What good is it, my friends, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and dialy food. If one of you says to them, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
What follows is a partial list of suggested actions for a community or individual who seeks to affirm the positive ministries of the PC(USA)'s past, present, and future, to make the PC(USA) take pride in itself, and to re-energize the church so that we proclaim, with joy that Jesus Christ is Lord.
† First off, pray for guidance and wisdom
† Live with enthusiasm and approach tasks with energy
† Continue to develop new ideas regarding how to minister — ideas grounded in scripture
† Get involved at every level of leadership in the church (local, presbytery, synod, General Assembly — this expands your network of people from whom you can seek advice and counsel
† Develop relationships with those who seem set in their ways. Get to know them. Find out who they are and what may have contributed to them wanting to keep things as they are.
† Step up to leadership roles, that others might follow your example
† Hold a prayer vigil: ask God for guidance about how to best inspire and equip youth, racial-ethnic, and women believers to become powerful leaders in the church.
† Bake and Take cookies to shut-in's in your church community
† Go to committee meetings and Session meetings. (These are open meetings unless they are talking about personnel or discipline. If they vote to go into executive session, then politely leave.)
† Speak up and ask questions in congregational meetings
† Share ownership with others by including them in leadership positions
† Ask questions
† Read the entire Bible
† Mentor a child in your church. (Choose a single child, and follow through. Be sure to greet them each and every Sunday. Attend their sporting events, performances, graduations. Prepare and eat a meal together on a periodic basis.)
Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed — keep that dusted off and use it"
(I Timothy 11-14 ~ The Message)
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Share with others the reason(s) you are enthusiastic. Maybe you attended an amazing conference. Perhaps, your church is raising funds for tsunami victims. Or, maybe your church discovered a fantastic way to unite evangelism and social justice. Let us know how the Lord Jesus Christ is at work in the church.
