What Can I Do?

"What can I do for the movement?" I was asked this question after a Sunday morning gathering just over a month ago. At the time, I had barely made it through the service because we had just returned from Toronto and I had had only 3 hours of sleep. So I mumbld something like, "When I'm more lucid, I'll get back to you."

What can we do for the movement? I'd like to identify the action steps that we need from the people who are a part of this movement we call SOULNET. And although, we are still in the core gathering stage, it would be good to see people committed to these things now rather than later.

The action steps focus on discipleship. A disciple is someone who is growing in the image of Christ, in the community of fellow disciples, and in the influence of outsiders. I know it may seem a bit cold to use the word "outsiders" to refer to those we want to influence for Christ but it is a thoroughly Biblical word. Paul uses it in Colossians 4:5 when he writes, "Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. (ESV)"

So the actions steps would be to:

1. Grow in the image of Christ by establishing a regular time of personal worship, meditation, prayer and applying the gospel to your life regluarly.
2. Grow in the community of fellow disciples by joining, hosting or facilitating a SOULNET Discipleship Group circle.
3. Grow in the influence of outsiders by practicing prayer evangelism at your work, school or neighborhood.
5. Support the movement with your time, talents, and finances.

Establishing a regular personal worship, meditation, prayer and listening time is one of the primary ways that God will use to shape the disciple into the image of Jesus. The lifeblood of a follower is to talk to and listen to Jesus. Establishing a regular time to worship and fellowship with the Lord creates an environment in which spriritual growth can occur.

Along with fellowshiping with Jesus through worship, meditation, prayer and listening, applying the gospel to one's life is foundational to growing in the image of Jesus. The way of the gospel is the constant surrendering of one's life to Christ by repenting of old sins, surrending our will to Jesus, offering ourselves to him, and following the Spirit in newness of life. Only by applying the gospel of Jesus to our lives will we experience the transformation that leads to the image of Jesus.

Growing in Christ's image is not an individualistic thing. We must also grow in community with other believers. We need others who are folliwng Jesus to provide accountability, belonging, care, and development. These are the ABCD's of fellowship/community. It's in these relationships that we learn how to follow Jesus in ways that a private and isolated faith could never provide. It's in these Christ-centereed circles that we learn to speak the truth in love, to forgive, to serve, to look beyond ourselves, to contribute, to confess our sins, to heal one another, to bear one another's burdens, to accept one another etc.

While the first 2 practices focus inwardly in personal and communal ways, it would not be complete nor Christ-centered without the outward component of reaching out to outsiders. This means identifying specific people in our circle of influence who would benefit from a relationship with Jesus; blessing them; praying for them; and, when appropriate, sharing the gospel with them.