How Writing Impacts the Kingdom

Writing and editing were not on my dream jobs list. Neither were careers I had any idea about or how to get involved. Looking back, the school newspaper staff and yearbook staff should have been clues but I was oblivious to the possibilities.

To understand the impact of how writing for Lifeway’s ongoing Bible studies impacts the kingdom, a mirror and photo of my dad’s nightstand is all I need.

The Mirror

As a high school student, a variety of things forced me to ask some hard questions. The biggest question focused on having something ln life that could not be taken away. The presence of a Personal Study Guide about the Gospel of Mark on my desk led to reading that Bible book as well as the comments in the study guide. Mark 8 and 10 stood out, both being connected by a call to follow Jesus. Mark 8 concludes with Jesus addressing a crowd and explaining that if they wanted to gain life, they were to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. Mark 10 includes the story of a wealthy man rejecting the offer to follow Jesus since doing so would include selling his possessions and giving the proceeds to the poor. The wealthy man walked away from Jesus, dejected. That story was not the one I wanted to be said of me. Jesus invited me to follow Him just as He did the crowd in Mark 8 and the wealthy man in Mark 10. The invitation was accepted while sitting in the corner of my bedroom, my Bible in one hand and the personal Study Guide in the other. Whoever wrote and edited that Personal Study Guide played a big role in me becoming a follower of Jesus. That happened November 12, 1979.

Fast forward to June 8, 2019. My dad had passed away from cancer the day before and mom asked me to do some house cleaning. Being left alone gave time for me to reflect on the events of the previous day as my dad took his last breathed on earth. The spot where he died was on the other side of the wall of the corner in which my following Jesus had begun, less than five feet if the wall were not present. Sitting on his dresser next to that wall was his Bible with a bookmark that read "Fathers of faith make a difference" with Matthew 17:20 printed on it (the marker was at John 6). On top of his Bible was his copy of the Spring 2019 Explore the Bible Personal Study Guide which was a study of the Gospel of Mark. Emotions overwhelmed me knowing that the last Bible book my dad studied in his Bible study group was the same one God used to draw me to Him.

My dad was faithful to his Sunday School classes over the years and his class always used Bible Book/Explore the Bible. I am proof that faithful fathers make a difference. One way my dad grew in that faithfulness was though the reading of resources like Explore the Bible.

Today’s Stewardship

These life experiences find their expression in the belief that everyone needs to study the Bible in a group led by a prepared teacher that encourages individual Bible study as well. More fathers, sons, and family members need to study the Bible so they too can discover what following Jesus is all about. Prior to working for Lifeway, God allowed me to contribute to these resources as a writer. Now God allows me to be one of the stewards of the resources that have shaped and molded many people, including my dad and myself. As a steward of the resources, God allows me to invite others to contribute as writers as well.

The person you impact through your writing may very well be the next person God has in mind to do His kingdom work.

G. Dwayne McCrary is manager of adult ongoing Bible studies at Lifeway, a reader of history, author, and bicyclist.

You can also find out more about writing content for Lifeway at lifeway.com/writing.