Ever been invited to follow Jesus into a dangerous place? Jesus did that in John 11 and the disciples grew in their faith! They saw the glory of God. They witnessed the power of the Gospel! Tonight, we’ll gather in a comfortable setting and reflect on our recent mission trip. We’ll gather at the Alexander House at 6:30 for a time of worship (320 S. Buck Board Dr, 32259). Come on over!
Down Town Out: How does missional engagement get going? We’re learning. I’m not sure I know what I’m doing, but that may be okay. And I’m encouraged because we aren’t the first to try this sort of thing. For example…
“On the Sabbath Day, we went outside the gate to a riverside where we supposed there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled.” (Acts 16:13)
Acts 16 explains the story of how Paul, Silas, and some friends (including a guy named Luke) began their mission work in Europe. While the story will eventually unfold dramatically, it begins so simply: A small group of disciples went to a place to which they felt the Lord led them and talked to some people who gathered there. That’s it. Let me restate:
Hmm. I wonder what was said. The only clue we get comes a few verses later. Lydia responded to what was being said and was baptized. So whatever it was, it was something people could respond favorably to Jesus.
There’s a little more worth noting here. The women who gathered by the river feared God. They went there because there was no synagogue in Philippi. There weren’t many Jewish men in Philippi and we know this because you had to have 12 Jewish men to have a synagogue. So Jews and other “God-fearers” who worshiped the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, would gather near the river. That’s why the apostles went to the river.
But here’s what’s instructive for us, I think. They went and talked with people, and were pretty open in terms of talking about Jesus.
And here’s something encouraging – and maybe speculative, too. I don’t think Paul, Silas, and company really knew exactly what they were doing. They weren’t clueless, but the weren’t following a manual on how to do this – because there was no manual. They were just going where God sent them, meeting and talking with people, and trusting God with the rest.
So Daniel, Becca, Heather, Micah and I have made several visits to Hemming Plaza aka Hemming Park in downtown, Jacksonville. We’ve prayed, observed, played a bit, and said “hi”. We feel like God is leading us to be there, and the reason we’re there has something to do with homelessness, and we want understand what God is up to so we can join in. And we all know that we need to start building relationships with some of the folks who hang out there on Sunday mornings. But we don’t know exactly what we’re doing.
Side bar: I’m an introvert. I’m pretty good with people but takes a lot out of me. Getting to know new people has never been natural for me. But after 50 years, I know I can, I know how, and I know it’s worth the effort. So I just need to get over it.
Well, we went again this past Sunday, this time armed with bubbles and juice. That provided us with “something to facilitate relationship”. Toys and refreshments break down barriers. Well, it was Jazz Festival weekend so there was quite a bit of activity at the park. We hung out, played with bubbles, listened to music, and tried to strike up a conversation with a lady who was near us. She wasn’t too interested in engaging. And the next thing we knew the time was gone. So we started heading back to the church (First Pres Jax) but decided to offer some of the bubbles to the one kid we saw at the park. He was sitting with a bunch of men – homeless men, I think. We got permission from someone who looked parent-like to give juice and bubbles to the kid. He was happy and they seemed grateful. One of us (I don’t remember who) offered juice to the men, and then we found out how easy it is to give away juice and bubbles.
On the way back to the church, we all agreed we should have started there, and we talked about what we’d do next time.
Next time, we said we’ll bring cold water – and bubbles.
Next time, maybe, just maybe we’ll have a conversations.
Next time, maybe we’ll let someone know that we feel that God led us there and that we have good news: that the Kingdom of God is near.
Next time.
Pray for us. I feel like we’re stumbling along in the right direction. And it is a joy to follow Jesus with people I love.
Our next worship gathering is June 18. We’ll be celebrating and reflecting on what some of us experienced in Nicaragua. Still not sure where we will be gathering – stay tuned. This Sunday morning, some of us will be spending some time in Hemming Plaza to see what God is doing there. You are welcome to join us!.
“You [Samaritans] worship guessing in the dark. We Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming – it has, in fact, come – when what you’re called will not matter and where you get to worship will not matter.” – Jesus to the Samaritan Woman at the well. John 4.
Don’t misunderstand the title. I am not suggesting that it is easy to get someone to attend Christian worship services. Depending on the church and the person you are hoping to get to the service, it may be nearly impossible.
For many years, I worked very hard and intentionally at trying to get people, especially young people, to attend worship services – and had some level of success. As I began to lead in churches, I had the privilege of working with teams…
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Can you recognize God’s hand at work?
In Acts 11:19-30, you’ll find an interesting story – one very instructional and encouraging for anyone or any community seeking to live missionally. God uses a group of unnamed disciples who’d been through a really tough time to bless the world.
The unnamed disciples had been scattered after persecutions broke out against the church in Jerusalem. These people began doing what comes naturally after everything they’d experienced in the Jerusalem church: they talked about it with the people they met. They told people about Jesus. Only other Jews at first. But when they got to Antioch, they talked with “Greeks”. They began talking with people who weren’t ordinarily considered God’s people. And the Bible says that God’s hand was with those out-of-the-box disciples, because many of those Greeks believed. And many of those who believed also “turned to the Lord.” That is, they began to learn the ways of Jesus. And an amazing church was born.
Now the leaders of the church in Jerusalem wanted to make sure everything was okay. The church at that time was mostly Jewish. They were not too sure about Greek gentiles coming into God’s Kingdom. So they sent Barnabas.
Barnabas is introduced earlier in Acts 4 and Acts 9. From those accounts, we know that he’s a wonderful encourager, generous, all-in, and trusted. He was the one that helped the leaders of the early church accept that Saul the persecuter had become Saul, the devoted follower of Jesus. (Saul later becomes known as Paul the Apostle.)
Barnabas recognized God’s hand at work in the early church and joined in. He also recognized God’s hand at work in Saul’s life. Barnabas had already demonstrated an orientation toward God’s Kingdom. And they sent him to Antioch to see if God was behind the church growth there.
So when Barnabas got to Antioch, he knew it was God at work. He “saw the grace of God.” He confirmed God’s Kingdom advancing in Antioch and even more people came into the church. The church there took off even more. It would be some time before he returned to Jerusalem, because he settled in and went to work in Antioch. The work there grew to the point that he had to go and get Saul/Paul to help. Antioch would become a generous church (like Barnabas). They would generously send money to relieve suffering in Jerusalem. They generously sent out church planters, evangelists, and even their leaders Barnabas and Saul. The world was changed. The gospel moved forward. God’s Kingdom advanced.
But I wonder, though, what would have happened if Barnabas had not had a Kingdom orientation.
No sending. No giving. No maturing of Saul. Oh – but that’s not a question, really. God’s hand was in it.
Question: Do you recognize the Kingdom of God when you bump into it? Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim the kingdom in Matthew 11. The sick would be healed, the dead raised, the lepers cleansed, demons were cast out. Astonishing stuff! (Maybe a bit scary, too). Let me put it in 21st Century terms. Where there is illness and suffering, people will thrive. Where there is despair, grief, and lifelessness, people will discover grace, vitality, and peace. Those who are outcast will find acceptance. Those who are afflicted, addicted, and enslaved will be set free. Health, life, restoration, vitality, and freedom in the name of Jesus.
If you see that sort of thing, would you be able to do what Barnabas did? Would you be able to say, “I see the grace of God at work in this place!”
If you’d like to think about this some more, you may want to read up on the Kingdom triangle.
LoveFirst Coast 