If the life of Martin Luther King teaches us anything, it’s that racial reconciliation is not a fad to try out or a bandwagon to jump on. It’s a serious project that requires prayer, risk, courage, dedication, and lots of Christ-like love over a long period of time. The church should be leading the culture in this great cause, but we are far behind. Here are 5 ways we can move the ball down the field.
1. Befriend someone who doesn’t look like you or share your cultural background. Don’t just sit with them at church or extend common courtesy. Move toward people of different races. Create space in your life and home for new friends.
2. Repent of your racism. Feeling superior to others isn’t a minor character flaw. It’s an insidious sin. Repentance is deeper than a mere apology. It’s a change of heart that leads to a new way of living.
3. Parents, we should teach our children to see ALL people the way God does. The Bible is crystal clear about this. God created racial diversity. It’s so beautiful. Every single person on planet earth bears the image of God.
4. Find a church that promotes racial reconciliation. Jesus is the great Unifier, and he is the CEO of the church (Colossians 1:18). Rather than complain about how segregated the church is, go do something about it.
5. Listen to people for real. Hear their stories. Enter into their pain. See their humanity. Drop the stereotypes and assumptions. Assume the best about everybody.
-Josh Patrick
Suggested Reading
The Disciple Maker’s Handbook
by Dr. Bobby Harrington and Josh Patrick
Many people believe that discipleship is important, but they need help. In fact, the vast majority of Christians report that they have never been personally discipled by a more mature follower of Jesus. Is it any wonder that they have a difficult time knowing how to disciple others?
If making disciples of Jesus is the greatest cause on earth, how should we equip people to do it? This handbook is a practical guide for how to embrace the discipleship lifestyle – being a disciple of Jesus and how to make other disciples of Jesus. With contributions from pastors and teachers like Francis Chan, Jeff Vanderstelt, Bill Hull, Jim Putman, KP Yohannan, and Robert Coleman, the authors present seven elements that are necessary for disciple making to occur:
- Jesus—the original disciple maker and centerpiece of discipleship.
- Holy Spirit—fuels the disciple-making process.
- Intentionality—making disciples utilizing a strategy and a roadmap.
- Relationships—creating a loving, genuine connection with others who trust and follow Jesus.
- Bible—using the Word of God as the manual for making disciples.
- Journey—forging a traceable growth story from a new birth to spiritual parenthood.
- Multiply—reproducing the discipleship process so that the disciple becomes a disciple maker.
Whether you are a parent who wants to disciple your children, a small group leader who wants to disciple those in your group, or a church leader who wants to disciple future leaders, the seven key elements in this handbook form a framework for understanding discipleship that can be applied in countless situations. In addition, there are questions provided in each section to help you think through how to apply the material to your disciple making efforts. BUY NOW | other books