This is the fifth in a 5-part series which takes on the very serious question: how do we Bless people practically? If we are supposed to be carrying out the vision of Grafted, “Honor God by helping as many people as possible become fully committed members in Christ’s Forever Family,” by using our mission, “Bless, Belong, Believe, and Bloom,” how are we supposed to do that first step, Bless? Dave Ferguson at the Verge Network asked that same question for his church’s missional communities (their version of small groups) and came up with a 5-point answer which changes “Bless” into an acronym:
- Begin with prayer,
- Listen,
- Eat,
- Service, and
- Story.
Each of these 5 posts is going to take one of these ideas and give a bit of a biblical background to the idea and practical ideas for how to do it in real life. Welcome to week 5: Story.
While it is easy to consider blessing someone something that is done by giving someone something material, there is an incredible way to be a blessing to others that costs you nothing, but instead it is you sharing what God has done in your life with someone else by telling them your Story.
Your relationship with Jesus is unique to you. No one else has lived your life. And therefore your story has a value that is beyond compare! You have something that is so rare and precious that it can easily be said, “no one else has what you have.” All of our stories may have some of the same elements like a broken person saved by a loving God, but the circumstances that surround how God saved you are different from the ones around how God saved me are different from the rest of humanity!
When Peter wrote:
15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
1 Peter 3:15
He wanted everyone to whom he was writing to be able to talk about their hope, even with times looked very dark. No matter the situation, if you have spent time praying for, listening to, eating with, and serving others, your story can have an incredible impact on the life of someone who is wiling to listen.
As Peter says, “do this with gentleness and respect” (a different translation could read, “don’t be an ass,” but I haven’t found it yet). And in sharing your story that points to God’s blessing on your life, you could be leading someone to put their trust in the greatest blessing anyone has ever experienced: a life saved by the blood of Jesus, the Son of God.
Thus endeth our 5 part series looking at a strategy for how to bless others!
- Begin with prayer,
- Listen,
- Eat,
- Service, and
- Story.
Has there been anyone that has come to your mind as you have read these blog posts that God is prompting you to bless? If there any way that we at Grafted can come along at your side to help make it easier? Let us know in the comments or drop me an email at dave@graftedcc.com!