Voyage September 21 (2)

Intro:

“We must develop a deeper interest and greater understanding of the people we meet here or abroad. Like us, they are passengers on board that mysterious ship called life.” —Ella Maillart

Who are some well known friends that come to mind? Not just Biblical friends?

Lone Ranger & Tonto

*Show clip of Lucy and Ethel

God’s Relational Design

Luke and Aristarchus were with Paul

Who else was with him on his voyage?

Prisoners, friends, captain, crew, Julius the Roman Elite Guard, and his soldiers.

Mix of innocent and guilty, prisoner and guard, physician and sailor.

Like Paul’s voyage, our own life journey includes other people.

NO ONE TRAVELS THROUGH LIFE ALONE.

This is God’s design.

According to Genesis,

How were we created? in His image—shaped for community as seen in the Trinity—Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

Doing life together forces us to think of others.

Do you find it hard to interact with any of the people who are traveling with you in this season of your journey?

When we die to our own desires/work hard to treat others well—we are more Christlike.

HOW?

Character is refined

Learn to lean on God for help to RESPOND to everyone in every situation with LOVE.

CP—story

Sometimes we can choose who is with us on the journey, sometimes not so much. BUT

Jesus call us to love ALL of them.

He calls us to build relationships with them for eternal purposes and for God’s glory.

Sometimes love just gushes right out, other times we can be selfish and shortsighted—missing divine opportunities right under our nose!!

**Rowdy kids story—Republic AG

**Story of Kay Burnett

Have you ever regretted NOT reaching out to someone in need?

How did you respond to the loss of that opportunity?

How has it changed the way you respond to others?

Jesus Used Meaningful Conversation

In John chapter 4 Jesus had conversation with the woman at the well.

How did He engage her in conversation?

He asked her for a drink of water. He met her where she was at and spoke her language. **EXPLAIN**

He let her know that He knew about her sins but WHY she had chosen this life of sin and shame.

He offered HIMSELF as the source of living water that would satisfy her deepest longings for love, significance, and purpose.

He entered into a meaningful conversation with a woman others disdained.

Her life was changed forever that day she met Jesus at the well.

**Jesus saw value in every person.

He took time to listen taking every possible opportunity to offer them salvation.

Only He can shape me to offer my life the way He offered His—in service and love to others.

Paul’s Fellow Travelers

Paul went to Rome with people from many backgrounds and cultures.

What backgrounds do you see?

Luke/Aristarchus—fellow believers

Military/civic authorities

Those enlisted to follow their orders.

Some had jobs to do along the way

Destinations that held hope/promise

Prisoners bound for punishment—no control of where their journey would take them

**This is a picture of our voyage in life. we travel with many people from all different walks of life and backgrounds.

Some are fellow believers and love the Savior the way we do.

We strengthen and encourage one another along the way.

We cry together and laugh together.

**We also travel with people who dont share our love for Jesus.

Deeply wounded and in desperate need.

**Every day our lives are filled with opportunities to impact others with truth, with the light of Christa and the love of the Father.

Our Fellow Travelers

How do other travelers need us to view them?

Through the lens of Jesus’ love.

Some are desperately lost—others need to hear words of encouragement.

How do you view the family of God? Diversity

What about your family?

Amariah—artsy side

McKenna—artsy, old soul

Ethan—football, tender heart

Matt—basketball, tender heart

Psalm 139:13 NLT

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Unique individuals

We need the different thoughts, opinions, insight of fellow travelers.

God’s plan and design for us to have relationship with one another.