Seeds # 3 (Organic Outreach 8)

Recap

Pray FOR

Pray WITH

Intro

Outreach can be natural

A couple of concepts stand in the way of us believing that:

1.) The traditional role of the church in programming

2.) Pastors

3.) Diversity of communities

4.) Social awkwardness

We know outreach needs to happen because we are aware of the mandate to spread the gospel. So how do we make outreach more natural?

Prayer starts this process, but there are some addition ideas we can apply that will help us become naturally reaching.

Close Proximity

One of the simplest ideas we can apply is that of close proximity. If we want to share the gospel with someone who doesn’t know Jesus, we have to know someone who doesn’t know Jesus. We have to take the time to be around them more than a few seconds a day to “know” them.

The word “Incarnation” was used to describe God’s coming into human history in Jesus. Incarnational Living is the term we hear often in regards to our role as ambassadors of Christ in the world.

So how do we find ourselves in close proximity as the incarnation of Jesus’ love in the world?

Engage

Jesus attended parties, weddings, ate dinner with sinners, hung out with prostitutes, touched lepers, embraced outcasts, got along with the wealthy, conversed with the religious elite, and enjoyed spending time with a diverse cross-section of humanity.

Unfortunately, given the perception of the world many Christians have formed, we are finding Christians disengaging from the world and culture in an attempt to keep themselves “set apart” from culture. But God has made it clear that He is the one who has placed us and called us and is faithful.

1 Corinthians 5:9–10 NIV

9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world.

John 17:13–26 NIV

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

We can’t run from the world and expect those same people to come to our churches and be part of our families.

Two Warnings:

1.) Be aware of the temptation to engage in cultural voyeurism. Some people express a desire to reach out, but haven’t dealt with the reality of desiring to participate in sin. (Not underhanded sometimes, it can be self-deception that leads us there)

2.) Make sure you are the influence. Be aware that the enemy is real and lurking! Be intentional about the way we engage with the world.

Lets talk about ways to engage:

Learn to listen

“Once we have begun to notice, listen to, and make ourselves available for our neighbor, we can begin to understand our neighbor more completely. Notice that relational evangelism does not begin with speaking-it begins with listening. And it may take a very significant amount of time and attention to listen well before we have won the right to speak.” ~ Dr. Charles Van Engen (You Are My Witnesses)

Make Space For People

Have you ever noticed how often Jesus was interrupted? Jesus never seemed bothered and never treated people like interruptions. He made space for them.

How do we see the people in our lives? Do we look at them as interruptions or divine appointments? Do we order our lives in a way that enables us to respond when needs arise?

Invite God to interrupt you!

Sacrificial living

We like to have God’s favor, his blessing, his good gifts, and an abundant life. But we don’t like the idea of paying a price for these things.

“Perhaps one of the reasons we so feebly bear the marks of Christ’s promised transforming work in our lives is that we refuse to pay such a heavy price. We want to be delivered from our troubles instead of being delivered from our sin. We want to be like our affluent neighbor instead of like our rich Savior.” ~ Gary Thomas (The Beautiful Fight)

Overflowing Joy

Not Happiness, JOY! Grounded in certain spiritual realities for us:

Our sins are gone

We are friends of God

The spirit dwells within

Heaven belongs to us

We are secure in God’s hands

We have the fellowship of God’s people, the church

We are given gifts of the spirit

We have the fruit of that spirit

Philippians 4:4 NIV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Application & Challenge

Make time this week to have a substantial face-to-face conversation (listening session) with someone who doesn’t know Jesus.

If you are interrupted, maybe it was God arranging that listening session, how will you choose to treat interruptions this week?

Numbers 6:24–26 NIV

24 “ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’