Thinking Beyond Ourselves

Hasn’t it been great to go through our values. Last week, Heather so extraordinarily well led us through a celebration of life change. This week, I have the opportunity to talk to us about Thinking beyond Ourselves

We are passionate about seeing the gospel saturate our families, our communities, and our world. We adapt ourselves to the needs around us looking for opportunities to stretch ourselves, giving generously and yielding to God’s desire to expand.

I WANT TO FOCUS ON ADAPT—Not just for the sake of change but adapt to expand!

“To make something FIT or WORK by modification “

here’s what I know to be true for me and suspect to be true for you!

ME: Titus and the swimmer with the COVID mask!

He couldn’t adapt! You wear a mask outside the water and you take it off to swim. NO FLEXIBILITY TO ADJUST TO SITUATION

It is hard to adapt to our current reality. We like being creatures of habit. We find comfort in doing things a certain way. Even those of us that are spontaneous, it has limits.

WE: And I think it is especially true for something as big as THINKING…AND ULTIMATELY LIVING A LIFESTYLE BEYOND OURSELVES

It is not easy to change our thought process *We have always done it that way” As leaders, one of the best ways for us to be open-minded, and therefore adaptable is to encourage others to do the same and to model it. SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO BE CURIOUS

It is not easy to force ourselves to take the risks that are necessary to adapt WALK NOT RUN

RIGID, STRUCTURED, INFLEXIBLE often come more naturally for us when it comes to how we relate to people. We are creatures of habit who tend to relate to people in the same way, time after time. But when it comes to impacting others, ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

But as we think about the mission that God has given us to be a movement that impacts GA and beyond for CHRIST, It can only happen when we think beyond our selves and are willing to adapt for greatest impact

GOD:

How did Paul adapt

The New International Version Chapter 9

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

The polarity between slave and free in the ancient world seemed to be as natural as a way to divide people as between men and women, young and old. (Give up identity and die a social death)

But in order to ADAPT to increase opportunity for IMPACT

1. He Put aside his rights, privileges, and preferences! (3X) *wants and desires

People from our team:Welcome international students to family dinners, listening to the Holy Spirit and having spiritual conversations even when tired or busy

The New International Version Chapter 9

20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.

A beautiful picture of multicultural ministry

In the ancient world, the differences between these two groups would be enormous! Clothing, holidays, etc…Diversity required a TON of flexibility to Paul

2. He adapted away from the nationalism of His day

His identity was not linked to a nation, tradition, or patriotism but to Jesus Christ (Link to Tim’s message- Don’t Confuse saving the soul of our country with saving souls —

1700s Johann Leonhard Dober and *and David Nitschmann Two Moravian Missionaries willing to be sold into slavery, you cant. as a result of the plea of a black servant to the king of Denmark. . They were the first missionaries to West Indies..Moravian missionaries baptized 13,000 converts before any other missionaries arrived on the scene.

The New International Version Chapter 9

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

3. He did whatever it took, to meet people where they are so people could meet Jesus where he is!

That’s the question we get to ask ourselves, are we willing to do whatever it takes for people to meet Jesus, even if it means adapting-Time, strategies, personally values.

personally: Am I willing to adapt my life, my calendar, my hopes dreams and desires to reach my neighbors with the same fervor I have for Calli, Addi, Titus, extras…?

personally: am I willing to adapt the way that I lead people so that we are raising up disciples who make disciples, even if there is a cost to a ministry, initiative, program, or event I hold dearly?

YOU: 5 in 1 Tools

Screwdriver, Opener, Scraper, Cleaner for Paint rollers, hammer, PLUS spackle knife, Clean my grill.

It is easy to take a hammer to a relationship that needs a screwdriver because that is what is convenient or what we are most comfortable with.

WE: A call to adapt is a call to create. A call to dream. A call to imagine what could be.

General ’ Stanley McChrystal if it’s stupid and it works it ain’t stupid

As people who have been given so many resources, so many life experiences, so many opportunities. Imagine the kingdom impact that can come if we are willing to adjust our way of thinking, to take serious the example of Paul to do whatever it takes in order to have the most impact. And then, after we get to call others into it