Pastor this Block?
Dear Calvary Family,
I am guessing when you moved into where you are living right now, you didn’t have anyone tell you, “Welcome to the neighborhood, Pastor!” You probably don’t normally drive into your neighborhood or walk your block and think to yourself, “I am the Minister of this street.”
But that is in fact what you are. You are the Pastor and Minister of your Block. Let me explain.
The term “Pastor” and “Minister” most of the time in our modern culture and throughout Church History has referred to a person who serves vocationally in a local church. The New Testament teaches us in places like 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-9, the role of an elder/pastor is a serious and dedicated calling. Therefore, we shouldn’t toss around this term or office lightly.
Yet, the Bible also teaches us that every believer has a role and gifting to build up the church (1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4) and is in fact, part of the “priesthood of all believers.”
1 Peter 2:5 tells us, “you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ…”
1 Peter 2:9 continues, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
So, what does this all mean for you and for me???
It means if you are a follower of Jesus, a person who has placed their faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you are set apart for God’s purposes and part of the priesthood of all believers, serving under the “Great High Priest,” Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14).
It means that in a sense, you are the “Pastor” of your block!
You are called as 1 Peter 2:9 teaches, “you may proclaim the excellencies of Him (Jesus!) who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
What if you looked at yourself in this way?
Would it change how you interact with your neighbors?
Would it change how you feel about your street and the role you have on it?
This month, we have united together as a Church family to “Bless this Block.” We have been challenged to gather in groups or even as individuals and prayer walk the street we live on, praying for each home that we pass. (Be sure to grab a pack of door hangers this Sunday morning at Church if you’d like to let your neighbors know their house was blessed/prayed for). You should have received an email from our Reach Local Pastor, Jon Smalley in the last week or so with some details about this united “Bless this Block” campaign.
Discover more about “Bless this Block” today at calvarylife.org/bless
My brothers and sisters of Calvary Church, let’s see ourselves clearly as “Pastors" in our neighborhoods and let’s go out and proclaim the excellencies of Jesus to our block!
We love and cherish each of you,
Matt Doan
Reach Pastor