Last week I wrote about Interceding - Investing and Inviting, this week I want to pick that theme up again. Why? Because Jesus called us to do what He did. What did He do?
Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
The Lord wants us to LOOK (the seek) and he wants us to be INVOLVED with bringing people closer to Jesus - (the save) of those who are lost. They are everywhere--friends, family, neighbors, co-workers. Are they seeking God or wondering what it means to be in a relationship with Him, or are they keeping their distance? Have past hurts or experiences kept them from seeking a church or worshipping with other believers? Some are hurt by the past experiences of dealing with people and dealings with God's people. Others are looking for excuses - any excuses to keep them from dealing with church. Some are simply waiting to be asked to attend or to hear about your church and why LFC may not be like another church they once experienced or some other church they have heard about in the past.
It is incredible to know that God is extravagantly in love with you and me and those we love and know. Today, I spoke with someone who does not know Jesus as their Savior and as I shared with them, I realized something I had not sensed before. It was that I sure am comfortable knowing that I am saved. If you are reading this and you know the Lord then think of the comfort that brings you. But then think of those who have yet to begin a relationship with God when they place their trust in Jesus. But what about the people outside the walls of LFC? How can you and I help them understand that God really does love them?
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (NIV)
"Letting your light shine" means different things for different people. But I would simply submit that it means to allow people the honor of seeing God lived out through you. After all, the Lord is light - they need to see His light working in and through your life. Share God’s love. Sometimes you’re given the perfect opening to invite someone to church. Other times, you need to find common ground and cultivate it before you extend the invitation. Do whatever it takes to “open the door” for others.If we truly represent the Lord then we need to think about this:
John 1:4
In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. (NIV)
God wants His light to be seen in your life - the light of Jesus. Why? Because God is madly in love with those people who live next door to you…with that guy in the cubicle next to you…the young lady who serves up your Starbucks beverage…with that tired waitress at restaurant. God is madly in love with the guys framing our church expansion or the cop who will go out late tonight and protect our city. And God expects you and me to tell them…AND…to love them too! Good evangelism is the process of being friendly without being judgmental. It is using our influence to move people one step closer to the Lord. This happens through good deeds and good conversations. For a Christian like myself, evangelism means engaging in these conversations in the spirit and example of Jesus Christ. Let’s talk about evangelism as conversation, as friendship, as influence, as invitation, as companionship, as challenge, as opportunity, as something you get to do. Now is the time to INVEST AND INVITE others to a spiritual conversation - to invite them to allow you to pray for them - to invite them to LFC with you. You are more ready than you realize. Get ready for something fresh, something unexpected. God will use you! If you were with us last week, God just might use the YOU MATTER to God card that we placed in each bulletin, but more than that, God will use YOU.
What's keeping you from taking the first step in reaching out to those that God has placed into your life for a specific purpose?Let's keep praying for others, investing and inviting. I am going to pray that you will have success in discovering those that need your heart and God's touch through you.
I love being your pastor and being on the team with you.
Investing and Inviting along with you,
Pastor Bernie
Luke 19:10
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
The Lord wants us to LOOK (the seek) and he wants us to be INVOLVED with bringing people closer to Jesus - (the save) of those who are lost. They are everywhere--friends, family, neighbors, co-workers. Are they seeking God or wondering what it means to be in a relationship with Him, or are they keeping their distance? Have past hurts or experiences kept them from seeking a church or worshipping with other believers? Some are hurt by the past experiences of dealing with people and dealings with God's people. Others are looking for excuses - any excuses to keep them from dealing with church. Some are simply waiting to be asked to attend or to hear about your church and why LFC may not be like another church they once experienced or some other church they have heard about in the past.
It is incredible to know that God is extravagantly in love with you and me and those we love and know. Today, I spoke with someone who does not know Jesus as their Savior and as I shared with them, I realized something I had not sensed before. It was that I sure am comfortable knowing that I am saved. If you are reading this and you know the Lord then think of the comfort that brings you. But then think of those who have yet to begin a relationship with God when they place their trust in Jesus. But what about the people outside the walls of LFC? How can you and I help them understand that God really does love them?
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (NIV)
"Letting your light shine" means different things for different people. But I would simply submit that it means to allow people the honor of seeing God lived out through you. After all, the Lord is light - they need to see His light working in and through your life. Share God’s love. Sometimes you’re given the perfect opening to invite someone to church. Other times, you need to find common ground and cultivate it before you extend the invitation. Do whatever it takes to “open the door” for others.If we truly represent the Lord then we need to think about this:
John 1:4
In him (Jesus) was life, and that life was the light of men. (NIV)
God wants His light to be seen in your life - the light of Jesus. Why? Because God is madly in love with those people who live next door to you…with that guy in the cubicle next to you…the young lady who serves up your Starbucks beverage…with that tired waitress at restaurant. God is madly in love with the guys framing our church expansion or the cop who will go out late tonight and protect our city. And God expects you and me to tell them…AND…to love them too! Good evangelism is the process of being friendly without being judgmental. It is using our influence to move people one step closer to the Lord. This happens through good deeds and good conversations. For a Christian like myself, evangelism means engaging in these conversations in the spirit and example of Jesus Christ. Let’s talk about evangelism as conversation, as friendship, as influence, as invitation, as companionship, as challenge, as opportunity, as something you get to do. Now is the time to INVEST AND INVITE others to a spiritual conversation - to invite them to allow you to pray for them - to invite them to LFC with you. You are more ready than you realize. Get ready for something fresh, something unexpected. God will use you! If you were with us last week, God just might use the YOU MATTER to God card that we placed in each bulletin, but more than that, God will use YOU.
What's keeping you from taking the first step in reaching out to those that God has placed into your life for a specific purpose?Let's keep praying for others, investing and inviting. I am going to pray that you will have success in discovering those that need your heart and God's touch through you.
I love being your pastor and being on the team with you.
Investing and Inviting along with you,
Pastor Bernie
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