Community News 3/20/18

Day 2 of Week 3: When Necessary

Acts 1:8, Matthew 5:14-16, Acts 4:20

3 Characteristics of a Witness

There are certain characteristics that identify a witness for Christ. Let’s take a look at what they are and see if you identify with any of them.

We are called to be a witness.
We should live out our faith so that people see Christ in us.
We must not neglect to speak about him.

First and foremost, you are called to be a witness as Acts 1:8 declares. In this verse, the word “will” is used and it shows us that the act of witnessing is inevitable. Furthermore, it’s in relation to being filled with the Holy Spirit and it’s by the Holy Spirit we have the ability to be a witness. It is a mandate that we be a witness to the people around us once we accept Christ as Lord.

In the Message translation of Matthew 5, we get this beautiful illustration of the way we should be representing Christ. A witness is something we naturally are as we live out our life for Jesus; our love and commitment should shine forth in order to point people to God. Living our lives so that others see Christ in us is essential. If we only tell people about God and yet neglect to show them a glimpse of Him within ourselves, we have only empty words.

Finally, in Acts 4 we are instructed to be verbal about who He is. One commentator wrote, “There has to be a verbal witness because there cannot be communication of important convictions without language. We must use words because our faith must be something vastly greater than ourselves. We make a witness by telling not who we are but whose we are.”

If you want to be an effective and authentic witness for Christ you must both live out your faith in action and verbalize how good God is. Start with that and God will use you to reach others.

Adapted From: Authentic Witnessing in Today’s World - You Version

Community News 3/19/18

Day 1 of Week 3: When Necessary

Mark 2:17

What is a Witness?

Every week people are throwing parties for the lost at churches all across the world. Staff and volunteers alike plan and prep for Sunday mornings with such enthusiasm and attention to detail as any celebration party. But what if we threw these parties and no one ever came but those who are saved? What would be the point of throwing a party if the guests of honor weren’t there?

In Mark 2 Jesus is explaining why He came to Earth. To the surprise of many at that time, it wasn’t so that He could hang out with the spiritually stable or prominent religious leaders. It was so that He could get into the messy business of compassion and serving the down and out. Jesus came to relate to the broken, sick, and lost to lead them to eternity.

In this one verse, we are being challenged as believers to do the same and we call it witnessing. It’s the very core of our mission on Earth. Many often ask what their purpose is, and if that’s you, start with this verse.

Go out there and be a witness for Christ. This means looking for opportunities to meet unbelievers, building relationships with them, and sharing what Jesus did in His own mission on Earth.

In this reading plan, we are going to explore what a witness is and how to practically share the Gospel with those outside the faith. It’s time to equip yourself for the mission you’ve been given as a disciple.

Adapted From: Authentic Witnessing in Today’s World - You Version

Community News 2/24/18

Day 5 of Wk 3: Excuses

DAY 5

Jonah 3:1-10; Jonah 4:1-11

Let’s take this a step further – not only has God saved you from your imminent drowning, but also, He’s now put your feet on solid ground. What do you think your response would be? Would you maybe be more afraid of the God who can control the seas and the creatures within than the task He’s sent you to do?

As we’ll read today and tomorrow, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Not fear in the traditional sense, but an understanding that, if you’re going to fear anything/anyone, God should be first on that list. He does have an immense love for us, but He is also driven by His justice and righteousness.

Like a prisoner on death row that’s been given a second chance at life, Jonah now walks as a free man.

Have you ever met someone who wants everyone to know when they were right about something? They can’t let it go – they need to make sure you know that they were right, you were wrong, and it ought to be documented somewhere for history to be able to look back upon.

Jonah was that type of person.

As we’ll read in this chapter, he may have done what God asked him to, but certainly not with the attitude God would’ve wanted. In fact, Jonah is more concerned about the fact that these Ninevites were sinners that he forgets that he is as well!

You might think you deserve to be bitter or reserved because someone hurt you or someone wronged you; the truth is none of us has the right to be bitter once we’re found by Christ! We surrender our rights when we decide to follow Jesus.

So yes, you might be right. They may have hurt you. They may ‘deserve’ to be given the cold shoulder or even not invited to church. But in God’s sight, we’re all sinners and don’t deserve the grace we’ve been given. So if you struggle with being bitter and maybe even selfish (and self-righteous), read this chapter about Jonah’s last words recorded in scripture. Is that how you want your life to end in the history books?

                                                                                                                            Adapted From: I Would, But… - You Version

Community News 2/23/18

Day 4 of Wk. 3: Excuses

DAY 4

Colossians 3:23-24; Romans 12:11; Luke 19:37-40; Psalms 104:33-34

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I want to do something significant for God, but I’m just stuck where I am”? Maybe you’re a waiter, or you live in a small town and it feels like the things of God only exist in bigger and better places. Jonah could’ve felt this way too. Certainly he’s thankful and grateful that God saved him, but we wouldn’t fault him for thinking he’s missed his chance to do what God called him to do. After all, he is quite literally ‘stuck’ where he’s at.

Here’s what’s so telling about the heart of God – Jonah admits his mistakes, he owns up to his past, and he recognizes that God is still good. And in that moment, his praise brings about progress! God is moved by humility. There’s something that’s unlocked in that moment of honesty and humility that wasn’t there before. Because as we know, he was in that fish for three days!

Maybe Jonah spent the first two days wallowing in the fact that he’s utterly and completely stuck. His life is not where he wants it to be; it’s not even where it needs to be for him to do what God called him to! And maybe day three rolls around and he realizes – even if he can’t do what God called him to do most recently, he CAN do what God called him to do with his life. The same thing you and I have been called to do in everything we do – bring glory to God. So he begins to cry out and gets real honest with God. And God takes that as a sign of obedience, right where he’s at.

The lesson? Wherever you are, what you do, do it to the glory of God. You might find that God takes that obedience and makes something more of it. Our job is simply to bring the praise!

Adapted From: I Would, But… - You Version