Preaching and Leading with Our Lives

 

Preaching and Leading with Our Lives

George Fox told us to “let your lives preach, let your light shine.” As a pastor of a home church and a student of ministry, this is my biggest goal: How do we help our young families actually live this out?

The simple spiritual exercise, thanking God for ordinary provision like food and sunshine, is a perfect starting point. It connects directly with two important habits: Celebration and Guidance.

Celebration Starts Simple

At Family Gathering Church, we meet in a home and share a meal. This is intentional. The exercise of seeing a meal, or the warm sun, as a gift from God turns the most basic part of life into a moment of worship. Our young congregation (mostly 20s and 30s, and their children) are seeking genuine connection and simplicity in their faith. This exercise shows them that Celebration is more than a weekly event; it’s a daily, heartfelt “thank you” for God’s provision right there on the table. It allows our very lives to “preach” God’s goodness without formality. By celebrating the small, ordinary gifts, we show the world that God is truly bountiful.

Provision Leads to Guidance

Why does this matter for Guidance? If we believe God provides the plants, animals, and sun we need to live, it’s much easier to believe He will guide us in the big stuff, too. Our church vision isn't about getting a big building; it's about making strong disciples and sending them out to start new home churches. This takes faith! When I train new leaders, I point back to this basic truth: The same God who makes sure the sun rises every day is the God who will give us the people and direction we need to follow the Great Commission. By practicing praise for everyday provision, we build the faith muscle required to follow God’s Guidance. It shows that our works, our life and our mission, are seen, and ultimately, our Father is glorified. 

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 

1 Corinthians 10:31

12.1 Loving God

Bernard of Clairvaux described four ways we can love, moving from simple self-interest to complete devotion to God. The first way is loving yourself just to survive. The second is loving God because He helps you (like asking for comfort). The third is loving God simply because He is good, without expecting anything back. The final and deepest way is loving yourself only because you belong to God. This journey is a path toward selfless spiritual union.

Can someone practice these steps if they don't love God? I believe only the first two stages are truly possible without faith. The first stage, basic survival and self-care, is something everyone does, religious or not. The second stage, seeking Gods help or following religious rules for personal benefit (like feeling safe or being part of a community) can be done without true love for God. It’s a transactional arrangement.

However, the third stage, loving God purely for His own sake, and the fourth stage are completely impossible without loving God. These advanced steps require you to sincerely put God’s will and goodness above your own self-interest. If you don't love God, you are missing the very reason and power needed to reach these selfless levels. Trying to do the third and fourth steps without faith just becomes a difficult set of rules or a kind of self-help trick; it loses the spiritual, transformative meaning Bernard intended.

My meditation on Psalm 139 (about God knowing everything about us) has clarified how I think about confession and worship. The psalm says God "searches me and knows me" (v.1) and that I can't hide from Him. This means confession isn't about telling God something He doesn't know; it’s about humbly agreeing with His perfect knowledge of my deepest self, including my hidden faults. This same truth changes worship. When I realize I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" (v.14), worship becomes less about my emotions and more about a simple, grateful thank you to the Creator who made me on purpose. Worship is the only natural response to a God whose love and knowledge are everywhere.