← Why We Are Here: The Life God Created You For

Make a Difference

September 27, 2026 · Derek Griffon

If The Bayou Church ceased to exist, would our community notice?

We want to invite every single person in Acadiana to Know God, Find Community, and Make A Difference.

“¹⁸Jesus came near and said to them, ‘All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” Matthew 28:18-20 (CSB)

Make Disciples → (mathēteusate) to make someone a disciple; to train someone to become a learner and follower.

Myth of Ministry Calling

Preach
Sing
Be an overseas missionary

You don’t have to be in full-time ministry to live a full-time mission.

Making a difference is using the life God gave you to help somebody else follow Jesus.

How do we make a difference individually?

How do we make a difference as a church?

Individually → God has given you something to make a difference.

“⁹Be hospitable to one another without complaining. ¹⁰Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. ¹¹If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:9-11 (CSB)

You don’t have to have a microphone to make a difference. You have a neighborhood. A workplace. A classroom. A team. A family. A dinner table. A circle of influence.

Discover And Discern your calling

As a Church → God has given us something to make a difference.

“¹¹And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ. … ” Ephesians 4:11-12 (CSB)

“¹⁶From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.” Ephesians 4:16 (CSB)

Contributors carry the weight. Consumers critique the ones carrying it.

“¹In those days, as the disciples were increasing in number, there arose a complaint by the Hellenistic Jews against the Hebraic Jews that their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution. ²The Twelve summoned the whole company of the disciples and said, ‘It would not be right for us to give up preaching the word of God to wait on tables. ³Brothers and sisters, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty. ⁴But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ ⁵This proposal pleased the whole company. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a convert from Antioch.” Acts 6:1-5 (CSB)
“Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.” Acts 6:8 (CSB)

“⁵⁴When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶He said, ‘Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ ⁵⁷They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. ⁵⁸They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’ ⁶⁰He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them!’ And after saying this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:54-60 (CSB)

The first martyr of the church wasn’t on staff. He was all-in.

Stephen gave up his comfort and eventually his life.

Stephen got up and used what God had given him.

Stephen grew up into such Christlikeness that when his enemies killed him, he responded like Jesus.

Three Charges to the Church:

1. Give up → time, treasure & territory

Give up your time to serve.
Give up your treasure to be generous.
Give up your territory: your seat, your space, your preference, so someone else can encounter Jesus.

2. Get up → talent

Get off the sidelines and use what God has put in you.

3. Grow up → transformation

Become more like Jesus while helping others become more like Jesus.

We want to invite every single person in Acadiana to Know God, Find Community, and Make A Difference.

If you want a more interactive experience on mobile and to save the outline to your files, download our app via the App Store or Google Play.