Sunday, October 08, 2006
Beyond the Building, Part 2: Commitment, Not Comfort!
Introduction:
To accomplish God’s vision for our lives and our ministry, we must allow God to expand and enlarge our vision beyond simply what goes on in the church building. Of course, the equipping, encouraging, worship, and Bible Study that goes on at church is very important – but there are many people in our lives who might never set foot in a church building, and we are still called to reach out to them. We must commit every day, every moment, every interaction to God, to be used as ministry opportunities out in the world in our daily lives. To be effective in ministry, we must remember that God values obedient commitment above all else, and we must be willing to put our commitment to Him above other values like comfort or convenience. The idea of “commitment” scares people these days because of our selfish human desire to run our own lives – but is essential in following God. Today we’ll be examining some scriptures in Luke to help us get in the right mindset to effectively minister to others beyond the church building. We must know what to expect up-front so we don’t get discouraged as we commit our lives to ministry. God allows us to be tested to see if we will be faithful – He wants to entrust His important work in the hands of those who will be committed.
(Read Luke 9:57-58)
As they were walking along the road, a man said to Him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
1) MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT COMFORT
When we think of a foxhole or a bird’s nest, we think of a safe, comfortable place where the bird or fox finds comfort and security. Following Jesus, however, puts us in a vulnerable position. It is not an easy road – it is a life of commitment and sacrifice. Ministry isn’t for the weak. It’s not about you and your comfort – it’s about following Him wherever He leads instead of settling into your comfort zone. It’s about enduring hardship and building character for the sake of Christ. When you put serving others above yourself, you will inevitably have times when you feel hurt, used, overlooked, let-down, and many other emotions – but don’t let that get you down or make you stop serving God, because these things are to be expected. If God’s own Son endured hardships for the sake of ministry, why should we expect any different? Do you think God called and equipped us just to burrow down into a comfy nest? We weren’t designed or intended to feel at home or comfortable in this world – in fact, the discomfort reminds us that the world is not our home, and the things of this world are not for us to get wrapped up in. In this society, you won’t ever really truly fit in. We are strangers passing through, on a mission – not worldly “birds” selfishly settling in to a comfortable worldly “nest.” There are much more comfortable lifestyles to choose than a life of ministry, but none more meaningful or eternally-rewarding.
(Read Luke 9:59-62)
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
2) MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT CONVENIENCE
When you are truly committed to God, life is no longer about what is convenient for you, what you want to do, or even what the world says you should do. Instead, it’s about the command to “go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” God is reminding you to keep first things first -- God’s business takes urgent priority over everything else. Your schedule is no longer your own. You don’t pencil God in like you are making a dentist appointment. You don’t tell Him that you have time for Him one day, but don’t have time for Him another day. Every hour of every day belongs to Him, and He deserves first priority, even over things that the world would consider extremely important. True discipleship requires instant, obedient action. Slow obedience is the same as disobedience. Notice here that He even comes before family obligations. A life of ministry is about commitment, not personal convenience. Think about Jesus – do you think it was convenient for Him to go to the Cross? Personally I can’t think of any day or time that I would want to schedule crucifixion in my DayPlanner – but thank God for the fact that Jesus was so committed to His Father’s will that He pushed comfort and convenience aside to live a sacrificial life and die a sacrificial death for you and me. What are the things in your schedule that are hindering your availability to serve God and to use your gifts to minister to others? I urge you to prayerfully examine your life and schedule, and ask God about it. What things are you trying to do “first” before fully committing to serve God? What are you “looking back” at, that is keeping you from moving forward in your commitment to follow Him? A life of ministry is about making God’s priorities your priorities – and the choices you make regarding your schedule speak louder than words. (Why do we call Him ‘Lord, Lord’ but then we don’t do what He says?) Jesus is looking for a full commitment. He wants us to keep our hand to the plow and stop looking back!
(Read Luke 10:1-3)
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”
3) MINISTRY INVOLVES URGENCY
We can’t afford to sit around forever letting time pass by, trying to decide if we are going to fully commit ourselves to God or not. Time is passing, and so are people’s lives and eternal destinies. The harvest is ripe, and we’ve been called to get out there and labor in the “harvest” for God. Think of what happens if the crop of fruit gets ripe, yet no one harvests it – it just turns brown and falls to the ground, wasted. Ministry should be an urgent priority in our lives. It is a privilege to be called to work in God’s harvest, and we should treat it that way.
4) MINISTRY INVOLVES FACING OPPOSITION HUMBLY
A life of ministry WILL bring opposition, and we must accept that and face it humbly. God sends us out to minister, like “lambs among wolves” – we can expect opposition. I’m not a zoologist, but they tell me that wolves have been known to EAT lambs. It doesn’t say “lambs among kittens” or “lambs in a petting zoo.” It’s not going to be a walk in the park. It’s not going to be easy, and there will be risks, dangers, and attacks – but it is for an eternally-meaningful purpose and it’s worth it. We’ve got to get out of the safety of our lamb pen and go beyond the building to touch lives for God. If the lamb stays in the pen, sure, he will be safe from wolves – but he will not be getting his important work done. Yes, we will come under attack and sometimes even suffer from “wolfbites” while out actively serving God – but the Great Shepherd will be right there to comfort us, heal us, and get us back out on the mission field. As I said earlier in this message, ministry will inevitably and necessarily lead us out of our comfort zone. Lambs are not comfortable among wolves. However, we must get out of our comfort zone to get involved in the harvest. And when we face opposition, we must not respond with aggression like the world does, but continue to be kind and loving (like a lamb) so the world can see God’s love and character reflected in us. That’s one major way that God can use us as “salt and light.” Lambs are not intimidating creatures, and are not meant to be. (God didn’t say for us to be “wolves among lambs” and to growl and chew people up!) We must stay humble, keep the right attitude, and let God’s strength operate through our “weakness.” And we must stay dedicated to keep serving, no matter how much opposition we face!
(Read Luke 10:16)
“He who listens to you listens to Me; he who rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
5) MINISTRY INVOLVES REJECTION – BUT DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY
Unfortunately, not everyone we share with will accept Christ – some will choose to reject the gospel message. It breaks God’s heart, but He has given everyone free choice. When rejection comes, don’t take it personally and let it make you want to give up. In fact, it would be arrogant to take it personally, because that would be to put yourself in God’s place. It is Him that they are rejecting, not you. You are simply the messenger. So don’t get discouraged if you encounter rejection as you go out to minister and spread God’s Word beyond the church building. Those who oppose you have a problem with God, not you!
Conclusion:
I really want to encourage you to persevere in ministry – in obediently, urgently following the calling that God has placed on your life, to actively use your gifts to serve others and build God’s Kingdom. Don’t ever get so hung up on your own comfort, your own convenience, your own plans, or even your own fear of rejection, to the point that you miss out on God’s amazing plans to use your life for His glory. There is nothing greater that you could be doing with your life, than God’s instrument to serve others and touch lives. What a privilege, and how dare we take it lightly, treat it cheaply, or push God’s priorities to the side in favor of our own short-sighted ones. Daily, we must constantly remember why we are here and what life is all about. What is your response when Jesus says, “Follow Me”?
To accomplish God’s vision for our lives and our ministry, we must allow God to expand and enlarge our vision beyond simply what goes on in the church building. Of course, the equipping, encouraging, worship, and Bible Study that goes on at church is very important – but there are many people in our lives who might never set foot in a church building, and we are still called to reach out to them. We must commit every day, every moment, every interaction to God, to be used as ministry opportunities out in the world in our daily lives. To be effective in ministry, we must remember that God values obedient commitment above all else, and we must be willing to put our commitment to Him above other values like comfort or convenience. The idea of “commitment” scares people these days because of our selfish human desire to run our own lives – but is essential in following God. Today we’ll be examining some scriptures in Luke to help us get in the right mindset to effectively minister to others beyond the church building. We must know what to expect up-front so we don’t get discouraged as we commit our lives to ministry. God allows us to be tested to see if we will be faithful – He wants to entrust His important work in the hands of those who will be committed.
(Read Luke 9:57-58)
As they were walking along the road, a man said to Him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”
1) MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT COMFORT
When we think of a foxhole or a bird’s nest, we think of a safe, comfortable place where the bird or fox finds comfort and security. Following Jesus, however, puts us in a vulnerable position. It is not an easy road – it is a life of commitment and sacrifice. Ministry isn’t for the weak. It’s not about you and your comfort – it’s about following Him wherever He leads instead of settling into your comfort zone. It’s about enduring hardship and building character for the sake of Christ. When you put serving others above yourself, you will inevitably have times when you feel hurt, used, overlooked, let-down, and many other emotions – but don’t let that get you down or make you stop serving God, because these things are to be expected. If God’s own Son endured hardships for the sake of ministry, why should we expect any different? Do you think God called and equipped us just to burrow down into a comfy nest? We weren’t designed or intended to feel at home or comfortable in this world – in fact, the discomfort reminds us that the world is not our home, and the things of this world are not for us to get wrapped up in. In this society, you won’t ever really truly fit in. We are strangers passing through, on a mission – not worldly “birds” selfishly settling in to a comfortable worldly “nest.” There are much more comfortable lifestyles to choose than a life of ministry, but none more meaningful or eternally-rewarding.
(Read Luke 9:59-62)
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
2) MINISTRY IS NOT ABOUT CONVENIENCE
When you are truly committed to God, life is no longer about what is convenient for you, what you want to do, or even what the world says you should do. Instead, it’s about the command to “go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” God is reminding you to keep first things first -- God’s business takes urgent priority over everything else. Your schedule is no longer your own. You don’t pencil God in like you are making a dentist appointment. You don’t tell Him that you have time for Him one day, but don’t have time for Him another day. Every hour of every day belongs to Him, and He deserves first priority, even over things that the world would consider extremely important. True discipleship requires instant, obedient action. Slow obedience is the same as disobedience. Notice here that He even comes before family obligations. A life of ministry is about commitment, not personal convenience. Think about Jesus – do you think it was convenient for Him to go to the Cross? Personally I can’t think of any day or time that I would want to schedule crucifixion in my DayPlanner – but thank God for the fact that Jesus was so committed to His Father’s will that He pushed comfort and convenience aside to live a sacrificial life and die a sacrificial death for you and me. What are the things in your schedule that are hindering your availability to serve God and to use your gifts to minister to others? I urge you to prayerfully examine your life and schedule, and ask God about it. What things are you trying to do “first” before fully committing to serve God? What are you “looking back” at, that is keeping you from moving forward in your commitment to follow Him? A life of ministry is about making God’s priorities your priorities – and the choices you make regarding your schedule speak louder than words. (Why do we call Him ‘Lord, Lord’ but then we don’t do what He says?) Jesus is looking for a full commitment. He wants us to keep our hand to the plow and stop looking back!
(Read Luke 10:1-3)
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place where He was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”
3) MINISTRY INVOLVES URGENCY
We can’t afford to sit around forever letting time pass by, trying to decide if we are going to fully commit ourselves to God or not. Time is passing, and so are people’s lives and eternal destinies. The harvest is ripe, and we’ve been called to get out there and labor in the “harvest” for God. Think of what happens if the crop of fruit gets ripe, yet no one harvests it – it just turns brown and falls to the ground, wasted. Ministry should be an urgent priority in our lives. It is a privilege to be called to work in God’s harvest, and we should treat it that way.
4) MINISTRY INVOLVES FACING OPPOSITION HUMBLY
A life of ministry WILL bring opposition, and we must accept that and face it humbly. God sends us out to minister, like “lambs among wolves” – we can expect opposition. I’m not a zoologist, but they tell me that wolves have been known to EAT lambs. It doesn’t say “lambs among kittens” or “lambs in a petting zoo.” It’s not going to be a walk in the park. It’s not going to be easy, and there will be risks, dangers, and attacks – but it is for an eternally-meaningful purpose and it’s worth it. We’ve got to get out of the safety of our lamb pen and go beyond the building to touch lives for God. If the lamb stays in the pen, sure, he will be safe from wolves – but he will not be getting his important work done. Yes, we will come under attack and sometimes even suffer from “wolfbites” while out actively serving God – but the Great Shepherd will be right there to comfort us, heal us, and get us back out on the mission field. As I said earlier in this message, ministry will inevitably and necessarily lead us out of our comfort zone. Lambs are not comfortable among wolves. However, we must get out of our comfort zone to get involved in the harvest. And when we face opposition, we must not respond with aggression like the world does, but continue to be kind and loving (like a lamb) so the world can see God’s love and character reflected in us. That’s one major way that God can use us as “salt and light.” Lambs are not intimidating creatures, and are not meant to be. (God didn’t say for us to be “wolves among lambs” and to growl and chew people up!) We must stay humble, keep the right attitude, and let God’s strength operate through our “weakness.” And we must stay dedicated to keep serving, no matter how much opposition we face!
(Read Luke 10:16)
“He who listens to you listens to Me; he who rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
5) MINISTRY INVOLVES REJECTION – BUT DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY
Unfortunately, not everyone we share with will accept Christ – some will choose to reject the gospel message. It breaks God’s heart, but He has given everyone free choice. When rejection comes, don’t take it personally and let it make you want to give up. In fact, it would be arrogant to take it personally, because that would be to put yourself in God’s place. It is Him that they are rejecting, not you. You are simply the messenger. So don’t get discouraged if you encounter rejection as you go out to minister and spread God’s Word beyond the church building. Those who oppose you have a problem with God, not you!
Conclusion:
I really want to encourage you to persevere in ministry – in obediently, urgently following the calling that God has placed on your life, to actively use your gifts to serve others and build God’s Kingdom. Don’t ever get so hung up on your own comfort, your own convenience, your own plans, or even your own fear of rejection, to the point that you miss out on God’s amazing plans to use your life for His glory. There is nothing greater that you could be doing with your life, than God’s instrument to serve others and touch lives. What a privilege, and how dare we take it lightly, treat it cheaply, or push God’s priorities to the side in favor of our own short-sighted ones. Daily, we must constantly remember why we are here and what life is all about. What is your response when Jesus says, “Follow Me”?
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Beyond the Building: How a Ministry Can Impact the Community
Introduction:
Sometimes in church ministry we get hung up on things like attendance, and who attends, and who doesn’t show up, and we forget the big picture of what God has called us to do. The church building itself is just a building – God has called us to minister to our community, not just the people who show up at the building. We’ve got to keep an eye on the big picture of ministry, and enlarge our vision. The real work of ministry, the real essence of our calling, is what goes on beyond the building. Yes, we definitely should gather together here to get equipped and to get encouraged and to use our gifts to keep the local church strong – but remember that we are serving a larger community, not just who shows up. Ministry is not limited by time and place – we’ve got to expand our vision. Most of our life takes place outside the church walls. (Instead of lamenting that we “only” have 10 people in attendance at church, view it from the perspective that we have 10 people getting equipped to go out this week and touch hundreds for God). Every day, every moment, every interaction is a ministry opportunity. Just because a person does not attend our services or Bible Study does not mean we’re off the hook from being called to serve them. We’ve just got to get more creative with them, and perhaps take ministry TO them instead of waiting for them to show up and come to us. Sometimes our definition of ministry is too narrow – we think we have to get someone to come to one of our church events in order for God to touch their life through us, but that’s not true! God’s ability to touch lives through us is not restricted to 122 E. Escalon – He can do it anytime, anyplace, anywhere. We’ve got to get busy obeying His Word and touching lives for Him with a broader perspective in mind, beyond the church building! We are called to be a blessing in the lives of others, not limited to a certain time and place. This morning we are going to look at 5 specific biblical things we can do to actively be the “salt and light” that God has called us to be in the lives of others and in our community at large.
1) SPREAD THE GOSPEL
(Read Mark 16:15-16)
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Our first priority and responsibility -- the most important and eternally valuable thing we can do to minister to other and impact our community -- is to spread the gospel. Compared to that, nothing else really matters so much. If we don’t do this, then we’ve missed it – we’ve missed the whole point of our mission here on earth. What a shame it would be if we spent all our time on the physical, tangible things, and overlooked the spiritual. Before Jesus went to Heaven, He gave us the Great Commission, which we just read. It is our job to spread the gospel to our brothers and sisters, to set them free from the bondage of sin and help them find true joy, peace, and meaning in life. If we are standing there with the keys to eternal life and don’t share them with our brother, then how can we say we truly care about him. This is an urgent matter of life and death – our brothers and sisters will be lost if we don’t take the initiative to spread the gospel to them. God placed each person near you, in your life and in your path, for a reason. You don’t have to be a theologian to spread the gospel effectively – just speak from the heart and tell others your own experiences of what God has done in your life.
2) RESTORE THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN
(Read James 5:19-20)
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Another important aspect of ministry is to keep an eye out for our brothers and sisters who have fallen by the wayside – to have compassion for the casualties of spiritual warfare. After our brother or sister receives salvation and becomes a Christian, our responsibility is not over – in fact, in many ways it has just begun, since we are called to provide them with ongoing support and accountability. We must be on the alert to help lovingly guide them back to God when he strays away (which inevitably happens from time to time). We need to be there to help restore our brothers and sisters in their walks with God when they backslide. The scriptures make it clear that this is very important. We all fall down from time to time, and sometimes a person needs that extra encouragement and accountability – that extra helping hand – to get back up. We need to care enough to speak the truth in love to our brothers and sisters and help them take the necessary steps to get back in line with God and His Word. We need to hold up the truthful mirror of the Word of God, to help our brothers and sisters honestly examine their lives and get things straight. We need to be humble and non-judgmental as we do this – and to remember that we have been in that same position ourselves in times past (and thank goodness someone had been there for us!). Don’t ever let someone just drift away from God – let’s help fight the spiritual battle, since there is a soul at stake. (Don’t let Satan come in OUR house and snatch away a family member…)
(Read Galatians 6:1)
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
We find a few more key insights in this passage from Galatians of how to help restore someone. Do it gently, and also be careful not to get caught up in the same sin as we are helping them escape from. Stay humble, because pride can lead to our downfall if we think we are immune to temptation.
3) SHARE JOYS AND BURDENS
(Read Galatians 6:2)
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
(Read Romans 12:15)
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
What great advice for touching lives and impacting others in the community on a daily basis, beyond what goes on in the church building on Sundays and Wednesdays. By sharing someone’s joys and burdens, we will be a true friend and a genuine support and encouragement in someone’s life. We must rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn (put aside petty jealousy and competitiveness). This reminds me of the old Chinese proverb which says: “A good friend multiplies the joys and divides the sorrows.” The good times in life are even better when you have a true friend to share it with, and life’s burdens are a little lighter when someone is walking alongside you helping you carry your load. Whose burdens can you help carry today, and whose joys can you help multiply? To answer that question, you must take time to know what’s going on in the lives of people around you (communicate on a non-superficial level!). Constantly think of ways to share joys and burdens – I’m sure you know someone who is hurting or rejoicing today (there are plenty of opportunities). Yes, it IS your business, because God has called you to be your brother’s keeper.
4) LOOK FOR NEW WAYS TO DO GOOD
(Read Galatians 6:9-10)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
This passage shows us another great way to make meaningful connections with people, that God can use for His glory. These verses reinforce the idea that ALL PEOPLE are our brothers and sisters (though there is a special emphasis here on our fellow believers), and that God is instructing us to do good to them at every opportunity. We should constantly look for new and meaningful ways to do good things for our fellow man. Go the extra mile, be creative, do the unexpected. The Bible also teaches us to do good in secret – don’t do it in a showy way to get earthly credit; do it behind the scenes (don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing) and you will be storing up treasures in heaven.
I don’t know about you, but personally I find verse 9 to be especially encouraging. Verse 9 encourages us not to give up or get discouraged by what we see, because there WILL be a harvest someday, regardless of what it looks like right now. All those things you are doing are indeed making a difference, and we need to hear that from time to time. Don’t just do something good for somebody once and then get tired if you don’t see the results in their life that you were hoping to see. Even if church attendance doesn’t go up as a result, you are still making an eternal difference in the Kingdom of God. Remember that some people plant the seeds, and others water the seeds, but ultimately it is God who brings the increase – on His timetable, so keep serving patiently and don’t give up.
5) BE QUICK TO FORGIVE
(Read Matthew 18:21-22)
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
In life and in your relationships, there are inevitably going to be bumps in the road – times when your emotions rise up and you get mad at people. Thus, to keep caring enough about people to serve them, we are going to have to be willing to forgive. Forgiveness is essential to healthy relationships. Just like how God has unconditionally and repeatedly forgiven us, we should pass along that same type of forgiveness to our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness builds relationships and builds unity, instead of tearing people apart. Nothing hurts unity and communication like grudges, festering deep on the inside. We need to follow God’s example and love unconditionally – be slow to get angry and quick to forgive. In the big picture, the relationship with your brother (and with God, because He said He won’t forgive us if we don’t forgive our brother) is way more important than your pride having got hurt by whatever your brother had done to you. Vengeance belongs to God anyway. Satan knows he can get us to stop having compassion for people and to stop serving people, if he can get us to be bitter, angry, and resentful towards them. Don’t fall into that trap! Forgiveness gets peoples’ attention because it is so rare and unexpected in our society. It shows them a model of what God’s love is like, and it makes a great witness and helps build God’s kingdom.
Conclusion:
In closing, I want to encourage you to be faithful in your calling to serve others, no matter what. It is your way of saying thank-you to God. Your faithfulness, through thick and thin, is your way of thanking God for allowing you the privilege of being used. Even if you get discouraged, tired, impatient, or disappointed – don’t give up, because God is using you to make a difference. You are here on this earth to do something important in the lives of others, that God designed you to do.
It is time for us to move to that next step of God’s vision by living putting these Biblical principles into action! I pray that God convicted you today of some specific ways that you can reach out to others – not only in this ministry or in this church building, but with your friends, your enemies, your family, and even the people you just happen to meet out in the world. Think of what amazing things God can do through our lives and through this ministry if we all committed to living this way and putting others first. It may sound hard, but remember that with God all things are possible – He would never ask us to do anything that He did not enable us to do by His power. So let’s examine ourselves this morning, and truly strive to be “doers of God’s Word”! There is a community out there in need of God’s love and God’s touch, and we are His servants called to do the job and make an eternal difference. We’ve got to get busy letting people know that we care, so that they can see God and experience His love through us! We must expand our vision “beyond the building” – we are here to impact the community, not just the people who show up at our church activities.
Sometimes in church ministry we get hung up on things like attendance, and who attends, and who doesn’t show up, and we forget the big picture of what God has called us to do. The church building itself is just a building – God has called us to minister to our community, not just the people who show up at the building. We’ve got to keep an eye on the big picture of ministry, and enlarge our vision. The real work of ministry, the real essence of our calling, is what goes on beyond the building. Yes, we definitely should gather together here to get equipped and to get encouraged and to use our gifts to keep the local church strong – but remember that we are serving a larger community, not just who shows up. Ministry is not limited by time and place – we’ve got to expand our vision. Most of our life takes place outside the church walls. (Instead of lamenting that we “only” have 10 people in attendance at church, view it from the perspective that we have 10 people getting equipped to go out this week and touch hundreds for God). Every day, every moment, every interaction is a ministry opportunity. Just because a person does not attend our services or Bible Study does not mean we’re off the hook from being called to serve them. We’ve just got to get more creative with them, and perhaps take ministry TO them instead of waiting for them to show up and come to us. Sometimes our definition of ministry is too narrow – we think we have to get someone to come to one of our church events in order for God to touch their life through us, but that’s not true! God’s ability to touch lives through us is not restricted to 122 E. Escalon – He can do it anytime, anyplace, anywhere. We’ve got to get busy obeying His Word and touching lives for Him with a broader perspective in mind, beyond the church building! We are called to be a blessing in the lives of others, not limited to a certain time and place. This morning we are going to look at 5 specific biblical things we can do to actively be the “salt and light” that God has called us to be in the lives of others and in our community at large.
1) SPREAD THE GOSPEL
(Read Mark 16:15-16)
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Our first priority and responsibility -- the most important and eternally valuable thing we can do to minister to other and impact our community -- is to spread the gospel. Compared to that, nothing else really matters so much. If we don’t do this, then we’ve missed it – we’ve missed the whole point of our mission here on earth. What a shame it would be if we spent all our time on the physical, tangible things, and overlooked the spiritual. Before Jesus went to Heaven, He gave us the Great Commission, which we just read. It is our job to spread the gospel to our brothers and sisters, to set them free from the bondage of sin and help them find true joy, peace, and meaning in life. If we are standing there with the keys to eternal life and don’t share them with our brother, then how can we say we truly care about him. This is an urgent matter of life and death – our brothers and sisters will be lost if we don’t take the initiative to spread the gospel to them. God placed each person near you, in your life and in your path, for a reason. You don’t have to be a theologian to spread the gospel effectively – just speak from the heart and tell others your own experiences of what God has done in your life.
2) RESTORE THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN
(Read James 5:19-20)
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Another important aspect of ministry is to keep an eye out for our brothers and sisters who have fallen by the wayside – to have compassion for the casualties of spiritual warfare. After our brother or sister receives salvation and becomes a Christian, our responsibility is not over – in fact, in many ways it has just begun, since we are called to provide them with ongoing support and accountability. We must be on the alert to help lovingly guide them back to God when he strays away (which inevitably happens from time to time). We need to be there to help restore our brothers and sisters in their walks with God when they backslide. The scriptures make it clear that this is very important. We all fall down from time to time, and sometimes a person needs that extra encouragement and accountability – that extra helping hand – to get back up. We need to care enough to speak the truth in love to our brothers and sisters and help them take the necessary steps to get back in line with God and His Word. We need to hold up the truthful mirror of the Word of God, to help our brothers and sisters honestly examine their lives and get things straight. We need to be humble and non-judgmental as we do this – and to remember that we have been in that same position ourselves in times past (and thank goodness someone had been there for us!). Don’t ever let someone just drift away from God – let’s help fight the spiritual battle, since there is a soul at stake. (Don’t let Satan come in OUR house and snatch away a family member…)
(Read Galatians 6:1)
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
We find a few more key insights in this passage from Galatians of how to help restore someone. Do it gently, and also be careful not to get caught up in the same sin as we are helping them escape from. Stay humble, because pride can lead to our downfall if we think we are immune to temptation.
3) SHARE JOYS AND BURDENS
(Read Galatians 6:2)
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
(Read Romans 12:15)
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
What great advice for touching lives and impacting others in the community on a daily basis, beyond what goes on in the church building on Sundays and Wednesdays. By sharing someone’s joys and burdens, we will be a true friend and a genuine support and encouragement in someone’s life. We must rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn (put aside petty jealousy and competitiveness). This reminds me of the old Chinese proverb which says: “A good friend multiplies the joys and divides the sorrows.” The good times in life are even better when you have a true friend to share it with, and life’s burdens are a little lighter when someone is walking alongside you helping you carry your load. Whose burdens can you help carry today, and whose joys can you help multiply? To answer that question, you must take time to know what’s going on in the lives of people around you (communicate on a non-superficial level!). Constantly think of ways to share joys and burdens – I’m sure you know someone who is hurting or rejoicing today (there are plenty of opportunities). Yes, it IS your business, because God has called you to be your brother’s keeper.
4) LOOK FOR NEW WAYS TO DO GOOD
(Read Galatians 6:9-10)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
This passage shows us another great way to make meaningful connections with people, that God can use for His glory. These verses reinforce the idea that ALL PEOPLE are our brothers and sisters (though there is a special emphasis here on our fellow believers), and that God is instructing us to do good to them at every opportunity. We should constantly look for new and meaningful ways to do good things for our fellow man. Go the extra mile, be creative, do the unexpected. The Bible also teaches us to do good in secret – don’t do it in a showy way to get earthly credit; do it behind the scenes (don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing) and you will be storing up treasures in heaven.
I don’t know about you, but personally I find verse 9 to be especially encouraging. Verse 9 encourages us not to give up or get discouraged by what we see, because there WILL be a harvest someday, regardless of what it looks like right now. All those things you are doing are indeed making a difference, and we need to hear that from time to time. Don’t just do something good for somebody once and then get tired if you don’t see the results in their life that you were hoping to see. Even if church attendance doesn’t go up as a result, you are still making an eternal difference in the Kingdom of God. Remember that some people plant the seeds, and others water the seeds, but ultimately it is God who brings the increase – on His timetable, so keep serving patiently and don’t give up.
5) BE QUICK TO FORGIVE
(Read Matthew 18:21-22)
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”
In life and in your relationships, there are inevitably going to be bumps in the road – times when your emotions rise up and you get mad at people. Thus, to keep caring enough about people to serve them, we are going to have to be willing to forgive. Forgiveness is essential to healthy relationships. Just like how God has unconditionally and repeatedly forgiven us, we should pass along that same type of forgiveness to our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness builds relationships and builds unity, instead of tearing people apart. Nothing hurts unity and communication like grudges, festering deep on the inside. We need to follow God’s example and love unconditionally – be slow to get angry and quick to forgive. In the big picture, the relationship with your brother (and with God, because He said He won’t forgive us if we don’t forgive our brother) is way more important than your pride having got hurt by whatever your brother had done to you. Vengeance belongs to God anyway. Satan knows he can get us to stop having compassion for people and to stop serving people, if he can get us to be bitter, angry, and resentful towards them. Don’t fall into that trap! Forgiveness gets peoples’ attention because it is so rare and unexpected in our society. It shows them a model of what God’s love is like, and it makes a great witness and helps build God’s kingdom.
Conclusion:
In closing, I want to encourage you to be faithful in your calling to serve others, no matter what. It is your way of saying thank-you to God. Your faithfulness, through thick and thin, is your way of thanking God for allowing you the privilege of being used. Even if you get discouraged, tired, impatient, or disappointed – don’t give up, because God is using you to make a difference. You are here on this earth to do something important in the lives of others, that God designed you to do.
It is time for us to move to that next step of God’s vision by living putting these Biblical principles into action! I pray that God convicted you today of some specific ways that you can reach out to others – not only in this ministry or in this church building, but with your friends, your enemies, your family, and even the people you just happen to meet out in the world. Think of what amazing things God can do through our lives and through this ministry if we all committed to living this way and putting others first. It may sound hard, but remember that with God all things are possible – He would never ask us to do anything that He did not enable us to do by His power. So let’s examine ourselves this morning, and truly strive to be “doers of God’s Word”! There is a community out there in need of God’s love and God’s touch, and we are His servants called to do the job and make an eternal difference. We’ve got to get busy letting people know that we care, so that they can see God and experience His love through us! We must expand our vision “beyond the building” – we are here to impact the community, not just the people who show up at our church activities.
