Jesus often used parables to teach His followers about God’s kingdom and how to live in a way that honors Him. On Nov. 16, author and pastor Joe Stowell will explore these timeless teachings during a seminar, “Stories That Make a Difference,” at The Cove.
In this Q&A, Stowell shares practical ways believers can reflect Christ’s love, remain faithful through life’s challenges and make a difference in the lives of others.
Q: You’ve spent decades serving the Lord as a pastor, author and Christian leader. Looking back, what has God taught you about what it truly means to live a life that makes a difference?
A: Living a life that makes a difference starts with routine faithfulness, day by day, even in the small things. It’s about being faithful to the will and ways of our Lord in our relationships, our work and even in our play.
In fact, making a difference is about being different. Different not in a weird way, but in the ways of Jesus. Forgiving our offenders. Loving our enemies. Loving our neighbors regardless of race, class and temperament. Being generous with our wealth on behalf of the needs of others and the advance of His kingdom. Living our lives as servants to others instead of living to serve ourselves. Ministering to the poor, the outcast and the oppressed. And loving sinners in a way that draws them to the saving grace of Jesus.
All of this for His glory and the good of others!
Q: Your upcoming seminar at The Cove is titled “Stories That Make a Difference.” What inspired you to focus on the parables of Jesus, and why do you believe these stories are especially relevant for believers today?
A: As predicted in the Old Testament, Jesus came to initiate His eternal kingdom through His victory over Satan, sin and death. In recruiting followers to join Him in the launch of His kingdom, He spent much of His time describing the uniqueness of His kingdom and calling followers to live out this uniqueness in the chaos of their fallen world.
One of the methods He used to define and describe the Kingdom was His use of stories and parables—to teach His followers the nature, the ways and the worth of His kingdom. Today, as His followers, His stories continue to illuminate for us what living as a kingdom follower looks like.
In essence, through His stories, Jesus calls us to be a sneak preview of the really big show to come by showing through our lives what life in His eternal kingdom will look like.
Q: Many believers want their lives to point others to Jesus but aren’t sure what that looks like in everyday situations. What are some simple, practical ways we can reflect Christ’s love to the people around us?
A: It begins with remembering that people matter to Christ. All of them! And realizing that one of the ways we demonstrate our love for Christ is to share His love with others by caring about what He cares about—the needs and nurture of people (John 21:15-19).
True love reaches out to meet the needs of others. Every day, we have others around us whose lives can be enriched by acts of love from us. Our spouse, our children, the people we work with, the guy next door and anyone else who crosses our path—all are legitimate candidates to feel the touch of our love.
And it doesn’t need to be a major project. Sometimes it is the love of an approving smile, a note of encouragement, a listening ear, a check in the mail, a dinner delivered to a hurting family, the assurance of prayer or anything else that meets needs in a loving way.
And since the love of Christ is available to all, no one should be exempt from our love as well. Our enemies, the undeserving, someone whose personality or temperament we don’t necessarily like, or the one who has not treated us well—all are opportunities to love as Christ has loved us.
So, starting each day with a prayer that—before you lay your head on the pillow—someone will cross your path whom you can love as Christ has loved you, would be a great exercise in bringing the love of Jesus into your world.
Q: As you prepare for the seminar, “Stories That Make a Difference,” what is your prayer for those who attend, and what do you hope they take home with them?
A: My prayer is that those who attend will embrace the privilege of seeing themselves as Kingdom people who joyfully live to exhibit the values and ways of the kingdom of Christ for His glory and the good of many!
Join Joe Stowell for “Stories That Make a Difference” on Nov. 16 for a time of Biblical teaching and encouragement. Reserve your spot or explore other upcoming events at The Cove.