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WHAT WILL THE NEIGHBORS THINK? FEBRUARY 25, 2007
INTRODUCTION A godly vision will be a vision that forces us to look beyond ourselves. No one ever said God’s vision would be easy, or not cause us to be stretched! As we discover God’s vision for us, I believe we will also discover that much of His vision is for how we interact with and relate to the world around us.
Understanding our ministry to those outside the fellowship; emphasis on what the vision will look like in the community.
WHAT IS YOUR VISION OF THOSE IN THE WORLD? When you look at the people in your community, your neighborhood or on your street, your schools, your workplace… what do you see? What is your vision of them?
How did Jesus look at people? - Matthew 9:36-38- He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields.”
- John 9:39- “I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.”
- Luke 1:78-79- Because of God’s tender mercy, the light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.
1- OUR LIVES ARE A WITNESS TO OTHERS How we live our lives speaks volumes to those around us, whether we want it to or not, whether our example is a good or a bad one.
- Matthew 5:14-16- “You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don’t hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
How we live tells people if we really believe what we say we believe. - If worship and fellowship with other believers is not as important as other activities, unbelievers will see it. - If the way we conduct business is just as unethical or lazy as some of our competitors, our clientele and competition will notice it. - if our language and focus on material things and negative attitudes is the same as others around the water-cooler, our coworkers will know…
… and in all of these situations, people have every right to wonder, “Doesn’t knowing God make a difference in a person’s life?”
But the reverse can be just as powerful!! A positive example of speech and generosity and patience speaks volumes to clients… a commitment to worship and ministry even at the expense sometimes of not being able to make every practice lets people know that worship is important…
- John 13:34-35- “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Did you notice how important love is here? It will prove
- 2 Corinthians 5:20- “We are Christ’s ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you.” As we live our lives, God is trying to speak His truth to the rest of the world through us… through you and me.
2- OUR LIVES ARE LIVED FOR OTHERS - 1 Corinthians 9:19b-23- “… I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with the Jews, I become one of them so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with those who follow the Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with the Gentiles who do not have the Jewish law, I fit in with them as much as I can. In this way, I gain their confidence and bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.”
Hard not to notice a repeated phrase here, right? What was it?
Making God ‘accessible’ - in how we present Him - in how we present the gospel - in where & when we do these things
Now, this takes effort! It takes work and research to know and understand your surroundings, the lives of people you’re trying to reach, and what tools are available to use in reaching them for the Kingdom of God. It isn’t about blindly and randomly ‘throwing programs’ out there, hoping someone will come- it is about strategically evaluating, studying, training, equipping, and sending into our communities people who are committed to doing anything and everything ‘so that we might bring them to Christ.’
Colossians 4:5- Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity.
- practical needs
WRAP UP… After the presentation of a sold-out play in an English theatre, a respected preacher approached the lead actor and asked him a question: “What is the reason for the difference between you and me? You are appearing before crowds night after night with fiction, and the crowds come wherever you go. I am preaching the essential and unchangeable truth, and I am not getting any crowd at all.” The actor’s answer was this: “That is quite simple: I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction.”
(In closing, tell people to prepare for next week’s service by praying, writing, and thinking of something to share concerning vision during the service (communion service) |