Community Focus

What does it mean to be part of your community? Dictionary.com defines “community” as, “a group of people living in the same locality and under the same government.” I’d call that a Zip Code, not a Community. Jesus saw community in a different way. In Luke 10:29 a man asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” In response Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan.

According to God, your neighbor is whoever you encounter during your daily life. The good Samaritan was a busy man just like us. But when he saw an opportunity to help someone in need, he stopped his life long enough to get involved. His involvement cost him not only time, but money and it put his own life in danger. Yet none of this kept him from doing what he knew was right.

Restoration Life is an outward focused church with a passion for the community. That means that you and I care about the people on our street, at our work and in our parks. We recognize that people are broken relationally with each other and with their creator. Just like the Samaritan man, we all have opportunities to stop and help others, but we also have plenty of excuses to just pass by. What will it cost you if you get involved? A better question is what will it cost us all if you don’t. In order to change the heart of the city, each of us must allow God to change our own heart.

In His Grip,
Dan Axtell