Engaging the Community with Ministry Partners

Introduction

Our context

Assumption: Most of you are church leaders thinking about how to lead your church to engage with community partners OR improve what you’re already doing.

Our local ministry partners (These are the heroes!)

ALC

Awake

Operation Care

Stormhaven

Father’s Love

Little Lighthouse

A Place to Sleep

Barren Heights

Local schools

You’re going to get some AWESOME stories of what God’s done, but what you won’t get is all the stumbling through it. That’s just as important and I’d be glad to connect after REACH with anyone who wants to dig into the struggles.

We’re going to read Titus 3 here in just a moment, but before we do, it’s important to set Scripture in it’s context. Paul is writing to Titus who is serving in Crete. He is to be engaging the community of Crete with the gospel remembering that Crete was a central player in the development of Greek Mythology.

Let’s start with the Greek mythology that shaped Cretan culture as it deviates from the well-known Olympian “seat of the transcendent gods” theology (featured in movies and Marvel/DC comics). Cretans believed Greek gods were mere men and women elevated to deities through benevolent service and gifts to mankind. It was a theology from below rather than above. They held that the majority of the gods were born on their island, including the chief “man-become-god,” Zeus, who was allegedly buried there. In their minds, Crete was the central place of the worship of the gods. (Bible Project)

Titus 3 CSB

1 Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life. 8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning. 11 For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned. 12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they will lack nothing. 14 Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. 15 All those who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.

Paul is instructing Titus on how to teach his people to engage and partner with a community that has made men gods by earning the right to tell them about the God who became man. I see at least 4 instructions Paul gives to Titus on how to teach his people to engage their community by partnering with it. Today, I want to draw out those 4 instructions

1. Engage with Humble Submission (1-3, 9-11)

Titus 3:1–3 CSB

1 Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

Knowing that the community Titus served in was not only not Christian, but also pro-greek mythology, Paul still says “submit to rulers and authorities,” “Obey them” even, and be ready for every good work that comes their way. Verse 2 begins to tease out in a way what happens when we aren’t submissive to other leaders in our community. We begin to slander them, fight with them, and we become coarse and unkind. Paul says by way of reminder, that’s how we USED to be. We shouldn’t be that way anymore. It must have been an issue because Paul brings it back up in verses 9-11. Avoid all this divisive stuff he urges!

You may not have voted for your mayor, but could you submit to helping serve his ideas to make your town better?

The leader of the local mercy ministry may be too charismatic for your liking, but can you submit to their leadership so that more people experience God’s mercy through physical help?

Your superintendent of schools may be strict about keeping religion out of the schools. Can you submit to their leadership humbly in order to still be a Godly presence in your schools?

Let me remind you to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, and be ready for EVERY good work. Engage with humble submission.

But how do you lead the members of your church to do this? Especially Robbie Republican and Donnie Democrat?

Remind them that community leaders may know more about the people you’re trying to reach than you do.

We can fall into the trap of believing that we know exactly what our community needs. They all need Jesus of course! And that’s true! But they also need help with life and relationships and addictions and resources. And there’s no way you and your church can be the expert on all those things. There’s going to be times that those experts aren’t even believers. They might be serving for entirely different reasons than you are - the question is, will you submit to their leadership, being ready for every good work, dying to yourself so that the Spirit’s power can rise up?

There’s value that comes when we join someone who is already doing a good work. Joining good work IS good work!

Remind them that humble submission leads to resurrection power

The kind of power that really changes this is always resurrection power. Death to life stuff. The way we tap into that kind of power is only through dying - to ourselves. If we want to see gospel-centered resurrection power working with community partners, there has to be death to self and flesh.

Love Shelbyville: A small death that leads to more deaths that leads to multiplied resurrection power

Remind them that everyone has a story

Anytime we send out groups of people to serve we encourage them to learn stories. We encourage them to learn the stories of the people they are serving with. We encourage them to learn the story of the places and ministries they are serving. When we learn stories, we begin to see how God has already worked, and also where we might join him in the future. To listen well to someone’s story is the epitome of engaging humbly. We’re posturing ourselves in a position of submission so that we might invite the Spirit to work through our obedience and service.

Pastor/Elders: Give us a list of new faces so that we can invite those people to serve with us on Love Shelbyville day. Then we can learn their story.

2. Engage with Spirit-filled Hope (4-7)

Now that you’re “in” with community partners, you have an opportunity to be a different kind of servant. That’s what Paul was pitching to Titus. You can do the same kinds of good works that led to Zeus being deified in Crete, but do them to honor the mercy that God has already shown you in Christ.

Titus 3:4–7 CSB

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit. 6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

As soon as you, and that’s you personally or you your church, take credit for the good work being done in your community, you’ve zapped the evangelistic gospel power from the moment and turned it into church marketing - I can’t find that in the Scriptures. Community partners are going to assume that you want marketing. And the ones that aren’t gospel-centered are going to forbid you from proselytizing, so how do you engage with Spirit-filled hope? How do we teach our people to engage with Spirit-filled hope?

Have an answer for why you serve

At Christ Community, every Sunday, someone closes our gathering by saying GO BE THE CHURCH. Now, that doesn’t make us special or unique, but it does build this culture that the church is meant to go outside. That’s why we serve. God called Christ Community to GO BE THE CHURCH OUTSIDE OF OUR WALLS, OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, OUT TO THE WORLD. So we remind people of that week by week, but then especially when we’re going out to serve we remind people that’s WHY we’re serving today. Having an answer that points to Jesus and his call on your church is crucial because if you don’t, your flesh will be more than glad to soak up the glory. When you give a Christ-centered answer to why you’re serving, it automatically indicates that you’re hope is something bigger than the project you’re working on in the moment. You have a hope for a persons life or a ministry that is bigger than it’s earthly impact.

We have to teach our people this, too, because we all have a story and we’re all constantly growing in sanctification - the Spirit’s activity in our life.

Ask about the dreams of your community partners

So many community leaders are constantly having to ask the money question. How are you going to pay for that? What’s the next fundraiser? We’ve learned it’s a breath of fresh air when we can ask them about their dreams.

If money weren’t an object, what would you do?

What’s the next big thing you’d like to do?

What’s your hope for this ministry?

And then, because you have the Spirit of God - who owns a cattle on a thousand hills - in fact, everything on earth is his - living in you, you can hope with them and pray with them and dream with them. Not because of your funds, but because of your faith.

And then sometimes God opens a door for you to help make dreams come true.

Southside Tutoring Program

Say YES, even if it pinches

3. Engage by Helping those who go (13)

Inspiring a movement of community engagement and evangelism is one thing. Sustaining it is something different. That’s why Titus 3:12-13 is pretty cool.

Titus 3:12–13 CSB

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they will lack nothing.

Paul is continuing to engage the community of Crete, through Titus and the local church there, yes, but also by sending people and telling them to help others on mission. If no one helps those who are going out to serve, they will eventually quit going out to serve - either from burnout, failure, or in our day, they’ll move on to a body who does help them.

Help them finish what God has called them to

Sometimes that means picking up the bill for those extra supplies. It can mean setting aside funds just to encourage those champions for engaging the community. Paul doesn’t just say help, he says diligently help! Be really faithful in this! Sometimes this means you help them in their area of weakness. If they aren’t good planners, help them plan. If they aren’t good communicators, help them communicate. Whatever the people in your church who are going need to finish what God has called them to, help them finish. And help fight the internal battle for resources to do that so they don’t have to.

Serve them and their families practically

When those who are going are taking on involved projects or heavy seasons, encourage them by helping to care for their families. When there are longer trips leaving CCC we pray for them and then we say, church family, this is your family. And as they are gone from their families, they are counting on you to help take care of their families. Take them meals. Pick a kid up. Drop off a gift card. Whatever you can do to let them know that while they are GOing, you see and honor that by supporting them.

Sustaining a movement of evangelistic engagement requires that you diligently help those who go. And the more you normalize GOing in people’s everyday lives, the more people you have uncovering needs and GOing to meet them.

When you care about the people, the people care about the mission.

Empower people who recognize needs

Believing teachers on the inside start telling you what students and teachers need.

Jason Midkiff - Widow and Walkway

And then, believing students start seeing and meeting needs.

Preston - Playground Mess

Clayton - Bibles

4. Engage Prayerfully (14)

This is going to take time. This is going to take prayer. This is going to take Jesus.

Titus 3:14 CSB

14 Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

Luke 13:6–9 CSB

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’ 8 “But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 Perhaps it will produce fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

Jesus wants to work in you, and in your church, and in your community - and he even has ways of doing that through the community that’s already around you!

Pray this for your church now

“Our people” - Give us a heart to care for our people who are going. Make them “ours”

Who do I need to care for or encourage that’s already going Lord?

“learn” - Give us a humble spirit that wants to learn the stories of our community

Is there a leader in our community that I need to humble myself and connect with?

“Devote themselves” - Give us a spirt of devotion that is going to stick with partners wanting to see long-term fruit

“Good works” - Lord show us where good work is needed in our community.

“Pressing Need” - Lord burden us with the most pressing need: lostness

God, where is your Spirit moving?

“Unfruitful” - Help us to not be unfruitful.

Pray this with your church later

What could happen if your church asked God to help them learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs over a period of time? What if at the end of your gathering or during a specific prayer time you prayed this throughout a sermon series or through a semester or even over a year - what might God do if with a Spirit-filled hope, you believed that God would show you good work in your community that helped meet pressing needs and produced real spiritual fruit?