Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a lasting impact on the world around you? To pave the way for others to experience the transformative power of faith? Today, let's explore how we can become "waymakers" by looking at the practices of the early church and applying them to our lives.
The Origin of Waymakers
Before we dive in, let's take a quick history detour. Did you know that the term "waymaker" originated in the 16th and 17th centuries? As I discovered in my research, a way maker was someone who planned, prepared or repaired roads for Queen Elizabeth I to travel along. The way maker's job was to make sure the Queen would experience as few bumps as possible during her travels and arrive safely.
Isn't that a beautiful picture of what we're called to do as followers of Jesus? We're meant to prepare the way for others to encounter Him, smoothing out the bumps along their spiritual journey.
The Four Traits of the Early Church
In the book of Acts, we get a glimpse into the life of the early church. Acts 2:42 tells us, "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship and to the sharing of meals, including the Lord's Supper and to prayer." These four practices - teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, and prayer - became the hallmarks of the early Christian community. Let's explore how we can incorporate these into our lives to become waymakers.
Teaching: Growing in Knowledge
We can't grow if we're not always learning. The early church was committed to the apostles' teaching, and we should be too. Here are some practical ways to grow in knowledge:
- Read and digest Scripture daily
- Attend Sunday services and engage with the teaching
- Study commentaries or use a study Bible to understand context
- Participate in church-wide reading plans (like our 90-day New Testament reading plan)
Remember, this learning isn't just for our own benefit. As Peter warned in Acts 2:40, we need to "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." By keeping our hearts and minds focused on Jesus through consistent learning, we guard ourselves against worldly influences and prepare ourselves to guide others.
Fellowship: Finding Your People
God didn't design us to walk this journey alone. The early church understood the power of community, and we need to as well. In fact, isolation is one of the enemy's favorite tactics. As 1 Peter 5:8 reminds us, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
I'll never forget the moment I realized I wasn't alone in my faith journey. It was during a Passion conference in college, surrounded by 50,000 other young adults praising Jesus. God reminded me that wherever I go, I can find community with other followers of Jesus.
Here are some practical ways to find your people:
- Attend Sunday services regularly. Plan your visit here!
- Visit the "New Here" area if you're new to our church
- Participate in Growth Track
- Join a community group
- Serve alongside others in a ministry area
Sharing Meals: Doing Life Together
Have you ever eaten a delicious meal alone? It's just not the same, is it? The early church understood the power of sharing meals together. It's in these moments of breaking bread that we truly get to know one another and experience God's grace in community.
Consider these ways to incorporate shared meals into your life:
- Participate in monthly communion at church
- Grab coffee with a friend before or after the service
- Invite an acquaintance over for dinner (and don't worry, you don't have to make brisket like Pastor Ryan!)
Prayer: A Heavenly Opportunity
Prayer is more than just a religious requirement - it's a heavenly opportunity to connect with our Creator. As Pastor Faith Eury Cho beautifully put it, "If you knew He was listening, if you trusted He cares, if you were confident that He would help, if you believed that your prayers would be remembered and stored forever, praying would not be a religious requirement, but rather a heavenly opportunity."
Here are some practical ways to grow in prayer:
- Visit the prayer area at church before or after the service
- Use our online prayer wall to pray for others and share your own requests
- Check out the prayer resources at somuchmore.church
The Result: A Growing, Vibrant Community
When the early church committed to these practices, amazing things happened. Acts 2:43-47 describes a community filled with awe, generosity, joy, and growth. As they prayed, grew, gave, served, and invited others, "each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
We're seeing similar things happen in our own church community. As we commit to these five practices - praying, growing, giving, serving, and inviting - God is moving in powerful ways.
Putting It Into Practice
So, will you join me in becoming a waymaker? Here are my personal commitments:
- More intentional times of prayer
- Continuing to grow in community with my mom's group
- Increasing our annual giving by 1% and committing to the Waymaker capital campaign
- Serving alongside you in our church
- Inviting others to experience what God is doing here
What about you? How will you commit to pray, grow, give, serve, and invite? Together, let's prepare the way for others to encounter Jesus, smoothing out the bumps along their journey. Let's be waymakers, just like the early church, and watch in awe as God transforms lives in our community and beyond.