Gospel Growth

Monday, Jan 16

TODAY’S READING: Acts 2

DEVOTIONAL: “GROWTH THROUGH CHURCH PLANTING"
by Erin Bird

In Colossians 1:6, we hear the Apostle Paul talk to the Jesus-followers in Corinth about the gospel, “which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing.”

During these 21 Days of Prayer, you spent Week 1 praying for this Gospel “which has come to you,” to grow and bear fruit in you personally. Then last week, we prayed together about how this Gospel could grow and increase in us as a church, longing to see it “bear fruit” among us corporately.

But just as the Gospel came to the Corinthians as well as to us, part of God’s call is for His Church to help the gospel “come” to other people as well.

One of the most effective ways over the past century for local and global Gospel Growth is through the planting of churches. Sadly, we are falling way behind in America in seeing the Gospel spread. In 2019, 3000 churches started, yet 4500 closed. That led to, for the first time in America, religious attendance falling below 50% (this includes all types of churches, as well as synagogues & mosques).

This is why Jesus’ words, uttered as he was sending 72 disciples to go town to town sharing the gospel, were not only relevant for His day, but still ring true over two-thousand years later:

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” (Luke 10:2)

Would you join together in praying for:
  • God to bring in the harvest
  • For laborers to say “yes” to helping spiritually disconnected people find and follow Jesus
  • For us to hear God’s direction in how to be part of the solution in seeing Gospel Growth Around Us
PRAYER:
Loving Heavenly Father, it is clear your heart is for people all over the globe. So many of them do not know about your love. Help me know how I can be part of helping your life-changing gospel reach these people, so they might not only be “harvested,” but become future laborers to invite others to find and follow you as well.

I pray also for wisdom for the Elder Team as they prayerfully consider Riverwood’s role in church planting. I pray for unity for us as a church, as well as emotional and spiritual protection, as we seek to see Gospel Growth Around Us.

Feel free to open your Notes app to write down a thought or two from today's reading or write out your own prayer.
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