Passion for People to Know Jesus

I love to share the message of hope in Christ with people around me.  As long as I’ve really, really known Jesus, I l have loved to talk about Him.  I want to share some of my passion by first asking the question, "What does it look like for a follower of Jesus to share the Gospel of Jesus in 2007?"

CONFRONTATION
In days gone by, we have used confrontational methods.  We would knock on doors and ask questions like, "If you were to die to day and stand before God and He asked, ‘why should I let you into my heaven?’, what would you say?"  I don’t really advocate that, especially not in suburban Miami in 2007 where people (like me) are gated off and annoyed by people sneaking into their gated community and invading their privacy to ask a question about a God who they may or may not believe exists.

INVITATION
Another strategy is to simply invite people to church.  I’m a huge advocate of inviting friends and strangers to church.  In fact, you might be hard pressed to find anyone else at Life Pointe that does so with more frequency or enthusiasm than me.  I bring a lot of people to church as well.  I pray for my immediate neighborhood and have watched as not only have many of my neighbors (now 9 families) are in church (not all directly from me) but, they are also becoming really terrific friends and some are devoted followers of Jesus.  In the past year, I’ve sent everyone in my development 2 handwritten invitations to church with my cell number, address, and just an invitation to friendship.

However, simply inviting people to church cuts Jesus working through you out of the picture and casts too much responsibility on the corporate gathering of the church to share the grace of Jesus with the world.

INCARNATION
In the Message, John says:

"The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood." John 1:14

We are to live among people and allow Jesus to live through us in the neighborhood, where people can see, hear, and experience the Jesus living inside of us.  It is not good enough to let our life speak for Jesus but, we must make sure our lives show a visible image of Jesus and that our mouths and words are congruent with what we feel on the inside and how we live on the outside.

Sharing the grace of Jesus should be natural.  It should be a normal part of who we are.  We don’t have to be insincere or put on some type facade of "Churchianity."  We simply need to look for natural opportunities to talk about who we are, who Jesus is, and how good He has been in us as we do life in the neighborhood.

I have found that sharing my story is powerful and irrefutable.  We can find many reasons to critique why we should not believe the Gospel of Jesus, though our arguments are all invalid.  But, no one can take our experience from us.  It is impossible to deny what has been experienced.

So, when I share that I used to be shy and was totally afraid of people but, Christ changed all that, I think that speaks highly of Jesus in me because people see who I am today.  When I share that my grandmother was healed of a huge melanoma cancer.  The doctors gave her 3 months to live.  But, Jesus gave her another 40+ years, I think that is compelling.  When I share that I was a Christian growing up but began to question the logic of my faith at age 18 and Jesus revealed himself to me in the Scriptures and in history, I believe that is significant. 

So, I share a part of my heart with people, becoming transparent about my spiritual milestones and my present-day spiritual questions as we do life together.

Of course, the old adage of "Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care" rings true.  If the Gospel of Jesus is in us, we will have a love and passion for people.  If we are passionate for them, we will care.  If we care, they will open their hearts and minds.  This is no strategy.  This is a calling.

This is why I so much love the mission of Life Pointe in south Florida.  We are to love God and man with reckless abandon.  As we do, love inspires.  Love redeems.  Love heals and transforms.  As we love, we will see the grace and mercy of Jesus poured out into the lives of people all around us.  The Kingdom of God will be enlarged, our lives will be enriched, the world will be changed, and we will have been one among many who have been carriers of the transformational Gospel of Jesus.

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