From Hopscotch to Holiness

94 From Hopscotch To HolinessHopscotch Rules:Hopscotch is a fun game to play with your friends—the moreplayers the better!There are several variations of the grid, but even more can bemade based on length of that grid. There is nothing saying thatthe grid can’t go on for blocks!CHURCH: religious building; religion’s followers as a group.Hopscotch is meant to be played with others. You can even customdesign the grid to expand it a long distance. In life, the church is likethat hopscotch grid that goes on for blocks and the more players thebetter. In this chapter we’ll discuss growing the church. God’s visionfor the ministry of the church has always included growth that extendslike ripples in the water further and further out beyond the walls of thechurch building. The impact of our ministry is designed to reach the localbody of believers, our community, our nation, and our world.Where do we begin? Jesus told the first disciples that when they werefilled with the Holy Spirit they would be his witnesses. Consider Acts 1:8.“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and youwill be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and tothe ends of the earth.” For the church to be faithful to this scripture wemust start with transformational ministry to those around us. It is vitalthat those within the church are discipled to receive God’s power. Theywill in turn affect their homes and their extended families. But we mustnot stop there. The church must then be intentional about outreach thatis guided by the Holy Spirit. Where is your Judea and Samaria? Where isGod calling you in ministry to the ends of the earth?