Walking And Good Works
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
- Ephesians 2:10
Two years ago while preparing material for our homegroup leaders, I came across a word study that shifted my thinking, or at least readjusted my focus: “Created for good works…so that we would walk in them”, (Eph.2:10). The word “walk” in the Greek does not imply the simple straight line from point A to point B, but has a more spherical quality. Our good works encompass all aspects of our lives: where we work and go to church, our families, friends and the neighborhoods where we live.[1] In my 25 years serving at a church on this property, I am reluctant to admit that I never gave great thought to the closest section of this sphere, our immediate neighbors. I felt called to many different ministries within our church body, but never really focused on the needs of our local neighborhood. During this time of lockdowns and outdoor services our pastor shared, (while choking back tears) that as he was looking out at the thousands of cars driving past our campus he wondered, “How many of these people know Christ, and how many are destined to an eternity without Him?” And, “What are we doing about it?” This too shifted my thinking.
Fast forward 18 months, Covid restrictions are lifted (mostly), vaccines are available and we have unexpectedly found ourselves at the helm of a church plant. I can again begin asking….”What is my sphere of influence? What is our church's sphere? Now, as a church plant, we have been asked more than a few times what our ministry focus is? And, “How will we go about building our church?” And, with a great deal of time in prayer, we have answered…right here. Our first “wave of ministry” is in this suburban neighborhood of 500+ homes and an apartment complex across the street. This is where we begin.
And so…we started walking, door to door, one house at a time. We introduce ourselves, invite families to church or ask fellow believers to be in prayer for us. Before moving on we ask our neighbors if we could pray for them. We keep it genuine, simple and straightforward. So far, we have been surprisingly welcomed. Some are curious, some just need to talk, most are blown away that the pastor is actually doing the walking and inviting himself. We have had tears and thanks as we have prayed for people who have allowed us to do so. We have been granted the blessing of telling people in our immediate sphere of influence that we love Jesus, and we want to invite them to a place where they too can find hope.
My husband and I have also found more opportunities to talk to our own neighbors. We have brought homemade gifts at Christmas and invited them to services. We have made meals, offered tools and often made time to just talk when the opportunity presented itself. Aside from our family, this is our most immediate sphere of influence. We can’t say with specificity what God will do with our efforts, but, we are assured that for now, this is our calling.
And so, I sincerely challenge my fellow believers to consider the neighbors who surround your homes and your churches. In the past two years the isolation brought about by the pandemic has exponentially increased depression, divorce, substance abuse and suicide.[2] Things are not “going back to normal” and many people are feeling lost and without hope. Some things can only be reached through human to human contact, not as a mass mailer or social media post. There is something about actual feet on a welcome mat and fingers on a doorbell that seem to leave a residual impression. And so, my brothers and sisters in Christ, I encourage you to do the uncomfortable, maybe even the terrifying, and walk out into your neighborhoods. Do this genuinely and without agenda, except to share the love of Christ to a lost weary world, or to connect and join hands with other believers nearby. For these are the good works created beforehand… so that we may walk in them.
Wuest, Kenneth S. “Ephesians and Colossians.” Word Studies in the Greek New Testament, vol. 1, Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1973, p. 71. 3 vols.
https://www.mhanational.org/research-reports/2021-state-mental-health-america
