Be honest… when you think of a pioneer leader for a fresh expression of church, a picture probably forms in your mind’s eye.
That picture is likely someone who is super-charismatic, super-knowledgable, super-talented… frankly, super-human.
You probably don’t picture yourself.
You probably look in the mirror, and an ordinary person looks back at you. But have you ever noticed how many ordinary people God used in Scripture to do extraordinary things?
- Abraham was just an ordinary older guy living his daily routine in a town called Ur
- Joseph was a written-off teenage victim of human trafficking
- Daniel was a forgotten Babylonian captive
- Amos was just a regular guy taking care of fig trees and sheep
- Nehemiah was a guy whose job was to drink first out of the king’s cup and not die
- David was the overlooked, youngest child shepherding the herd
- Peter and John were fishermen
- Mary was a young bride-to-be
- Joseph was a carpenter
- Lydia was a street vendor
All of these and more were ordinary people who God used for the unfolding of God’s priorities and God’s kingdom. As a matter of fact, in Acts, the Jewish elite were astonished at the power and courage of a group who they perceived to be “unschooled, ordinary” people. But those are the very ones that God used to change the world and unleash a movement of Christ followers and world changers throughout the Roman empire and beyond.
In the modern era, we have professionalized and institutionalized church and ministry, but what if that’s the very thing that is keeping many people at arm’s distance from the church? What if the most impactful mission in this era is not going to be proclamation from the pulpit but life alongside people?
In the modern era, we have professionalized and institutionalized church and ministry, but what if that’s the very thing that is keeping many people at arm’s distance from the church?
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You don’t have to be an expert in Christian theology to start a fresh expression of church. You don’t have to have a PhD to start a fresh expression of church. You don’t have to be a charismatic speaker to start a fresh expression of church. You don’t have to be a pastor to start a fresh expression of church. You just have to love Jesus and love people. You have to have a heart that yearns for people far from God to discover the fullness of life with God. And have a willingness to go wherever that yearning takes you to be a sign and foretaste of the kingdom of God in the world beyond your church walls.
Who does your heart break for as you look around your community, workplace, or networks? What might it look like to walk with them towards Jesus? And what are you wiling to do about it?
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The question to ask yourself is not what credentials you need, but rather… Who does your heart break for as you look around your community, workplace, or networks? What might it look like to walk with them towards Jesus? And what are you wiling to do about it?
God has a history of using ordinary people to unleash the kingdom of God.
Why not you?
Fresh Expressions US wants to help you dream and discern how God might be wanting to use YOU in your local context. Through Vision Days, Local Church workshops, Learning Communities and more, FXUS is ready to partner with you to see fresh expressions of what God is doing birthed in your local context. Click here to find out more about how.
