Determined to Make a Difference: How Christians Can Transform Their Cities
As we explore what it means to be determined to make a difference in our cities, we face an important tension. Churches naturally create close-knit communities where people share similar beliefs and values. However, this can easily lead to "holy huddles" where we become inwardly focused and forget about those outside our circle.
This tension between being dedicated to one another and being determined to reach our cities isn't a problem to solve—it's a tension to hold. Both aspects are essential to a healthy church and to fulfilling Jesus' mission.
Why Do Churches Decline?
Churches often decline after 10-30 years because human nature causes us to create these holy huddles. We turn inward, focusing only on what we want and need, forgetting about everyone outside our circle.
But Jesus calls us to build communities that not only follow Him closely but also maintain open doors—not just welcoming people in but actively going out to share the gospel and invite others in.
From Spectators to City Shapers
God is calling us to a specific purpose: to see our cities transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. This means moving from being spectators to becoming city shapers—people who live with kingdom purpose and eternal significance.
We don't want to be products of our environment. Instead, we want our environment to be a product of us—or more specifically, a product of Jesus' love working through us in our communities.
Witnesses, Not Attorneys
Jesus didn't call us to be attorneys for Him but witnesses. What's the difference?
An attorney is aggressive, making arguments in favor of something
A witness simply retells the story of what they experienced
Our job isn't to argue people into the kingdom but to share what Jesus has done in our lives and what we've seen Him do in others. As we do this, we begin to see our cities change.
Extending a Hand to Touch a Heart
Jesus always extended a hand to touch a heart. There's something about meeting someone's practical need that opens their heart to hearing the gospel.
When we serve others—whether through community carnivals, helping at schools, or other outreach efforts—we earn the moral authority to share the gospel. We don't do it with the expectation of immediate conversion, but because we want to express Jesus' love and show that we're for our cities.
The Heart of Jesus for the Lost
In Luke 15, Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep:
"If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he leave the 99 others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?"
This reveals something profound about Jesus' heart: when He looks at a church that follows Him faithfully and then at someone across the street who's lost, His greatest concern is for that lost person.
This doesn't mean He doesn't love us, but it should help us understand the urgency to reach people who don't know Him.
What Does This Look Like in Practice?
Being determined to make a difference means:
Responding to the Holy Spirit's prompting for random acts of kindness
Stepping out of our comfort zones to love others well
Sharing the gospel—the cure for everything—with those around us
In Acts 2, we see the early church living this out:
"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship and to sharing in meals, including the Lord's Supper and to prayer... They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need... And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."
Imagine if every single day God was adding people to our church community—not because we want to be a megachurch, but because we want people to know Jesus.
You Don't Have to Be Famous to Make a Difference
Martin Luther King Jr. made an incredible impact on society, but he didn't do it alone. Behind him were people like Bayard Rustin, Ralph Abernathy, and Benjamin Mays—names many of us don't recognize, but whose impact has been felt for generations.
Don't ever think that what you have to offer is too small to matter. The perspective, experience, and gifting God has put in you, He wants to use to shape your city.
Finding Your Unique Calling
To discover your unique gifting and calling, ask yourself:
What are you most passionate about? If money were no object, what would you give your life to?
What problem in our world keeps you up at night?
What opportunities are in front of you right now to help solve or improve these problems?
Whatever God has called you to in this season, give Him your "yes" and do your best to serve that purpose. In serving that purpose, you become who Jesus has called you to be.
Life Application
This week, I challenge you to take one step toward becoming a city shaper rather than just a spectator. This might mean:
Getting to know a few of your neighbors and planning a block party
Living differently at work so people notice something different about you
Serving in your church or community in a way that uses your unique gifts
Remember that making a difference in your workplace, neighborhood, or any sphere of influence is a spiritual activity. As followers of Jesus, everything we do can be spiritual.
Ask yourself these questions:
Am I becoming who Jesus wants me to become?
Is who I'm becoming leading me to do what Jesus has called me to do?
What is one practical way I can extend a hand to touch someone's heart this week?
What unique contribution can I make to help transform my city?
Remember, Jesus didn't just die for a cause—He lived for one. Will you?
