June 16, 2026 | Be Connected
Be Connected
Scripture: Ephesians 4:9-13(NIV)
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Devotional
BE CONNECTED! That is our church’s theme for 2026. Have you taken time to do some reflecting on how you are connecting to God, our church community, our families, our neighborhoods, and our world? You have been given spiritual gifts that help you do just that.
Have you thought that evangelism could be one of your spiritual gifts? Don’t let that “e” word scare you off. Yes, an evangelist can preach and tell the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ to those who have not yet believed. An evangelist is a proclaimer of salvation by grace through faith in the Son of God. This doesn’t mean you have to knock on doors. It could just be a conversation with a neighbor or a coworker.
Could being a pastor or teacher be one of your spiritual gifts? Do you know what your gifts are and are you using them to the good for God’s kingdom? It’s been said that the church of Jesus Christ exists for three reasons:
To exalt God which is why we sing praises and offer prayers to Him.
To edify His people which is why we study His Word.
To evangelize the unsaved which is why we share our stories of salvation.
The equipping of the saints is why we do church. It’s why we study God’s word so we will be equipped to go out into the world. The work of ministry is where we take what we have learned, apply it to our life, and then share what we know with others. Going to church and/or attending Bible Study isn’t for you to keep all to yourself. God wants you to be an ambassador for Him and tell others your story. We need to be open for what God wants us to do.
Mark 16:15-16 says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
When it comes right down to it, Jesus is our standard. We should be living a Christ-centered life. Jesus didn’t spend his life hanging out at the local temple. He was always out among the people, impacting the world. Where can you make the biggest impact? Be Connected!
