Chuck Bridges Blog

Last Sunday we shared the “meat and potatoes” of our Vision Strategy. The second ‘e’ in our ‘e3′ formula stands for “Equip.” Ephesians 4:12 instructs those who are called and gifted to serve in the context of ‘church’ ministry to use our abilities to teach, train, and empower Disciples to fulfill their God-given purpose for living on earth. Trust me, after 20+ years of serving as a staff person in the church, this is no easy task! Our efforts to teach and train God’s people to impact their personal sphere have been benign for so long because we have focused on supporting the infrastructure of the ‘organized’ church instead of preparing people to ‘change the world!’

In our “Equip” strategy we plan to offer various times for people to study God’s Word for personal growth and practical ways to ‘flesh-out’ the principles of God’s Kingdom. We want to make sure that our ‘Equip’ ministries are a “means to an END” and not the “END” itself. Many Christians have studied the Bible and grown through personal application. The “END” of all Bible study should be to transfer our ‘growth’ to those who have not had a personal experience with our life-transforming Jesus! Future growth in our personal journey is always contingent on our willingness to give away what we are learning (“speaking the Truth in love…” – Eph. 4:15).

In our “Equip” strategy we will do our best to encourage (even require) those who are growing in Bible knowledge to verify this growth by influencing others for Jesus. These times we are now living in remind us how important it is for us to keep the Main-Thing the Main Thing!! The church is not an organization where followers of Christ can go to hang-out with each other (or to escape the chaotic world). Instead, our motive for coming together should be to gain strength and encouragement for the battles we are facing in our daily lives.

Through “Equip” ministries every person (whether a Christ-Follower or seeker or whoever else) can find something profitable for their life situation. There will be classes offered on campus and in homes. As time goes on we want to see spontaneous ‘pods’ starting in people’s apartment buildings, break rooms at work, at the country club, hunting club, etc. I think people are ready for someone to “Engage” them with the Truths of Jesus Christ as long as they don’t have to go to church!

In summary, “EQUIP” ministries is all about moving God’s people from EXPERIENCE to EXPRESSION! When our experience is genuine, there is no way we can help but express it to people in our world. Come along with us on this journey to change the world, one soul at a time!