God is Moving Through The Banquet Network
Jesus’ vision for the Church is being realized as it becomes welcoming to the marginalized.
Featured
Jesus’ vision for the Church is being realized as it becomes welcoming to the marginalized.
It was as simple as turning on the GPS and allowing it to guide us. In the same way, we should turn to the Word of God and let Him lead us on the right path toward righteousness and ultimate freedom.
In March of 2008, a devastating outbreak of tornadoes destroyed parts of downtown Atlanta and the surrounding metro area. Sometime in the middle of the night I heard the sound of tiny feet racing across the wood flooring in our home. Our oldest son, who was around two years old at the time, opened our door and jumped into our bed. He looked me in the eyes and said, “Daddy there’s a tiger outside my window!”
In 1 Corinthians 12:27 (NASB), Paul writes, “Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.” This simple yet profound truth declares that God sees us and calls each of us to be His Body. Friends, that is where our eyes should be fixed upon. When we live out this calling, all of the other aspects of disability ministry have a solid foundation, not in the catchy vocabulary or thrilling new interventions (which all can be awesome) but a solid foundation built upon the overflow of His love for us!
Loneliness kills. But the gospel saves. It rips us out of our isolation from God, restores us to Him, and places us into a family of the fellow redeemed. We will never be alone. And God wants to use us to make that true for millions of others too. So throw a banquet. Invite people to Jesus. Be a friend. Because the gospel has defeated loneliness now and forever.
Originally published by Liberty University October 6, 2023.
“Through a partnership between the John W. Rawlings School of Divinity and the Family & Consumer Sciences Department, Liberty University has launched a new disability ministry minor in the residential program and a new cognate in the online program for students from all degree programs who are interested in learning how to minister to disabled individuals in their workplaces, churches, and communities….”
As they grow from babies to children to teens to adults, many seasons come and go. A lot of us progress from endlessly pulling out all of the developmental stops to questioning what life skills will help my child to thrive the best as an adult...