God's Word in Action: Serving the World with Compassion and Justice

God's Word, the Bible, commissions each believer to reach out to people in need. God's Word in Action is committed to helping Christians put His Word into action on local and global levels.

Thomas Nelson, a leading Christian publisher, launched God's Word in Action in the spring of 2011. The initiative educates and encourages Christians with tangible ways to serve others. The project website provides numerous ideas and resources for changing the world through service, compassion and justice.

In partnership with World Vision, God's Word in Action addresses global and domestic poverty. Anyone can change the lives of families across the globe through child sponsorship or health fund donations.

Are you ready to join the movement and work alongside other believers who are serving people at home and abroad? God's Word in Action offers Bible verses and weekly challenges to help you put His Word into action wherever you live.

Continue reading to learn more about Christian service, and how you can be a part of this worthy initiative to serve others with compassion and justice.

Believers around the world form one body: the body of Christ. They are known as His church. Jesus is the head, and each Christian is part of the body. Jesus does His work on earth through the body, His followers.

Charles Stanley, the founder of In Touch Ministries, says "believers are a breathing and acting part of Christ." They are His feet to carry the gospel message, His arms to love and care for others, and His hands to uphold the weak. Jesus reaches the world through His church.

God's Word in Action motivates believers to get involved in the Lord's work. Everyone can do something: spread the gospel, feed the homeless, sponsor a child, help humanitarian causes, provide a service or volunteer their time.

The God's Word in Action website has Internet links for ministries and para-church organizations where Christians can get involved and make a difference in the world. See the sidebar for links to three of these organizations.

What does God's Word say about helping people in need? Here are some verses of Scripture that answer this question:

• "It is more blessed to give than to receive." -- Acts 20:35 (NASB)
• "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." -- Galatians 6:2 (KJV)
• "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." -- Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)
• "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing." -- Deuteronomy 10:18 (NIV)
• "...learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause." -- Isaiah 1:17 (ESV)
• "...I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." -- Matthew 25:35-36 (ESV)
• "But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish" -- Psalm 9:18 (NIV)

Are you ready to put God's Word into action by sharing your faith with others? Do you want to tell the world about Jesus, but you're not sure where to begin?

God can use you to share the gospel as an online missionary. Technology has changed the way we communicate with people. The Internet, smart phones and social media provide numerous opportunities for online evangelism.

Global Media Outreach and Internet Evangelism Day are two good resources for putting God's Word into action right from your desk, laptop, or cell phone. All you need is a computer or electronic device with Internet access. Plug in, log on and put God's word into action online.

Here's another way to put God's Word into action: buy a Thomas Nelson Bible. When you purchase a Thomas Nelson Bible at a Christian bookstore, part of the proceeds help a child through World Vision.

The fundraising part of this campaign applies only to retail store purchases in the United States, through March 31, 2012. Thomas Nelson will contribute a minimum of $75,000 to World Vision. The donation will provide the children of the world with vaccinations, clean water, healthy food and basic care.

Copyright © 2011. Annette R. Smith. All rights reserved.

Published: May 26, 2011 / Modified: December 14, 2012.

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