How to be better, stronger together.
We can’t be in the church a divided group. In John 17, Jesus says “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one–as you are in me, Father, and I am in you.”
It’s important that we know we’re all on the same team. There is beauty in all the different groups that are on this one team.
What grabs me from Jesus’ interaction with His disciples in John 13-17 is this picture of leaders serving leaders in order to strengthen one another for the task of gospel mission.
Jesus washed their feet, showing them what they were going to need to do with one another to prepare and to strengthen and sustain themselves for the gospel mission ahead.
What Jesus did is he said, we need to be together as leaders. We need to wash one another’s feet, before we go to work. Some of us are workers, workers, workers; but sometimes we just need to be with Jesus and be with one another before we start trying to tackle the world.
We need to walk together and get to know one another before we start trying to do too much work together.
If we have unity of mission and humility in our hearts we can believe that God will use us to accomplish some great things for his purposes.
We’ve got 43 million people in this district. I would love to see the third great awakening and revival just sweep the land. I’d love to see some crazy awesome stuff – but first, can we just commit ourselves to saying I’m just going to do my little piece?
I’m just going to do my little piece with the people around me right now, until Jesus comes back or until he calls me home.
And if I can look at the ALL People crowd and say they’re important and I need them in my life; and I can look at the missional guys and say they’re important and I need them in my life; and if I can look at all the other people and say they’re important and I need them in my life and in my ministry – if we can do that, we are better, we are stronger together.
That is what Jesus did and that’s what He built in His church. Let it be so for us in the Eastern District.
Eddie is Lead Pastor of Life Point Hampton Roads. He was previously the Executive Vice President of National Ministries for the EFCA and before that the EFCA East District Superintendent. Regardless of role, with a desire to share the Gospel in word and deed, Eddie’s calling is to come alongside pastors and leaders helping them live well, lead well and multiply their ministries with vision and passion.