Living Word Gospel Mission Headquarter Church

09/12/2025

15/10/2025

DOING GOOD WORKS : A Reflection on Faith in Action

The Bible consistently teaches that good works are an essential expression of a believer’s faith. While salvation is a gift of God’s grace and not earned by works, Scripture emphasizes that genuine faith naturally produces good deeds as evidence of a transformed heart.

The apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 2:8–10 (NIV):

> “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

This passage shows that good works do not earn salvation; rather, they flow from salvation. A life changed by grace becomes one of service, compassion, and obedience to God’s will.

Jesus Himself taught that our actions should reflect the light of God’s goodness in the world. In Matthew 5:16, He said:

> “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Doing good, then, is not about personal recognition—it is about revealing God’s character through love, generosity, and mercy. The book of James 2:17 reinforces this by declaring:

> “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

True faith moves us to act—feeding the hungry, comforting the brokenhearted, serving others, and standing for righteousness. As Galatians 6:9–10 encourages:

> “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

In summary, good works are the natural fruit of a life rooted in Christ. They are not the cause of our salvation but the evidence of it—a way to glorify God and bless others. When we walk in love and serve with humility, we fulfill God’s purpose for our lives and become living testimonies of His grace.

LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS 🙏🙏😁🙏💯

03/08/2024

PAPER DELIVERED, BY REV. PETER E. K. EBONY, AT LIVING WORD GOSPEL MISSION, NATIONAL HEADQUATERS, BOJI-BOJI OWA, CHURCH WORKERS’ TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT, HELD ON SUNDAY 21ST JULY, 2024.

THEME: REDEDICATING AND RESTRATEGIZING FOR GOAL ACHIEVEMENT – 1CHRO 29:5
TOPIC: CLOSING THE BACK DOOR OF OUR CHURCH – JOHN 17:12

INTRODUCTION
As we push to build the church of our dream (Isa 2:1-5; Mic 4:1-4), we have to take responsibility. We must constantly check if the back door of our church is safely locked, so that our visitors do not escape through there.
This task calls for tact and not tax (force on the visitors). This is the pathway to a mega church.
In this paper, we shall examine insightful discoveries by church growth experts with respect to reasons people escape via church backdoors, ways we can checkmate these and keys to lock the backdoors of our church.

A. REASONS PEOPLE ESCAPE THROUGH EXIT DOOR OF THE CHURCH
Below are reasons put forward by church growth researchers.

1. People’s Judgment: People judge churches the way they judge restaurants. The stay as long as,
a. The meals are good.
b. The customer service is excellent.
c. The menu is varied.
d. The inconveniences are not much.

2. Days of Church Members Immobility is Over: Gone are the days of brand loyalty to church attendance. In the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80 and early 90s people stayed in a church for life. Today, people are mobile and always on the move.

3. Freedom: Freedom of association goes with freedom of worship and expression of religious worship. Entry and exit are not regulated.

4. Failure to Meet People’s Need: When people’s needs are not met, they look somewhere else.

5. The Days of Multi Church Membership are Here: Today, members are attached to about five or more pastors at the same time.
a. They attend the church of pastor A for first service and Church of pastor B for another service on the same Sunday.
b. They finish the church service of pastor C and follow about three other pastors in the internet.

6. Bad Church Climate: This can be caused by scandals, gossiping, bad church image, oppression etc.

7. Challenge of Emphasis: Over emphasis, under emphasis and imbalance emphasis on one line of truth make people to migrate to other churches to enable them partake in other area of emphasis.

8. Extreme Rigidity: Some churches are over rigid which can make people change parish. It is needful to note that flexibility is not compromise!

9. Poor Management: Bad management of the following, among others, by church leaders and workers,
a. Time
b. Money
c. People (customers!)
i. Oppressing and suppressing the gifts, graces and calling of members.
ii. Insensitivity and wrong handling of people, problems and prospects of people.

10. Lack of Innovation: People change church when nothing new is happening in their church.

B. WAYS TO CHECK THE BACKDOORS OF OUR CHURCH
We must watch out for these signs and promptly address them.

1. Does the new member have at least 7 friends in the church? This is important because friends look for each other.
a. We need to help the member find friends in the church.
b. We must deliberately connect them with members of the church with similar interests.

2. Do they regularly attend worship services?
a. We must monitor new members worship attendance.
b. Until the new member attends Sunday services 3 or 4 times consecutively, he has not decided to be a member of our church.

3. Are they involved in the church activities?
a. We have to give them meaningful and appropriate role in the church, no matter how small.
b. This must be progressive.

4. Do they participate in any unit in the church?
a. We need to help them to be involved in compulsory arms of the church.
b. We need to help them to be involved in at least one Optional units or departments in our church.

C. KEYS TO LOCK THE BACK DOORS OF OUR CHURCH
We, as workers in the church, must help members (both new and old):
1. Find friendship.
2. Become involved in church ministry.
3. Sense a small group in the church.
4. Work together, knowing the vision and mission of our church.
5. To grow spiritually.

CONCLUSION
We must all get into serious work as workers. We must rededicate our services and change our style. We must be more tactical. Our church must be inescapable. We must hit a mega church!

14/12/2023

11/12/2023

EXCERPTS FROM OUR SUNDAY SERVICE 10/12/23
BY REV. P. E. K EBONY

Anyone that wants to do something great must take time to prepare for it.

Those who don't prepare are preparing to fail.

PREPARE TO ENCOUNTER YOUR GOD (spiritual preparation)

Ezra 7:10
[10]For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.

The spiritual governs the physical. No matter how far you have gone in faith get ready to better your relationship with God next year.

Exodus 19:10 Moses asked the people to prepare

The food of the spirit is the word of God. The word of God energizes the spirit. There must be a conscious effort to study God's word with your household.

Your word level determines how spiritual you are. Your word level gives you spiritual depth

Ps 119 vs 11

If you want to encounter God in 2024 you must let God in every area of your life

*Those who encounter God prepare for it

Shalom!

04/12/2023

EXCERPTS FROM OUR SUNDAY SERVICE 4/12/23
BY REV. P. E. K EBONY

PREPARATION: Determinants of our preparation for 2024
Matthew 25: 1-13

Preparation is something that must be practicalized. We all must do it and practice it. The yuletide season is not just for celebrating (eating and drinking) but getting ready also for a specific future (2024)

DETERMINANTS
1. Your vision: the way you see the future determines how you prepare for it

2. Your goal: What are your targets? What do you want to accomplish?
Every goal must be given a specific time frame.

Goals are written down, you don't plan in your head but on paper. Assessment of your achievements is always based on what you have written down for yourself. Habakkuk 2: 2

3. Value: How you value something determines your preparedness

4. Your inner qualities: What are these qualities needed?

A. Your Knowledge level. Knowledge is in two classes 1. Gathering information by yourself 2. Revelation (God shows you).

**One of the things we shall be doing in this season is to feed our minds and spirits with God's word.

B. Wisdom level Proverbs chapter 1

C. Understanding level (insight)

D. Faith level

To be continued..

Shalom!