Yesterday our church started a new series “ReThink”, we were challenged to ReThink Church in a way in which us/our church can reach the world. We were ask by our Pastor, “Do you think God can fill this theater 3 times”, we all screamed yes…”then why do you think he can’t do more?”
Isaiah 55:8 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Pastor Dave used the illustration of the “Good Samaritan” to help us understand how we should and can reach the lost in our own daily walk. Read Luke 10:27-37:
27He answered: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”
28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
In other words there are people on a daily basis that we come in contact with, face to face in our community and through technology everyday. We have an opportunity to share through the Internet such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and Internet Church (which Crosspoint is hosting on Sunday mornings live at http://www.mogulus.com/moviechurch).
God ask us to love our neighbor! He didn’t ask us to pass on the other side of the road…go down another isle in the market…turn away when meeting someone in a hallway, etc…He gives us a way even through technology, meeting new friends through Internet connections, which in turn gives us the opportunity to get to know more about these friends lives. We find out about what is going on in there life…people are hurting. God has given us an easy opprotunity to minister to a hurting, beaten up, hopeless, left to be forgotten people in this world. But, do I take God up on His offer? No, I am guilty! I don’t embrace this person and tell them about Jesus! Why do I let fear keep me from this? Do you feel this way?
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Luke 14:23
“Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.
“Accepting the Challenge” to win lost people to Christ amounts to going out to the roads and country lanes of our cities, state, world and make them come! As Pastor Dave uses the words “make them”…his translation is to “drag them” in!
The Bible says in Matthew 28:19-20
19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
To “Accept the Challenge” I must put this fear that I have aside and take the challenge that has been set before me by Pastor Dave. I pray and I ask that you pray for me that I would take the step in faith in this scripture:
Deuteronomy 31:8
8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Ephesians 3:20
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work WITHIN US, to accomplish INFINITELY more than we might ask or think.
Maybe you haven’t made this decision in your life to do that! Leave a comment below if God is leading you in the “Accepting The Challenge” direction in your life. That way I can pray for you too!
God Bless!
Your blog is great and yes I just Accepted the Challenge to start here at work begging people to come and hear our Awesome Pastor. It is difficult to wait until the next Sunday to know what he will put on your heart.
Hi Lynn
I enjoyed your post,and Jesus has asked that we go and make disciples.And He does lead ,us and to do His will effectively we must follow His leading,for God is preparing us for where He can best use us and that is a wonderful thing about God,We don’t have to try and out do each other,because of all you’ve been through you will reach people that I can’t.And so with me and each of us,but we all will reach another as we go about our Fathers business. God is good,faithful and true.
Love Ya Lynn
Lynn, I will definitely be praying for you as you accept God’s challenge. I myself share some of the same fears, and think alot about how to “drag in” the lost souls of Morgan County. I’m a naturally introverted person, but can’t use that as an excuse not to be a disciple of God. I am going to accept the challenge as well. You’re in my prayers.
Hey Girl!
Our Bible Study group wants to help with the challenge!
We are all going to read this blog post and forward the Crosspoint Movie Blog site to everyone we know!
Thanks for getting this up!
Praise God for people who listen!
Jess