Outreach

In talking about the design of church leadership, I have used Football as an analogy. I love Football, but if we are honest, Football is not stickily American. England has Rugby which is very different and much rougher, and the rest of the world plays Soccer. The sport, in my opinion, and I have heard from others, that is uniquely American is Baseball. Well in terms of church ministry needs, this Summer, we are going to think about Baseball. Since Baseball is a sport that is played mostly in the Summer. Let’s think about the Outfielder position. The main job of an outfielder is to catch the balls that come flying high and far into the outfield. The outfield is much bigger than the baseball diamond. The outfield, as a matter of fact, surrounds the diamond on three points. As an outfielder, you are not in charge of guarding any one base, but to guard the entire outfield, at least on the side you are playing whither you are on the right-field, center-field, or left-field. Outreach to me means doing ministry outside the walls of this church building, for our analogy, the outfield. Now, the outfield is vast, there are many areas that need covering, meaning their are many things an outreach person can do. There is feeding the poor, helping the homeless find shelter, sharing the love of Christ everywhere you go in many unique and even quick ways.

Pray and Read Matthew 9:35-10:1

Matthew 9:35–10:1 NRSV

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.

Jesus, on a mission to tell as many people as he can, face-to-face, about the New Covenant, and New Kingdom goes into some pretty tough places. Not only did he go into cities and villages (plural!) but he went into the synagogues. a place filled with the teaches of Moses and David. And yet, Jesus was proclaiming a new thing. Of course it was dangerous, but His message was worth it. The message was why He came in the first place. The message was life altering and had eternal significance. That is our Gospel! Our Good News, is that the Son of the Most High God came to be with us, died for us, and yet now lives, sending His Spirit to us as a place is being prepared where He will come again for us who believe and love in Him. Surely, you have figured out how powerful and needed this Good News is for those who don’t know Him, yet!

So how did Jesus spread this Good News? Did He stay in one place and expect people to come to Him? No! He went where the people were. The key word is the first verse is THEIR. He went to their synagogues and their towns. He did two things, taught them the good news and healed them of their sicknesses.

What did He do when He saw the crowds? He had compassion on them. His heart broke for those who were in the synagogues yet receiving no attention, no love. He saw people who did not have any spiritual guidance, no care, but instead being harassed. “You don’t belong here”, some may have said. Or, “the way you look/act, is a distraction, you need to leave.” His desired to help them in the best way possible. So, in His Divine power, He healed them.

If we are to be like Christ, then that means we are to show compassion and guidance. There are many sheep in the world who are without a shepherd. We are to lead them to our Shepherd.

Yet, Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. There are indeed many people who are in need. There are people who have physical, mental, emotional needs, and many have spiritual needs. Like the disciples, we are called to go and help them where we can, leading them to our Shepherd who provides the complete eternal healing. In that last verse that we are studying today, Jesus gives the same power of healing and deliverance to His Apostles. Those apostles were then commissioned to go and make more disciples who will do as they have been taught to do by Christ.

Think about the Great Commission

Matthew 28:19–20 NRSV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, we have been made disciples of Christ. We are sent out to make more disciples of Christ. So, how can we do this. We have Vacation Bible School starting tomorrow. Have you invited any children? We are starting to celebrate Christmas in July by collection for Operation Christmas Child Shoe-boxes which go around the the world for kids who may not get anything this Christmas. But we will also soon begin to collect school supplies for the the kids right here in our community who live on Hamilton St. We have individuals who deliver meals to the homeless, and some who deliver meals the shut-ins and home-bounds in our community. The Prime-timers will start packing the FUEL bags again when school starts. We are always collecting for the Food Bank and the Help Center.

But those are all things that our church is doing and others are already doing. What can you come up with to help others beyond the walls of this church? Maybe paying for the meal of someone at the next table at a restaurant or the car behind you in the drive-thru line? Maybe it is getting together a bag of toiletries and sustainable snack foods to hand out to those who are homeless who stand on the side of the road? What ideas can you come up with? Maybe there is another need in our community that you haven’t heard mentioned yet. How can we need the needs of others.

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!!