Three ways to give someone a ride to the airport as a gospel work
The mission of our church includes a commitment to speaking gospel words and doing gospel works. A gospel work is something that is done from the gospel (in other words, something you do as a forgiven sinner and a child of God) and for the gospel (something you do in order to see the gospel make progress in your sphere of influence, however large or small).
As I go about my daily routine, I’m trying to do gospel works and to be thankful for gospel works other people do for me. I’ve already posted blogs on how to paint a fence as a gospel work and how to visit a guy in prison as a gospel work. So, here’s another one: how to give someone a ride to the airport as a gospel work.
I was recently in Chicago for a conference and had to get a ride back to O’Hare Airport when the conference ended. Enter my new friend Ron. Here are three things I learned from Ron about how to give someone a ride to the airport as a gospel work:
1. Be eager to serve the person you’re driving. I had never met Ron before he volunteered to give me a ride to the airport. He goes to the church that was hosting our conference and he agreed to give me a ride before he even met me. Ron is 73 years old, married, with children and grandchildren. I’m sure he has better things to do than cart some young pastor he doesn’t know from place to place. But that was not the way he acted toward me. He seemed very eager to serve me. He was cheerful, helpful, kind. The car was clean, there was plenty of space for me, and I noticed that he had filled the tank before picking me up. He was eager to serve. I am led to believe that Ron has deeply experienced grace in his own life because grace flows very naturally from him. His eagerness to serve me, as much as his willingness to serve, pointed me to Jesus.
2. Use your ride in the car to share gospel words with the person you’re driving. Ron spoke gospel words to me. I don’t mean that he told me how to be saved. He spoke words that beautifully adorned the gospel and showed how the gospel is active in his own life. He told me how much he loves being in a church community with a range of ages, including younger people. He told me how he and his wife regularly get away on marriage retreats about once a year to improve their marriage for the sake of Jesus. He told me how he would parent a bit differently if he had it to do over – on days working together with the kids around the house, he wouldn’t send all the kids in different directions. Instead he would have everyone work together on a common project in the same area so they could interact and enjoy the work together. The grace of the gospel naturally flowed from Ron’s words. It didn’t seem like he was trying hard or forcing things – it’s just part of who he is.
3. Listen and ask questions. Ron told me about himself, but he also seemed genuinely interested to find out more about me. He took a real interest in me. Again, this seemed to be an unforced, natural part of who he is. He seems happy being himself and eager to serve and bless other people.
I don’t think Ron sat down before he left his house and said: ‘Okay, how am I going to give this guy a ride to the airport as a gospel work?’ Rather, my guess is that doing something simple like this in such a gracious and gospel-centered and natural way is the result of many years of living for Jesus and being shaped by him. I’m not there yet. I don’t have the grace and maturity of Ron. But I want to grow in that direction. That’s why it is so important for me to intentionally pursue the formation and development of ‘gospel habits’ by thinking through carefully how to live ordinary life with gospel intentionality in various situations.
Posted by Stephen Witmer on Oct 16, 08:36 PM