Saturday, December 17, 2011

Learn To Listen First

One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother, Andrew, fishing with a net, for they were commercial fisherman. Jesus called out to them, “Come, be my disciples, and I will show you how to fish for people!.” -- Mark 1:16-17

Jesus was really good at meeting people where they were. He talked with Simon Peter about fishing for men because that’s the language the commercial fisherman could understand. Another time, Jesus offered the Samarian woman at the well the chance to have living water. It was language she could understand.

So how do you and I share our faith with others? How do we know what words to use when we tell others about Jesus? By listening, really listening, to what others are saying.

Those of you who rushed to say that you already listen are the very ones who need to take a step back. That’s the kind of “listening” I’m not talking about. You think you’re listening but you aren’t.

Don’t feel bad. Active, compassionate listening requires lots of practice. It isn’t something that comes naturally to any of us. But it can make all the difference when it comes to sharing your faith.

Ask the other person about his/her spiritual beliefs. Maybe have the person read a Bible passage and ask what he thinks it means. Then let the person talk. Don’t interrupt. Don’t tell the other person what he should think or say. Just listen.

Along those same lines, don’t spend the entire time the other person is talking trying to figure out what you’re going to say next. Who cares? Actively listen with your ears, your eyes and your heart. People ache to know that someone else really hears them. Be that person.

When you start listening to others, you start hearing the language they can understand. You know if they are fishermen or out to get drinking water for the day. You can hear if they’re lonely, facing financial burdens, hungry for knowledge, or whatever it is they need to tell you.

That’s the place where you share Jesus. That’s the point where you get out of the way and let the Holy Spirit lead the way. That’s the moment when hearts open and Jesus walks right on in.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

We Are All Called

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. -- Acts 8:4

What do you think your preacher should be doing today? Should he or she be visiting the sick? Should he be out ministering to the poor? Should you find him in the prisons praying or out helping an elderly widow with her yard work?

It doesn’t matter if what you call him -- pastor, minister, preacher, reverend, brother, priest -- or whether your pastor is a him or a her. We’ve all go some pretty clear ideas about he should be doing with his time.

Rarely do we a lot leisure time. Or even family time. Unless, of course, the leisure time and family time is spent at the church or in church activities. We want our pastors available all the time, but especially in an emergency.

I’ve been blessed over the years to have preachers who do show up when needed. It means so much to look up from your hospital bed and see your pastor walking in the door. Somehow it just seems that a pastor’s prayer is more powerful. I know. It isn’t true. But when you’re sick and hurting it sure seems that way.

It also seems that pastors are the perfect people to talk with folks about Jesus. We all want our family and friends to be believers. We want them to receive Jesus’ gift of eternal life. And we want our pastor to make it happen. I really don’t know why most of us seem to believe that it’s the pastor’s job to bring those closest to us to Jesus.

Okay. Maybe I do know why. It’s easier that way. We don’t have to face rejection. We don’t have to worry about word choices and not being able to find the right Scripture to answer a question. We can just decide it’s the pastor’s job and be done with it. That way if they don’t believe, it isn’t our fault.

It’s kind of ridiculous and not fair at all. First, the Bible tells us that all people -- that would include you and me -- are to spread the news of Jesus Christ. We don’t have to attend seminary. We don’t have to memorize the Bible. We don’t even have to know the right words. All we really need is a willing heart and a desire to do God’s will. The Holy Spirit will provide everything else we need.

The other reason it’s wrong for us to abdicate our responsibility is that we know the very people who need Jesus the most. We understand their hurts and fears. They are far more likely to listen to someone who cares about them than a stranger or someone they barely know.

So take a deep breath and ask God to tell you what to do. Then do it. Life is too short and eternity too long to wait even another day. Make time. Take courage. And tell people about your Lord and Savior. People are aching to fill that well deep inside of them. Are you willing to tell them how?

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Show Hospitality

Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?"

They said, "Rabbi" (which mans Teacher), "where are you staying?"

"Come," he replied, "and you will see."

So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him....

-- John 1:38-39

Are you an evangelist? Do you tell people about Jesus? Are you open about your faith or do you only share with those in your church? Do you invite others to hear the Good News or do you prefer to share activities with people you already know?

Evangelism gets a bad rap because we don't know how to do it. That's what Pastor Bob said and I think he was right. We think of evangelism as preaching, soliciting, just getting out there in that uncomfortable zone. But it is so much more than that.

Evangelism is all about planting seeds. We don't need to worry about making them grow. God takes care of that. We just have to show up and that means inviting people to events. Upward Bound is evangelism. It's bringing kids and their families into a church and letting them hear about Jesus. Mom's Day Out is evangelism. Any church social event is evangelism, whether it's a concert, supper or senior program. Those activities are where seeds of faith are planted.

So often we want someone else to do it. We're comfortable sitting with the same people at church social events. We don't want to risk committing any time to bringing or dropping off a child. We certainly don't want to pay anyone's way anywhere. Besides, that's the preacher's job to seek out new people for church. Or so we tell ourselves. But you know what? Invitations are far more effective when they come from neighbors and friends, co-workers and other parents.

In one of his last sermons, Bob Penton talked about evangelism. The congregation read from John and Pastor Bob challenged everyone to go forth, to offer hospitality in the name of Christ. To open our hearts and our activities to include everyone. You never know whose life you might touch.