Encouraging, Empowering & Equipping Ordinary Christians To Live Powerful Missional Lives!
Sometimes we can learn the greatest lesson about shining the Light of Christ from people in different professions! Today we are going to look at Major League Baseball Player Hank Aaron and a lesson his career can afford us to live powerful missional lives. Watch this video and be both encouraged and inspired to go shine the Light of Christ brightly in your part of this dark world.
Being infected with a life threatening disease is never an enjoyable thought but knowing if you have one is better than being an ostrich and hiding your head in the sand! Why? Because, if it is life threatening you want to get rid of it. In todays Missional Living Training we are going to identify 2 diseases that can kill your missional living attempts. Watch this video and then evaluate yourself to see if you might have one of them. If you do - then take the necessary steps and get rid of it.
Did you know that living a powerful missional life that brightly shines the Light of Christ is a lot like being able to play a good hand at poker? That's right! There is an important lesson we can learn from those really great poker players that we can apply to our missional living strategies.
In this video I am going to share with you 1 essential lesson for shining the Light of Christ brightly that we can learn from poker. It is a powerful lesson and if you can effectively apply it to your life will amp up the voltage of brightness in being the Light of the World.
Have you ever wondered what you can do to shine the Light of Christ brightly through missional living? After all not everyone is able to physically go door to door evangelizing! Right? Well here is one activity that all Disciples of Christ can do in living a missional life! Watch this short video and begin to put it into practice and thereby allowing the Light of Christ to shine brightly in your part of this dark world and all over the world as well!
If you haven't already figured it out yet you will soon but no one lives a perfect missional life all the time! We try new things like sharing our testimony but mess up; or we try to explain the Gospel only to stumble all over the place. How we deal with these failure will greatly determine if we become successful at living a powerful missional life or experience the death of our missional living. Watch this video and be encouraged to never quit or give up!
Yes, I do go door to door to share Jesus with people! And yes, I do find it to still be a very good approach to getting the Gospel out to people! And yes, I do see lots and lots of positive responses from those I go to and many of them are giving their hearts and live over to Christ.
For the most part people, even those not interested, have been cordial and polite. It has only been on very rare occasions a person is rude and mean spirited.
But what I am going to share in this post is 12 things that I go door to door to share Jesus with people in my community. These are 11 things that I have found to be important reminders. I share this strategy with you because it can easily be done by any Christian in their own neighborhood where they live or with a Home Fellowship Group of churches that wish to be more missional.
Going in teams of two is a very Biblical approach. In Luke 10 when Jesus was sending out the 72 He sent them in teams of two. We see the Apostle Paul and Barnabas forming a missional team. We see Peter and John often together on missional activities.
Teams provide safety, encouragement, and accountability. If you have to go by yourself then I guess you have to but if you can find someone to go with you, even if its just there to pray while you talk, then that is more desirable.
I know that sounds silly but the reality is that if people can't see your eyes they will be more suspicious of you. You will look intimidating and it will create an immediate wall of separation between you and the person you're talking to.
Your eyes communicate your sincerity and passion. Allowing people to see your eyes is part of the communication and connection you are wanting to establish with a person you're trying to share Jesus with.
Again, this is about creating trust and putting people at ease. The reality is that if you talk with a stranger while having your hands in your pocket the person will concentrating more on your hands and pockets than what you are saying to them.
When strangers see you with your in your pocket they are wondering if you have a knife, gun or some other thing they should be worried about. The solution is simple: Take your hands out of your pockets and fold them in front of you, so they are in plan sight.
This seems obvious but I have been amazed with the number of people who have gone door to door but never once shared their name or the name of the person that came with them. Here's what I usually say,
"Hi, my name is Jay Moore and this is my wife Linda."
The shorter the introduction the better. Once you share with a stranger your name psychologically you are no longer a stranger! Why? Because they now know you by name.
This is important and needs to be share real quickly. The people you are visiting are wanting to know, so there's no need to have a chit chat session with them. After I introduce myself I will say something like this:
" ... we are going through the neighborhood sharing with people that God loves them, we care about them and because life is really tough for people these days we have come by to see if there's anything you need God to do for you, any miracle you need God to perform for you that we can pray about for you. Is there anything you need God to do for you?"
Many times after saying this many people have questions. They may ask, "Are you JW's" or "Are you with a church?" or they may not really understand what you said and they ask, "What are you here for?" After answer those clarifying question I'll always go back and say, "So, is there anything that I can pray for you about?"
After they share their prayer request immediately pray for them about that specific need. Ask God to meet that need and do in such a way that the person knows it was God who did it. Believe me when I tell you that people are hungry for prayer - they need prayer - and very often accept offers for prayer.
Prayer communicates to the person you care about them. And communicating that you care is critical to preparing to share the Gospel. There's old saying,
"People don't care how much you know - until they know how much you care."
Praying for people communicates that you care a whole lot!
Once you have prayed for them ask them if you can tell them a true story from the word. of God. This is important because the Bible teaches us that faith comes from hear and hearing the word of God. To share a Bible story about Jesus is a powerful way to initiate a spiritual conversation that will lead to a Gospel presentation. I would suggest the story of Jesus at the house of Simon the Pharisee' when the sinful came and began to cry on Jesus' feet.
Don't read the story - tell it in your own words but accurately. Don't add to the story but also don't leave anything out of it.
After sharing a true story from the Bible immediately begin to share you personal testimony of coming to Christ. Don't ask permission. They already gave you permission to share a Bible story just continue to talk by sharing your story in Christ. Start your testimony off by saying, "Just like this person who was desperate to see Jesus and receive forgiveness of sin so I to had a time in my life when I wanted my sins forgiven. Then tell them your story. Share with them what you life was like before coming to Christ, how you came to Christ and what your new life in Christ is like now.
Once you have finished your testimony say something like this, "And the best part of my new life in Christ is that Jesus now has me going around telling people that just like the person in the story was forgiven of their sins and just like I was forgiven of my sins, so now they too can experience Jesus' forgiveness for their sins. And then share with them a simple Gospel presentation.
Once you finished sharing the Gospel ask them the million dollar question! Ask them, "Would you too like to experience Jesus' forgiveness of sin?" If they say, "yes" then lead them in a sinners prayer of commitment. A good fisherman knows that they need to reel in the line if they will ever catch a fish; likewise a good disciple maker knows they need to ask the question to receive Christ.
Once you're done praying get excited and let it be known how amazing a decision they just made. Let them know and experience your excitement for their decision to follow Christ.
Before you leave make sure you set up a time to meet within the next few days to begin learn more about Christ and what he has commanded. This is when you begin to disciple them to be obedient followers or Christ.
Are you focused when it comes to missional living or are you all over the place and not really sure what it is you should concentrate on? This is short video I am going to share with you that we need to get back to the heart of what missional living is all about and what you need to stay focused and prepare to live that powerful missional life anytime, anywhere and with anybody.
Missional Living is as much about helping and encouraging other Christians to live missional lives as it is about sharing Christ with those that have not heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In this episode of The Ordinary Christian I am going to share with you a powerful way you can do both at the same time. Watch and be encouraged!
Listen to what it was that caught the attention of the Apostle Paul and others around the known world at that time that caused him to thank God for them every time he thought of them. These two things were the characteristics that built a powerful missional living reputation for that church.
Do you have those characteristics? Watch and find out.
Here's one idea how you can quickly and easily shine the Light of Christ in your part of this dark world during Thanksgiving.
Powerful and effective Missional Living requires the wisdom! Where does that wisdom come from? Watch this short video and encouraged to be wise in sharing Jesus with others, making reproducing disciples makers and on shining the Light of Christ brightly in your part of this dark world!
Should Christians who are on mission with Christ boycott companies just because they don't agree with their social agenda? Undoubtedly you've been encouraged to do so! But is that the best approach when your desire and aim is to shine the Light of Christ brightly in your part of this dark world? MAYBE NOT!
Take a few moment and watch this video to learn about a different perspective when it comes to this practice of Christians boycotting companies. Now please know that I am not ruling out the possibility that boycotting is appropriate especially when it comes to some group like, Planned Parenthood, who as part of their service kill babies and sell their body parts. I am referring to companies that have legitimate service and goods but maybe their social agenda isn't what we would want as a Christian
Watch the video and then leave a comment sharing your thoughts. Please remember to keep your commitments respective and not hurtful.
In this video I am going to share with you 5 Biblical Principles for living a missional life found from Jesus' Sermon On The Mount.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
#1: ALL CHRISTIANS HAVE THE LIGHT - NOT JUST SOME!
"You are the light ..."
Having the Light of Christ isn't for just a few special people. Every single person who has given their life over to Christ by faith has the light!
#2: CHRISTIANS ARE TO SHINE THE LIGHT IN THE WORLD - NOT CHURCH BUILDINGS!
"You are the light of the world ..."
To much of what we do to shine the Light of Christ happens in building tucked away from the real world. The people who need to see the Light of Christ are not coming into our church buildings. Christ told us to go shine His light in the world.
#3: CHRISTIANS ARE TO DISPLAY THE LIGHT - NOT HIDE IT!
"A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house."
We are not to hide the light away so nobody knows that you follow Christ. Instead, we are to shine His light in a way that lots of people can see it and benefit from it.
#4: GOOD DEEDS IS THE ILLUMINATION OF THE LIGHT - NOT JUST WORDS!
"let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds"
Doing good deeds or loving actions is a way to illuminate people's lives so they can see Christ and God's love.
#5: THE GOAL IS TO GLORIFY GOD - NOT OUSELVES!
"glorify your Father in heaven"
The goal of shining the Light of Christ is for people to glorify God the Father. It should never be our aim to get the glory for ourselves. The glory always belongs to God and God alone!
Jesus said that the world would know that we are His disciples by our love for one another and the Apostle Paul said that love in kind, so one of the ways the world will know about Jesus is through our kindness. Watch this video to learn more and then take some time to evaluate your own missional living to see if kindness is part of it.
Jesus told His disciples that the world would know that they are His disciples by their love for others. Love for others is the proof of a sincere relationship with Christ. Love is the Light of Christ that shines from us to others who still need to know Christ.
The Apostle Paul in I Corn. 13 says that "Love is patient" - therefore I like to say that "Missional Living is Patient". Watch this video and then evaluate yourself and ask how loving or patient are you with those who still need to know Christ.
Jesus told us what the proof of truly being His disciples, which is to be on mission.
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:35
Watch this video and then ask yourself: "Do I live the kind of missional life that proves I am a true Follower of Christ?"
One of the most effective tools for living a powerful missional life is the ability to sincerely love those who don't know Christ. Listen to what Jesus says in John 13:35
But what does love look like when it comes to missional living? It's a nice thought but how do you put it into practice? Let's take a look at 1 Cor. 13:4-8 and see how the Bible describes love and through it we will get a better idea of how we are to love those who don't know Christ yet!
How patient are you with people? Are you willing to allow time for the Holy Spirit to work in their life? Or are you pushy and demand people to respond quickly and immediately! When it comes to missional living we need to remember that we are working on God's time table and not our own.
Kindness is a virtue that is an absolute essential when it comes to share Christ with people. Being helpful and meeting peoples needs people know you are not just all talk. Dale Carnegie has been quoted saying, "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." When it comes to missional living that is so very true!
Missional Living is never about what you can get from others but what you can give to them. When you are envious of people (their lifestyle, possessions etc..) it's nearly impossible to sincerely share Christ and His love for them. Why? Because your eye is on what someone has and not on whom (Christ) you can share with them.
Missional Living is never about bragging yourself or making yourself look good! Mission Living is bragging on Christ and making him look desirous.
Missional Living is be willing to go to the homeless, the helpless, the beaten down and the forgotten. People filled with pride have no room in their heart to associate with the outcasts of this world. By the way those were the ones Jesus specifically targeted to go and share the Gospel to first.
Missional Living is sincerely being nice to those of the world. There are to many people in the name of "sharing the Gospel" sound more rude and hateful. How is possible to sincerely share God's Good News and do it rudely? You can't!
Missional Living is not about "YOU" but about "OTHERS".
Missional Living can take the insults, the slandering, and the abuse and still feel love and compassion even for those who are hurting them.
Missional Living doesn't keep any records of wrongs done to them. There will be times when someone will hurt you over and over again but its you unconditional love for them that God uses to soften their hearts and come to faith in Christ.
Missional Living abhors when evil men and activities advance.
Missional Living is all about sharing the Truth. The truth of Christ which can set people free!
Missional Living is about helping and protecting people and their reputations and not about harming them.
Missional Living is about trusting God to do His work as we are being faithful to our job of sharing the Gospel and making disciples.
Missional Living always believes that at some point individuals that we are praying for and sharing with will come to faith in Christ.
Missional Living never quits - never gives up - never stops. It's always advancing!
Missional Living is about sharing with the people of this world how they can "WIN" IN CHRIST!
We believe that ordinary christians are God primary choice for doing His extraordinary work. Throughout scripture we see God choosing to use everyday people to join Him on His mission of raising up, training up and unleashing them to become rapidly reproducing disciple makers. The Ordinary Christians intends to join God in that pursuit.
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