Discovering God for Yourself

Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.”

Mark 12:24 NLT

At the BACC, our mission is to build a church culture where we live out and teach the Bible. We resist the temptation of hypocrisy, choosing instead to embrace the transformative power of walking with God and doing good.

Our executive minister, Russ Ewell, recently shared the BACC’s vision on Family Life Radio, which consists of 36 Christian radio stations across the country, reaching more than 18 million people. In his interview, he dove into how we can make a real difference in the world by showing others the heart of God and becoming the kind of friends who reflect his love. 

As this week’s tragedy at a high school in Georgia weighs heavily on our hearts, this episode gives us a much-needed reminder. Our relationship with God and our friendship does make a difference in the lives of people around us. We can make an impact in the world simply by being a friend. 

Everyone wants to be loved

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

1 John 4:12 NLT

Although Americans are becoming less religious over time, we need to remember that this doesn’t mean people are closed off to spirituality. Everyone wants to be loved (Proverbs 19:22), and research shows that up to 45% of adults around us are experiencing debilitating loneliness. 

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. [35] Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

John 13:34-35 NLT

We can make a real difference in people’s lives when we love as Jesus loved by sacrificing our convenience to provide comfort to others. We do this because we are building a biblical church—we are striving to obey scriptures like John 13:34-35 rather than settling into the alluring convenience of religious tradition. More often than not, a culture of religious tradition becomes insular and detached from the real needs of our community. 

So this weekend, we encourage you to give this episode a listen and reflect on this question: Whose life can I change simply by being a friend?

Watch the full conversation.