I want to ask a question that might, at first, seem strange or even unhelpful: “Who will you pursue with the good news of Jesus Christ?” Let me explain.
God as given his people a mission to carry the gospel to the nations (cf. Matthew 28:18-20, John 20:21, Acts 1:8). Since all people everywhere have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, then all people everywhere need to repent of their sin and believe in the atoning death and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s our job, as disciples of Jesus, to continue his mission by bearing witness to the good news from our neighbors to the nations.
In light of this broad, global mission, it might seem strange, even unhelpful, to ask you to think about who specifically you will pursue with the gospel. Surely, the right (even pious) answer would be “anyone” and “everyone.” Wouldn’t narrowing our “missional focus” to specific people constrict the mission we’ve been given by Jesus? However, an unidentified target is awfully hard to hit. While God calls some people to big, public ministry and others to travel across the globe with the gospel, the most world transforming movement of mission activity would be to mobilize every believer in every place to intentionally bear witness to the smaller group of people already around them.
My goal in this email is a modest one: to help each of us think carefully about who in our lives we will commit to intentionally pursue with the good news of Jesus Christ.
I Don’t Have Any (or Many) Non-Christian Friends?
As our lives transition from season to season, we often find our relational networks expanding and contracting. For example, in my college years, I was surrounded by seemingly unlimited people. Meanwhile, during my years living in rural New Hampshire, opportunities for relationships were harder to come by. If you're currently in a season with a smaller relational network, it might be that you have very few relationships with people who believe differently then you. For this reason, it might be hard to think of many people you might intentionally pursue with the good news of Jesus. Here are three tips to help you begin to pursue relationships with people that don't currently know Christ:
Look close - While some of us may have fewer relationships with people who don’t know Jesus, none of us have no one, even if that’s an old friend or a close family member. It might be that you’re so used to having this person in your life, you no longer see them as the mission field. It might be that you are the person best equipped to pursue them with the good news of Jesus. Take a moment to consider the people who have been staples in your life (friends and family) who don’t know Jesus.
Look for overlap - When I was in seminary, I spent most of my time either at school studying and working, or at the church where I was being mentored in ministry. For that reason, I had very few places where I was able to develop relationships with people who didn’t know Jesus. However, my neighbors in our apartment building smoked. For this reason, we passed by them two to three times a day on our way in and out of the building. Over the two years, we got to share Christ with them, pray with them through hard times, connect some of them to our church family, and see one come to Christ. Take a moment to consider where you already regularly overlap with people who don’t know Jesus.
Develop regular rhythms - When I first arrived in Ojai, our family had immediate relationship with believers in our church, but no one else. For that reason, we developed regular rhythms that would put us in relationship with people who didn’t know Jesus. We would go to Libby Park at the same times, both go to pick up and drop off our daughter from Topa Topa, and I adopted one specific coffee shop to work at one or two times a week. By developing regular rhythms, we quickly got to know a cohort of non-believers who we have been praying for and intentionally pursuing with the gospel. Our rhythms fit our age and stage of life, but take a moment to consider what regular rhythms you might develop in order to help you regularly overlap with people who don’t know Jesus.
I Have a Lot of Unbelieving Friends
While some of us are in seasons where we have a constricted group of non-Christian friends and family, I suspect that most of us have too many to count. As you consider who you are going to intentionally pursue with the good news of Jesus, use the following four questions to narrow down who you will intentionally begin praying and planning for:
With whom do you already have a deep and trusting relationship? - Trust takes time to earn. As you think about who you might pursue with the gospel, consider what unbelieving friends and family you already have a deep and trusting relationship with. While you may never have pushed into spiritual conversations with them, this foundation of love and trust might make you one of the people in the world best positioned to point them to Jesus.
Who is already spiritually hungry, open, or sensitive? - We live in a place where people are uniquely spiritually open. As you think about who you might pursue with the gospel, consider who in your relational network has shown themselves to be open to spiritual conversation. Perhaps they are looking in the wrong places, or, perhaps they have simply expressed some curiosity when you’ve talked about your faith or church.
Who has close relationships with several other believers? - God gave all of us a mission, but it’s not a mission we have to do alone. Evangelism is a work the church does together. As you think about who you might pursue with the gospel, consider who in your relational network also is in relationship with other believers in our church or in other churches of the valley. When this is the case, partner together to pray and pursue them with the gospel.
Who has the Lord given you a deep burden for? - Sometimes the Lord burdens us for particular people for no apparent reason. As you think about who you might pursue with the gospel, pay attention to whom the Lord has inexplicably laid on your heart. This might be someone you know from the gym, or a neighbor who the Spirit often prompts you to pray for. If the Lord puts them on your heart, don’t ignore it.
What’s coming next?
This is the second article in a short series of reflections to help us consider how we can live on (what I’m calling) Realistic Daily Mission. At this point, we’ve still only considered “who” we will pursue with the gospel. In the weeks to come, we will consider “how” to actually pursue someone with the Gospel. However, even now, take some time to thoughtfully consider who you will intentionally begin praying for and pursuing with the good news of Jesus Christ.
FBC Ojai News: March 24-30
Topa Topa Elementary: There is a new sign-up sheet in the foyer to provide snacks to our local elementary school. We especially need someone for this Thursday, March 27, so please call or email the office if you’re willing to step in for that date. If you have any questions, please talk to Jan Worsham.
All Valley Women’s Retreat: This year’s theme is “I Speak Jesus!” The retreat will be Saturday, May 10 from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM at Forest Home. The cost is $55 per person and that covers breakfast, lunch, speakers and activities. Pick up a registration form in the foyer and get it to the church office by April 26.
Mark Your Calendar: for a women’s retreat this fall entitled “In the Word” with Jen Wilkin. The retreat is in Santa Clarita from Friday evening through Saturday noon on September 12-13. Groups of 5 or more get a discounted registration of $70 ($85 regular admission) when you register early. Please indicate you are interested by signing up in the foyer.
Book Discussion Night: Next Tuesday, April 1 at 6:30 PM, we’ll be having a discussion of the book Being the Bad Guys: How to Live for Jesus in a World That Says You Shouldn’t by Stephen McAlpine. Read the book on your own and come prepared to discuss on April 1 in the sanctuary. (We’ve run out of books, order your copy here.)
Church Cookbook: Calling ALL cooks – men too! It’s been ages since we’ve put together an all-church cookbook, so dig out those most-requested, family and friend tested, potluck-approved favorites. Either email your recipe to the church office (office@fbcojai.org) or drop off a copy in the foyer. We need lots of recipes, so feel free to submit several. We’d like to have all recipes in by THIS Sunday, March 30.
New Church Directory: Last call to update your information and/or photo in the directory. This Sunday, March 30, will be the last day the directories will be out to make corrections. If you are not in there, please fill out a directory information form on the back table and put it in the offering plate or hand it to Tina Abe. If you would like to submit a new picture, you can do so by email (office@fbcojai.org) or have one taken by Tina after the Sunday service.
Sermon Questions on Luke 19:28-44
This Sunday, Pastor Jack preached a sermon entitled “No Excuse” about Palm Sunday. Spend time with your home group, family, or on your own, reflecting again on the passage and discussing the way it might help shape your life and faith.
Read Luke 19:29-30
When you imagine a king arriving at their kingdom's capital, what do you imagine them riding in on?
What is the significance of Jesus arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey (symbol of peace) versus a horse which is typical for kings?
Read Luke 19:36-40
We see good responses and bad responses to Jesus’ arrival. What do you think is the significance of Jesus’ response in v. 40?
Can you think of anywhere else in scripture where the creation is described as worshipping God?
Hint: Psalm 19:1; Psalms 148; Psalms 96:11-13
Read Luke 19:41
Jesus saw the rejection of Jerusalem and wept for their wickedness. Knowing that Jesus weeps when His people are living in sin, how does that shape the way you think about the sin that you have justified in your life?
Jesus wept because out of all people, the people of Jerusalem should have known He was the Messiah because of all the resources the Lord had given them. What are resources the Lord has given you (podcasts/sermons/youtube/etc.) that have been life giving to your spiritual growth?
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