Throwing Parties and Telling Stories
I shared on Sunday that one missionary described his job as “Throwing Parties and Telling Stories.” What if we thought of being a witness for God in a similar way?
What if we stopped feeling the pressure to be perfect and started focusing on simply being present in the moment and pointing to Jesus in natural ways? What if we focused on including people in our lives rather than living privately and hoping not to be bothered?
We see this pictured in Scripture in Luke 5. Read this:
Luke 5:27–29
27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.
Matthew’s life was completely changed when he started following Jesus—so you know what he did? He threw a party that would allow him to tell the story!
He wanted all of his friends and former associates to hear about how great Jesus was! He couldn’t help but invite everyone he knew—he served delicious food to entice them—and then shared about the One who came for sinners!
One thought to consider:
If being a witness simply means “telling what you’ve seen,” what is one small thing you’ve genuinely seen Jesus do in your life lately?
One Action Step:
Write or record a 2–3 sentence version of that moment. Keep it simple and honest. Rehearse saying it naturally (not as a speech) so it’s ready when God opens a door.
Pray First and Everyday
As I call you each day this week to live missionally, I bet you are a bit overwhelmed and anxious about the thought. Even if I repeat every day that missional living is more about availability than ability, that it is about being faithful more than knowing all the facts, we still get nervous.
Here is what I want you to do to combat that anxiety: PRAY!
Pray for God to work in and through you with this calling to missional living. Don’t attempt to muster the courage on your own!
This is not only my recommendation; in fact, this is what Paul encourages:
Colossians 4:2–6
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
One thought to consider:
What might happen if you prayed for the people in your mission field more than you tried to “say the right thing” to them?
Action Step:
Pick one person you are around that you care about. From now until Sunday, pray one specific thing for them each day (e.g., peace at home, healing, openness to God, strength in a struggle). Let prayer do the heavy lifting.
Faithful in the Everyday
Acts 18:1–4
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
Paul wasn’t just a traveling missionary—Paul was a tentmaker.
This means Paul worked a normal job just like everyone else to make a living. He used his job to give him a voice to speak on the Sabbath, but also to keep food on the table each day.
You have a job. You have responsibilities.
They take a good bit of your time. They fill your days and your thoughts. That is not wrong. We were created to work. Work is good and should be done well.
My challenge to you today is to be faithful in the everyday things of your life. Be faithful at your work, in your home, in your hobbies.
What does that mean? Exude kindness. Show grace. Be hard-working. Your job or responsibility is not a barrier to faithful living—it is the avenue through which you are called to live faithfully to God.
One thought to consider today:
What if the most important thing God needs from you right now is not more knowledge, but simply your willingness to be available?
One Action Step:
Write down one sentence about what Jesus has done for you recently (mercy, peace, forgiveness, help). Practice saying it out loud once today—prepare your heart to share it naturally when the moment comes in the normal places of life!
Ready or Not
Day 1 – Ready or Not
Do you remember playing hide and seek as a kid? That anxious feeling that would twirl in your stomach as you waited to be found.
I bet you also remember how the seeker would count and after “1” would say: “Ready or NOT! Here I come!”
Maybe you hadn’t found your favorite spot yet, but you knew in that moment you had to hide! It wasn’t about the perfect spot—it was about springing to action.
Ready or not — it is time for you to live missionally.
I know you want to make excuse after excuse to justify why you don’t need to be tasked with this endeavor. You want to explain why you need to learn more, know more, and live more like Jesus before you can be a “witness.”
That’s you talking, not God.
In fact, we see in Mark 5 that Jesus sends a man who is freshly converted straight into action sharing the truth.
Mark 5:19–20
19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
Ready or not — here I come!
What if being ready is simply about being willing?
One thought to consider today:
What if the most important thing God needs from you right now is not more knowledge, but simply your willingness to be available?
One Action Step:
Write down one sentence about what Jesus has done for you recently (mercy, peace, forgiveness, help). Practice saying it out loud once today—prepare your heart to share it naturally when the moment comes.
Failures in Community - Commitment
Failures in Christian Community - Commitment
Hebrews 10:24-25
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
While we have discussed this week the challenges of Christian community due to our own sinfulness, today I want us to look at a practical reason we are failing in Christian community: consistency. Simply put, we don’t show up. Relationships require time. Relationships require presence. Relationships require investment. YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP!
I asked on Sunday: Are you willing to do what is required to receive what you desire? We want to be known, loved, cared for, helped, encouraged, and even corrected. If you are not present, none of this can happen. Neglecting to meet together is a problem that must be addressed. Are your schedules busy? Sure. Do things come up? Absolutely. Are there times when you “just don’t feel like it”? I have felt that way too.
The real issue is a matter of priority. Are you prioritizing being connected to the community? Are you committing to being present even when time is short, schedules are busy, and feelings aren’t there?
“Sunday church is a Saturday choice.”
A late night on Saturday is a recipe for a sleepy morning on Sunday. Are you prioritizing being connected and committed to community? I will say this as clearly as I can: Our schedule starting on September 15th is designed to give you access to Christian community in a way that honors your time, location, and busyness.
As we kick off Groups again in March, we are asking everyone to be in attendance. We are asking everyone to commit to connecting. You play a role in others’ lives, even if you don’t believe you need them in yours. I am urging and pleading with you to be committed to your group.
Excuses are tempting, but do not neglect what matters. At the end of the day, we are asking you to give 40 more minutes on a Sunday to what we believe will be valuable to you, your group mates, and our church. Be prepared for me to invite you personally. Be prepared for me to ask you directly. However, at the end of the day, I can only offer you healthy spiritual options; you must choose them.