¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Mark 16:15, 16

Are We Reaching the World?

Notice the question wasn’t – are we reaching more Christians? I’m not even talking about the church at this point – that’s a whole other story. I’m talking about you and me…are we reaching people for God?  I got challenged like crazy at Catalyst in this area. Questions like this were asked of me:

• When people have a need, do they think of you as a means to helping them?
• Are you allowing people to belong (be a friend) before they have to believe?
• Do you like people who are only like you?
• Does everybody feel welcome around you?

After interning, serving, and working for a church for 6+ years, it is easy to get detached from the world. Since getting a job outside the church recently, I’ve realized there are a ton of people who don’t know God and are searching desperately for Him, and I’ve done a pretty good job at reaching Christians, but a pretty bad job at reaching the world.This has to change…

Here are some thoughts from Catalyst to make you think more about this subject…

• The church doesn’t exist for us, the church (we) exist for the world. -Erwin McManus

• Are we befriending people that are different than us? When is the last time you had a non-christian over your house for dinner? Hung out with them outside of church?

• You’ll never reach people until you draw people to you and earn the right to show them God in their life.

• Jesus first words: Come Follow me – Jesus Last Words: Go Make Disciples – we need to stop being so focused on ourselves and our spiritual growth and more focused on making disciples.
  

• We’re called to be traffic directors in Hell!- pointing everyone to Heaven
  

• You’re a miracle to somebody when you give them Jesus – Do you remember who led you to God?
  

• Small acts may not change the world, but they can tilt it to go in the right direction – There are millions of people everywhere that need encouraged, need to hear I see you, I believe in you, you matter!

How have you been doing with what Jesus told us to do? Going into the world (not the church) and making disciples…

What an incredible day… I’m literally blown away and I stand in awe of what God is doing in the world through the body of Christ. I literally can’t put into words what God is stirring up in my heart…

Here are my highlights from the talks:

Session 1: Andy Stanley

• Uncertain times are the arena where great leaders are born
• You don’t learn anything in good times or in times of certainty
• It’s ok to be uncertain, it’s not ok to be unclear
• To be clear in uncertain times, go back to the vision that God put in your heart
• The clearer you are on what God’s called you to do, the less uncertainty will matter
• Would you do what God is calling you to do even if nobody came with you?
• We need to be more concerned about the people we haven’t met, then the ones we have
• Leadership isn’t about making decisions alone, it’s about owning the decisions once they’re made

Session 2: Guy Kawasaki

• You’ll never appeal to everyone, when you try to, you create mediocrity
• Making people happy or unhappy is a lot better than making them indifferent
• If people won’t get your message in 15 minutes, they probably never will
• Ignore the bozos…

Session 3: Catherine Rohr

***Catherine runs an amazing ministry…. you need to check it out!

• Are you known for the worst thing you’ve ever done? Neither should other people… (Grace)
• A lot of times we need to look at people as human beings instead of animals
• We need to do life with people and help them achieve their “proudest moments” in life

Session 4: Jud Wilhite

• Until you settle the identity issue – you’ll never be or have enough
• There is no “There” so learn to enjoy the journey
• Surrender your view of you for God’s view of you
• We should talk to ourselves more than listen to ourselves
• When you believe something other than what God says about you, you’re calling God a liar

Session 5: Ravi Zacharias

*I need to listen to this talk again… Ravi is amazing and he said so many amazing things…

• What you applaud you encourage, be careful what you celebrate
• People can’t argue love

Session 6: Brian Houston

• Be a church planter and builder, not a church critique
• WE are the Church… the Church is so much bigger than one person
• If we don’t believe in what the church is supposed to be, how will the world?
• When you’re a part of the house of God -> you ALWAYS Flourish!

Session 7: Nick Vuljicic

• “It’d be dishonoring to God to live my life and not believe that I could change the world
• God uses people based on availability, not ability
• FEAR – False Evidence Appearing Real
• 2 Questions Jesus will ask us: 1.) Do you know me? 2.) Who did you bring?
• FAITH = Full Assurance In The Heart
• You’re a miracle to someone when you give them Jesus
• Satan wants to take your joy from you… period
• Just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it’s not there
• Trust is a daily choice

Overall a great day… really looking forward to tomorrow…

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ~Matthew 6:33

I’m a firm believer that spiritual maturity is when you realize that everything you need in life, God has already provided, and you’re able to live your life making an impact on other people. Life no longer is about you – but about changing the world for the Kingdom of God.

I believe the first step to becoming Kingdom minded is to daily renew our minds to what God’s Word says about our call to change the world.

Here are some principles that I am always going over and reminding myself of. These need to be embedded in our hearts if we’re going to do what God called us to do:

We’re Called to the World, Not the Church - Mark 16:15,16 and Matthew 28:16-20 we’re COMMANDED to go out and change THE WORLD (Not the church). The church should be a place where we get equipped and matured to go out and change the world. If we’re not changing our communities, cities, counties, states, and nations…we’re off.

We’ll Never Change the World for God if we Don’t Die to Ourselves – Jesus said in Mark 10:39 and several other places that we have to lose our lives FOR HIS SAKE in order to find it. I truly believe that…so many people are looking for purpose in life. They’ll never find it aside from God. We have to be willing to let go of our dreams, our desires, our passions and exchange them for His. Paul understood this when he said in Gal. 2:20 that it’s no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me.

We Need to See People the Way God Sees Them: Romans 3:23 says we’ve all fallen short of the glory of God. I think as Christians it’s easy to forget that the only difference between me and someone in the world is God. Without the grace of God I too would be lost… it’s so easy to forget where we were before we met God isn’t it? Aren’t you glad He loved you where you were at? We need to do the same for people…

We Need to Love People - In John 13:35, Jesus said that people will know your His disciples if you love one another. I think one reason the world has such a bad view of God and Christians is because we’re not loving one another. The best definition I’ve heard of love is: Love always does what is most beneficial for the other person. If a stranger met you on the street – would they see love? Would they see Jesus?

That’s enough for now… Thoughts?