SHOW ________

By Debbie Christopher -May 19, 2024

We had a special service at our church today. We lovingy, prayerfully, and tearfully sent out our ShowNashville church-plant pastor. You may be asking who/what is ShowNashville?

Here’s a short answer with a life lesson from Scripture that makes each of us part of a ShowTeam.

Our church vision statement is built around the words ‘SHOW, KNOW, and GROW. Whenever we have a specific church ministry or outreach event, we entitle it a SHOW_____ event. For example, our major annual community outreach event is entitled SHOWSpringfield. Our annual Mission Conference is entitled SHOWTheWORLD. We hosted a recent church plant ministry entitled SHOWOrlando, and led in a missionary send-out entitled SHOWNicaragua. We are currently supporting a missionary family for SHOWPortugal….and, today, we sent out our newest team entitled….you guessed it…SHOWNashville.

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So what does this idea of SHOW really entail? I heard a sermon in a recent SHOWTheWORLD service. The speaker asked the following question which has stuck with me ever since…”Show the world what?” Show the world our talents…our fancy programs… our cool ministry ideas? Or, is it to show the world the love of Christ so they may come to KNOW Christ?

In other words, as our Pastor says, “Our ‘Show’ has a clear purpose and motivation and that is so that others come to ‘Know’ Christ.”. (Philip Housley)

Dictionary.com’s definition of ‘Show’ covers the gamut of what is entailed in the act of showing.

1. To exhibit or display

2. To indicate or point out (point the way)

3. To explain or make clear

4. To make known or instruct

Let’s consider the progression of this definition. It begins with a ‘simple’ action…Your actions are on display—-they show…(See Matthew 5:15-16)

The remaining definitions involve words. Words become part of the process as we point others to Christ. (See Colossians 4:6, Colossians 4:3-4, and numerous other passages that encourage—-command—- us to share the gospel message clearly and effectively so that others may know…)

The question then pops…Do our words and our actions match up? That’s when we truly SHOW others the love and gospel of Christ.

Although the methodology and process of our church’s SHOW___ministries may differ, the purpose remains the same. The same purpose each of us desire as we show this message to our families, our friends, our neighbors, our co-workers…our circle…is that our ‘show’ points the way to ‘know’!

And, yes, we also have a SHOWCircle ministry!

Oh, there is one more definition listed under the definition of ‘show’…Jesus Christ Himself is qualified to emulate this one…To prove.

…”but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Let’s ShowOthers

~Debbie

Love ya, Blake!