Skip to main content

sharing my heart

This week has been one of those weeks where God worked in my heart as I watched and interacted with hurting people.  Some of those people we have never met before.  As I have been preparing for Sunday, The Community's core values have become even more real.  

I will share some of this in the message tomorrow, but here are some thoughts about helping people where they are and to become who God wants them to be.

"reach the people nobody wants you'll start seeing the people everybody wants" --Matthew Barnett

Do I see the people that no one else wants to deal with?  Do I really care about the people that few other people care for?  All our churches are looking for more people, but often the people we want are the ones who look like, act like and think like us.  Yet I have prayed since The Community began that 1 out of every 10 would have the means to support the ministry and that the other 9 would be those hurting and in need of God's hope.

I believe if we will share these core values, that we will see lives change.

1.    build COMMUNITY where God is exalted, people are influenced & we encourage one another.      (see Acts 2:43ff)

2.    share what is RELEVANT so people meet God who changes lives.      (see John 14:6, 1 John 1:10)

3.     ACCEPT people as they are so they feel safe & see God's love.      (see Romans 14:3 and 15:7)

4.    be CREATIVE in reaching people (God's church should be the most creative institution on earth because we have the greatest message to share)      (see 1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

5.     AUTHENTICITY and be transparent so others know we are real and our lives are messed up too.      (see Hebrews 1:3)

6.    UNITY comes as we share God's vision and unity draws people to us.      (see Philippians 2:1-5)

7.    raise EXPECTATIONS by holding each other accountable to what God says.      (see 2 Corinthians 8:5)

They are easy but they are also hard.  Yet It is my heart to lead our church family hold all 7 and share them in our lives through our words and actions.  Lives will be changed!

"whoever shows up the most in peoples lives is going to win the battle of influence" --Matthew Barnett

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you
Post a Comment
Read more

why is it Good Friday?

  Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation.  We come to Friday.  The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me   Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good?   Jesus was treated as a criminal.  He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him.  His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure.  That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the  Passion of the Christ .   Yet it is a good day.  It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart.  What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me:   He is Redemption and Redeemer   He too our Pain and Punishment   He is our Righteousness and Reality   He is the Savior and Life   All of those happened from the cross.  It was meant for the worst lawbreakers.  It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law.  It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus.   Look
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 8 in Cuba

We have just come off and incredible weekend, and it is day 8 of the mission trip in Cuba.  Thank you to all who have been praying for this trip, the mission team and the impact it will have on those we serve.   Please don’t stop praying. Last week Alex and I served with a mission team in the mountains of southern Cuba.  There were several challenges, but God gave us safety, provision and opportunity to serve some of the sweetest people I have ever met.  No running water… sporadic electricity generated by a small, logo dammed up river, no transportation other than animals, limited food sources and more.  These people love the Lord and sharing their faith with others. Over the weekend we made our way back to Havana.  On Friday our vehicle broke down leaving us on the side of the road for several hours.  We then boarded a bus and rode 14 hours.  We arrived safely and even got some rest. Sunday was so, so good.  We visited two partner churches.  In the morning we were with one church that
Post a Comment
Read more