentic Intentional Evangelism. Evangelism is not a popular concept in some Presbyterian circles. The word itself and the images it conjures can make us downright uncomfortable. But at its core, evangelism is all about authentically sharing Christ with others because it is intrinsic to our self-identity. Evangelism is the result of the overflow of Christ in our life. It is not meant to be forced or a tool for manipulation. That said, evangelism must be done intentionally if it is going to lead us to revitalization. The church goes beyond acts of kindness or the pursuit of justice (albeit important on their own) by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. We are propelled to do good things because we have been shaped by the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. The church is not a social service agency. The gospel informs all that we do. Churches and individuals intentionally sharing the “why” of our actions is part of growing in vitality. So much of life has been turned upside down in 2020, whether by the pandemic, social unrest, or a vitriolic election. When COVID-19 first spread to the United States and many states shut down, actor John Krasinski posted YouTube videos entitled “Some Good News.” His homemade newscast was sincere in its desire to highlight what was good in the world, including the sacrifices made by first responders. These videos point to our hunger these days for good news. The question is, are we living in such a way that people see our lives and our message as good news? Let us pray: Living God, we give you thanks and praise for the new things you are doing among us. Especially we thank you for the good news of your holy realm. Living God, by the gifts of your Spirit, help us to bear witness to the risen Lord by sharing the hope that is within us. Living God, in the great mystery of our faith receive us each night and revive us each day, that we may be dead to sin and alive to you; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
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