BOOST #005: From Paralysis to Purpose 💪
Using Creativity to Break Down Barriers and Bring People Closer to Jesus
💖 DEVOTIONAL:
📖 SCRIPTURE:
"Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on." - Mark 2:3-4 (NIV)
We have been given a special calling and responsibility to use our talents for the glory of God. Just like any other gift, our creativity should be used to bless others and bring them closer to Jesus. The story of the four friends in the Bible illustrates this point beautifully.
The four friends in the story faced a significant obstacle when they tried to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus. The crowds were too thick, and they couldn't get their friend through the door. But instead of giving up, they got creative. They climbed onto the roof of the house, made a hole in it, and lowered their friend down to Jesus. They didn't let the obstacles in their way stop them from bringing their friend to Jesus, and their faith and resourcefulness were rewarded with a miraculous healing.
In the same way, as Christian creatives, we will face obstacles when we try to bring people closer to God. We may encounter resistance from those who don't believe, or we may struggle to find ways to communicate the message effectively. But we can use our creativity and resourcefulness to break down barriers and bring people to the feet of Jesus.
Our creative talents can take many different forms. Some of us may be graphic designers, writers, musicians, dancers or filmmakers. Whatever our talent may be, we can use it to share the message of God's love and grace. We can create art that speaks to the heart, music that touches the soul, or stories that inspire and challenge.
But it's not just about creating something beautiful or entertaining. It's about using our creativity to point people towards Jesus, to help them experience the transformative power of His love. When we use our talents in this way, we become a powerful force for good in the world, and through His power, we have the potential to change lives.
So let us use our creativity to break down obstacles, to reach out to those who are hurting or lost, and to draw them closer to Jesus. Let us be like the four friends in the story, who didn't let anything stop them from bringing their friend to the Savior!
🙏 PRAYER:
Dear God, we thank you for the amazing gift of creativity that you have given us. As we use this gift to create and communicate, we ask that you guide our hearts and minds to use it in ways that glorify you and bring others closer to you. Just as the four friends in the Bible used their creativity to bring their paralyzed friend to you, please help us to use our talents to break down barriers and help others experience your love and healing power. May our creativity be a tool for your kingdom work, and may we make a difference in the world through it. We ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.
😌 APPLICATION QUESTION:
⚒️ Break your barriers!
What obstacles are you facing right now in using your creative talents to bring people closer to God? How can you use your creativity to overcome those obstacles and bring people to Jesus? Pray for God's guidance and wisdom as you seek to use your creativity for His purposes.
💡 PRACTICAL TIPS:
🗣️ Tell Stories. One way we can use our creativity is through storytelling. Stories have the power to touch the hearts and minds of people in a way that facts and figures cannot. Whether it's through writing, visual art, music, or film, we can use our creative talents to tell stories that point people towards God. We can share stories of how God has worked in our own lives, or create fictional stories that illustrate biblical truths.
🙌
Create WORSHIP SPACES. Another way we can use our creativity is through worship. Worship is not just singing songs on Sunday mornings, but a lifestyle of devotion and surrender to God. As Christian creatives, we can use our talents to create music, art, or other expressions of worship that help people connect with God. We can lead others in worship or create creative spaces for people to encounter God in new and meaningful ways.
👨🦽 Be a creative servant. We can use our creativity to serve others. The four friends in the story didn't just bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus for their own benefit, but for his. As Christian creatives, we can use our talents to serve others and meet their needs. We can use our skills to help those who are hurting, marginalized, or in need of hope. By doing so, we can show others the love of Christ and point them towards the ultimate healer, Jesus.
💪 CREATIVE CHALLENGE: "BREAKING BARRIERS"
Create a visual artwork* following this guideline:
🏳️ Use the phrase “Breaking Barriers” as a creative prompt for your work.
*This can be anything from a photograph, to a graphic design poster, to a GIF animation, to a typography work. Basically, if you can share it on Instagram, you’re on the right track!
🤩 WE’D LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS! Share your finished work on social media with the hashtag: #IndieBeginningBoost and get a chance to be featured on the next issue!
📅 Deadline: Mar 4, 2023.
💡 Only posts from public profiles are visible to our team.
⭐ ART FEATURE:
Here are our picks from last week’s creative challenge, 🏳️ SURRENDER:
We want to feature your work! Use the hashtag: #IndieBeginningBoost on your Instagram uploads to get a chance to be part of our weekly newsletter! 😎
Hey, creatives! 👋
It's been a tough & busy week for the team! If you noticed, we didn’t post much in the last few days (Hopefully the algorithm will show us mercy as we get our momentum back haha!)
How are you all doing? How have you been in the past few days? We hope your relationship with God is thriving and that you're finding time to connect & collaborate with your creative community.
Speaking of collaboration, this week's devotional was actually inspired by my good friend Camille Tagunicar, who is a campus missionary at our local church. Her exhortation got me thinking about how we, as Christian creatives, can use our talents to bring people closer to God.
So, I want to encourage you to reach out to your friends and use your craft to bring them closer to Jesus. Whether it's through storytelling, visual art, music, or any other medium, there are so many ways we can use our creativity to point people towards God.
Thanks for being part of this community, and I'm excited to see how we can make a difference in the world together!
Blessings,
Brian Vee,
Founder, Indie Beginning