Following Jesus Together

In this our final installation of our all-church discipleship series "Following Jesus Together", Pastor Ryan refreshes us on the model set by God regarding the spiritual pattern of work AND rest. Pastor Ryan reviews this principle and exhorts us to ponder "what pattern (of life) is conforming you?" He is joined by our own Mike Bowden (creator of SoulCare Ministries) in an interview that provides Michael the opportunity to share deep insight into the subject.

We ARE His witnesses! Not "shall be" but "are" - the question: what kind of witness will you be? Pastor Ryan shows us how God has lead us away from the meaningless, Ecclesiastes-type life and gives each believer purpose! All through creation and resurrection, we are called to do His work, and the witness of our life in Christ is indeed our calling! Several Scripture passages are shared, including Eph. 2:8-10.

We begin our last characteristic of discipleship today - faithful witness.

What is a "witness"? Pastor Ryan discusses the requirements of such, the power of a witness community, and how the world needs the Church to BE the Church as an effective witness of Jesus the Christ.

How is Broadway doing in ministering the love of Jesus to the community? Where are we obedient? Where can we improve in the Lord's work? Pastor Ryan uses Hebrews 13 to assist us in identifying the "gap" between God's plan for us and where we actually are. A panel of BCC members, new and old, are also on hand to share their experiences and encouragements.

God has gifted us, so Pastor Ryan reminds us, with the best spiritual gift of all- the Holy Spirit Himself! Expressions of this wonderful gift to all believers are the personal manifestations, the gifting, that each of us are promised. We review the wonderful reality of the Body: all of our individual giftings are a completion of this one united organism, the Body of Christ, such that we are incomplete without each other. Diverse gifts to bring unity and good fruit is what God has purposed for us.

Pastor Ryan moves us into the third characteristic of our discipleship journey: Uncommon Unity.

The Body of Christ is identifiable through a unique togetherness made possible through the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself shows examples of such in His ministry, and indeed His redemptive ministry healed the great rupture that once existed between us and God, us and "them", and us with ourselves. Such is the unique expression of the Church, Christ's Bride! Passages from Ephesians and Luke 8:1-3 serves as our Scripture.

According to James 5:13-20, God's Word clearly indicates that the path to healing involves confession and forgiveness. The Body of Christ, Pastor Ryan explains, is instrumental in God's instructions and plans for you to receive full healing - our brothers and sisters in Christ help us heal! Humbleness in confession, and grace in forgiveness are clearly to be demonstrated!

Pastor Ryan uses the passage from James 1:22-27 to discus the sober subject of inner healing. What does James mean by saying the Perfect Law brings true freedom? How do we know ourselves, in all our frailties and brokenness, as God knows us? And what are good practices for self-examination and, ultimately, deep healing?

Pastor Ryan introduces us to the next characteristic in our discipleship series, "Healing Community". Broadway has always placed a premium on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health of the Body of Christ. Using James 1:2-4, we discuss healing through ordinary trials, healing through extraordinary suffering, healing through community, and a sober encouragement that as before, we long to be a community of healing, a church "for sinners only"!

Pastor Symps leads us, line by line, point by point, glorious truth after truth, through a detailed review of the Lord's Prayer, our Savior's landmark model on how to pray to our Father, and worship Him through our communion with Him.