First, logistically it is because I have had help and encouragement. As an awesome church member and friend, Joel Skaggs has made this possible through owning all of the technical and strategic details of this ministry outlet. I am able to carve out a few hours on Tuesday morning and just write. He takes care of the rest and it wouldn’t be possible without him.
Personally, I write because it facilitates spiritual growth in my own mind and heart. Because of the way God created me and gifted me, teaching/preaching whether through written or spoken word facilitates growth in me. I believe this is true of everyone as they lean into the spiritual gifts God uniquely gave them.
Corporately, it provides me another opportunity to shepherd through teaching between Sundays. As we travel through passages of the Bible each Sunday, there are often topics of conversation that we do not pass through for some time. This allows me to touch on things that might not be appropriate this Sunday or next Sunday.
Blogging affords an opportunity to interact with a local community as well as a global community
Also, it is my hope that this might become a place of interaction. This takes time as well as courage. Some people feel more comfortable sharing thoughts and offering questions than others… many need to see an established rhythm of other people offering thoughts before they feel comfortable doing so themselves. I would love for this to reach a level of interaction on these various topics of discussion that feels comfortable AND valuable.
This also allows us to reach out to our community in a unique way. The vast majority of people at Crossings Community Church arrived through internet searching. Blogs are one of the most easily discovered sites on the internet because of the constantly changing content. We are able to engage our Katy community through them finding this site and reading the ideas and the comments. They will see a snapshot of our church through the ideas I communicate and the comments they read.
Missionally, and aside from local engagement, it also allows us to be the church in a unique way outside of our own community. Because of how the internet works and it’s flattening effects on our world, people anywhere and anytime can find Christ-centered conversation here.
If the church only exists to expand the walls of a building, swell a budget, and fill seats, then blogging would have limited rationale. However, if the church is about God’s mission in the world through announcing His kingdom, then blogging has a prominent seat at the table. Did you know there are approximately 213 million internet searches per day? What if just a couple of those stumbled onto this site or another Christ-centered site? Blogging affords an opportunity to interact with a local community as well as a global community in the effort to engage, equip, and empower homes for gospel transformation.
The traveling writings of Martin Luther, John Wesley, and Jonathan Edwards brought revival, reformation, and awakening in their day. In our day, God has given our words increased reach, speed, and accessibility. May we seize every God given opportunity to declare His kingdom in our world!
If there are any issues, topics, or questions you would enjoy seeing discussed here please share those with us!
Matt Powell serves as teaching pastor at Crossings Community Church, a body of believers whose mission is to engage, equip, and empower homes for gospel transformation in Katy, TX.