Robert Lewis, author of The Church of Irresistible Influence, uses the metaphor of building bridges to illustrate how the “culture” of Fellowship Bible Church makes it possible for members to identify opportunities to serve others in Little Rock, Arkansas and then take the initiative to make them happen.

Every time someone in the community is served by someone in the church, it is as though a bridge has been built between the church and the community.

Initially, all the traffic goes one-way—from the church to the community.

However, once the bridge has been built, it is now open for two-way traffic. Anyone from the community may now use the same bridge to come to the church, should they so desire!

If no one chooses to come, that’s OK too. Because, the church has fulfilled Jesus’ mandate to be a city on a hill that cannot be hidden, a light that is visible for all to see and to let their light so shine before others that may see their good works and give glory to our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16).

Have you noticed that the gospels repeatedly mention how Jesus “went into/throughout” certain territories (Matthew 4:23, 9:35), homes (Matthew 26:6, Luke 19: 5) and even hostile territory such as Samaria (John 4:4)?

Jesus was a master at creating traffic one-way!

In Acts 2:47 we read that the early church was known for “enjoying the favour of all the people.”

Historians tell us that this was likely because Christians had a reputation for taking care of people in the community who were ignored and abandoned by others. They would care for the sick and the disabled, and even bury the destitute who had died of dreaded diseases.

In other words, they began by creating traffic one-way. The Lord provided the traffic coming the other way as he “added to their numbers.”

Perhaps we need to ask: “Lord, where would you like me to create traffic one-way today?” Amen?