Cultivating Your Territory: Growing God’s Kingdom
“I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:6-9
The mission field is the place between your own two feet at any one time. I remember the first time I heard this listening to Jill Briscoe many years ago. At that time, it was earth shattering to me because when I thought of missions, I immediately associated it with long term missionaries in unreached parts of the world. Aren't missions something God calls specific people to do? Scripture says otherwise. In the Great Commission, Jesus calls all believers to “Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Jesus is commanding us, all of us, to share the gospel, disciple believers, and equip others to do the same.
God called Paul to go and plant churches. This is typically how we traditionally think of the mission field, to go elsewhere and share the gospel. But God also called Apollos, who was discipled by Paul, to use his gifts of teaching where he was planted. Paul’s mission field was Antioch, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, Ephesus, Athens, Rome and beyond. Apollos’ mission field was the people of Corinth. Both were called and both helped grow God’s kingdom. They were fellow workers, laborers, and disciples. God called one to plant churches and the other to build up the church that was planted. Both are needed and both are commanded by God.
Your community is your mission field. It is your place to make Christ known, to invite your neighbors to church, mentor new believers, to serve those in need, and to invest in your gifts. We are called to grow God’s kingdom. The gifts God gives are varied and needed to labor for His glory, to fulfill His purposes. Look at where you are planted. Step into your gifts. Invest in your community. Your mission field is the place between your own two feet.
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Lord, open my eyes with a refreshed outlook to see where you have planted me. Show me how I can serve for the purpose of growing your kingdom. Give me the words to tell others your good news. Allow your gifts, which flow through me, to be used with wisdom and discernment for your glory, honor, and name. In Jesus name, Amen.
ABOUT ROCKPOINTE CHURCH
RockPointe strives to provide a welcoming, family-friendly environment where people of all walks of life encounter the transforming power of a relationship with Jesus.
You will find RockPointe to be a place of imperfect, but genuine and authentic people seeking to glorify Jesus with their lives. Our hope is to point to the empowering grace of Jesus that transforms people to become impactful disciples for the kingdom of God.
The worship music is modern in style and highly gospel-centered in content. People are encouraged to passionately worship Jesus in “spirit and truth.” At RockPointe we value singing songs that are Christ-exalting and theologically rich.
We hold the Scriptures in high regard as the final authority in a person’s life. Messages at RockPointe are Christ-centered and will provide great insight as to what the Bible teaches about living your life for the glory of God. There is also a Family Room for parents to observe the services even while attending to their family needs.
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