Love Where You Are (from the Love Where You Live Series)

Love Where You Are is the last installment in our Love Where You Live series.  In the Bible, Jesus tells us that we are to be His witnesses in areas all around us and beyond; even to the remotest parts of the earth.  God is clear about what He wants us to do.

Love Where You Are (from the Love Where You Live Series)

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled "Love Where You Are."  You are invited to watch, listen and worship with us here.

Love Where You Are | January 26, 2020 | Pastor Jeff Crook from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

Wherever we live and work, God has placed us there.  We are to take the message of Jesus to dark places.  How do we do this?

How to Love Where You Are

1.  Be present.

Wherever you are, be all there!  Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God. - Jim Elliot

This "Wherever You Are Be All There" print is available here.

Let's not be preoccupied or distant.  Be ready for whatever God wants you to do wherver you are right now.

As born again believers, we have the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this thing He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” - John 16:17

When Jesus went up, the Holy Spirit came down.

Loving Others Well (Love Where You Live Series)

Our next installment in the Love Where You Live Series is called Loving Others Well."  This post is part of a series led by my church pastor.  Part of our 2020 focus is our B.L.E.S.S. acrostic.

B - Begin with prayer.
L - Listen to them.
E - Eat.  Have a meal with them.  Jesus was often coming from or going to a meal.
S - Serve them.
S - Share the gospel with them.

Today we are learning how to better use our influence and voice to point others to Jesus.

You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.

Loving Others Well | January 12, 2019 | Pastor Jeff Crook from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

Influence is powerful.  We need to use it to the glory of God.

Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven.  Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. - Colossians 4:1-6

This "Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt" Bible verse wall art print is available here.

Paul is telling us how to use our influence and our voice to reach others for God.  He is telling us how to love.  Some people are not easy to love.  In order to love difficult people, we need a relationship with Jesus first.  Someone once wrote:

To dwell in love with saints above
Oh that will be glory!
But to dwell below with saints we know
Ah!  That's a different story.  (Author Unknown)

Les Parrott III wrote a book titled High Maintenance Relationships.  We are going to cover a few profiles in the book.

Types of Relationships to Consider While Loving Others Well

1.  The Critic

The critic is always complaining and giving unwanted advice.  The critic nags and like to point out the mistakes of others.  

2.  The Martyr

The martyr is the forever victim.  The martyr is always filled with self-pity.  This type of person is always negative, often saying things like, "Nobody likes me." 

3.  The Wet Blanket

The wet blanket is pessimistic and automatically negative about just about everything.

4.  The Super Star

The super star must be the center of attention.  The spotlight must always be on the super star.  This person feels like he or she must outdo everyone else.

5.  The Steamroller

The steamroller feels like it is his or her calling to set you straight.  

6.  The Control Freak

The control freak is a micromanager.

7.  The Backstabber

The backstabber will agree with you in private, but then say just the opposite in the presence of others.

8.  The Green Eyed Monster

The green eyed monster is seething with envy.

9.  The Sponge

The sponge likes to receive but he or she never gives.  

Would anyone identify you as someone on this list?  The truth is that we are all difficult to love.  How do we love difficult people? 

How do we love others well?

1.  Be devoted.

Be devoted, diligent, and strong.  Whatever or Wherever you are devoted to is where your time and energy is spent.  

What are you devoted to today?

*Be devoted to prayer.  Pray with alertness.  We need to communicate with God.  Jesus prayed.  He was a prayer warrior.  Do you have a war room?


If we are going to reach people for Jesus, especially difficult people, we must begin with prayer. You don't need to wait for an ideal situation to pray.  Paul was in prison when he wrote the book of Colossians.  

Pray with thankfulness.

2.  Be wise.

Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. - Colossians 4:5

By "outsiders," Paul is referring to people who do not have a relationship with Jesus.  There are people you work with or go to school with who do not have a relationship with Jesus.  We don't want to be a stumbling block for them.  We want to be wise.  Our lifestyle is a message.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. - James 3:17

Find points of agreement with people.  Be holy and different.  To make a difference, we must be different.  Make the most of every opportunity to love others and share Jesus with them.  

Some ideas people have shared are prayer jars, blessing bags, handwritten cards and notes, Christian music CDs, etc.

When God places people in your life, you are on assignment.  Wherever you live and work, you are a missionary.

3.  Be gracious.

Let's look at Colossians 4:6 again.

Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. - Colossians 4:6

Be gracious with your words.  Are your words helpful or hurtful when you speak to others and when you post on social media? 

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. - Ephesians 4:29

Are your words healing?  

Salt has healing properties.  Let your words be "seasoned with salt." 

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. - Proverbs 16:24

This item is available here.

 Who needs you to speak words of healing to them right now?

Are your words hopeful?

There are people who think they are too far gone, forever condemned.  They need you to speak words of healing and hope to them.  You have influence.  Use it wisely.  Don't make it about yourself.  Make it about Jesus.

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Loving Others Well

Read all other posts in the Love Where You Live series here.

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10 Ways to Recognize and Celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday takes place this year on January 19, 2020.  This is a day set aside to celebrate the value of human life.  Traditionally, people focus on the value of the life of the unborn child but we must also remember our elderly and our special needs children and adults.  This is a day to hone in on the meaning of Psalm 139:13-14.

10 Ways to Recognize and Celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

 Ways to Recognize and Celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works,
And my soul knows it very well. - Psalm 139:13-14

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made:  This item is available here.

Think about that for a minute.  God formed our inward parts.  We were woven in our mothers' wombs.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made by the One who works wonders and miracles.  Isn't that awesome?  

Years ago, when we first began to celebrate Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, many Christians and others who believe in life at conception would gather on the side of sidewalks and hold signs silently.  The signs would usually say something like "Abortion Kills Children" or "Abortion is Murder."  Some of the signs would simply display the Bible verse above.  Regardless of what was printed or written on the sign, there was to be no loud protesting or unruly behavior.  People just stood silently holding signs.  I participated a time or two.  This type of celebration or silent protest is well taken in my generally conservative community.  

Last year, I noticed that there are still people who recognize Sanctity of Human Life Sunday by holding signs on sidewalks and that is fine because we do need to boldly defend the lives of unborn children but there are several other ways to recognize and celebrate this important day as well.  Here are several ways you can recognize the value of human life while taking action that benefits your community.

1.  Volunteer at your local pregnancy care center.  

Several months ago, I began volunteering at my local pregnancy care center.  If you feel comfortable doing so, you can volunteer to speak with patients.  Not everyone who comes to our center is a female seeking abortion.  We also see women and men who come in for STD testing.  Of course, we help pregnant women understand the value of the life they carry.  For those who come in for STD testing, we talk to them about their sexual behavior and God's design for intimacy, abstinence, and marriage.  Most pregnancy care centers require training for patient advocates.

If you want to volunteer at your local pregnancy care center but you are not comfortable speaking with patients, you can volunteer for other needs.  If your center offers support for women and children, perhaps you can help organize baby clothing, diapers, bottles, and the many other things babies need.  If your center offers educational materials, perhaps you can organize the training materials and keep folders stocked with appropriate materials so they are ready when the women come in.

2.  Host a baby shower for your pregnancy care center.  

My Bible Fellowship Class recently hosted a baby shower for the center where I volunteer.  Class members brought in both new and gently used baby clothes, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream, strollers, portable cribs, bottles, pacifiers, crib sheets, burp cloths, a few toys - anything you would take to a baby shower for a friend would be a great contribution.

Noah's Ark Baby Gift Set:  This item is available here.

3.  Host a fund raiser for your pregnancy care center.  

Pregnancy care centers provide so much support for patients that there are always needs.  Hosting a fundraiser will give the center the funds they need to supply any need.  Sometimes they need a new printer or other clerical supplies for the center's office.  Perhaps the nurses need to replace medical supplies.  General funds will give the center the opportunity to purchase needs the the general public might not know about.

4.  Support a young mother who has opted to keep her baby or complete her pregnancy.  

If you know a woman who has chosen to not have an abortion, offer her support.  Pay for her doctor appointments.  Provide here with transportation.  Take her nutritious grocery items to help keep her and her baby healthy.  Pay her utility bills.  Provide her with gas cards and other gift cards so that she can purchase needed items.  Offer to babysit after the baby is born.
If the mother has chosen adoption, offer to provide any needs she might have during her pregnancy and the adoption process.

5.  Hose a showing of the movie, Unplanned.  

Show the movie at your church or in your home.  Invite everyone you know to come see the movie with you.  I have personally seen this movie.  In my opinion, every person on the planet should see it.  It is eye opening in so many ways and on so many levels.  I really don't have the words to describe how important it is for you and everyone you know to see this movie.  Just get it and show it.

 

Unplanned Movie:  This item is available here.

6.  Host a viewing of Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

Answers in Genesis has recently updated a DVD by Dr. David Menton.  It is called Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.  I have not personally seen this movie but according to Answers in Genesis, viewers get a peek into the stages of human development, particularly the very early stages.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made:  This item is available here.

7.  Plan a trip to the Creation Museum.  

My family has visited the Creation Museum twice and it is a site to see.  Everyone should go at least once, but multiple trips are recommended because they are always updating and adding features and exhibits.  This summer, they will open up their new exhibit called the Sanctity of Life Exhibit.  

8.  Help with the elderly.

Remember that all life is precious in the site of God.  Volunteer at a nursing home or rehabilitation center in your area.  Many elderly men and women can no longer drive.  Offer to take an elderly person to the grocery store, to a doctor's appointment, or to church.  Take an elderly neighbor a meal.  If you know an elderly person who is lonely, set aside a regular time to sit with him or her.  Sometimes, just sitting with someone and talking with him or her for a little while can greatly improve his or her quality of life.

9.  Start a respite program or something similar in your church.

Some churches have a respite program.  The one we have at our church meets once per month.  A respite program provides a safe place for families to leave their special needs children in well trained hands while they run errands or take care of other family needs.  Sometimes Mom and Dad need a few hours to take a break or go on a date.  This service has been helpful to families in my church for many years.  If you have a special needs loved one, then you already know how important this time is for families.  If you have never been exposed to special needs families, then trust me.  This is huge.  Contact your church administration to see if your church offers respite care for special needs families.  If not, then maybe you can start one.  If your church already has one, then go hang out with them for a while and offer to help.  Depending on the needs of the families taking advantage of this time, you might need additional training, but there are always things you can do without the need for training.

10.  Keep helping all year long.

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is recognized annually, but all the needs listed above are year long needs.  The things I've listed here are only of few of the things I know about.  I'm sure there are mountains of things we can do all year long to minister to parents of unborn children, young families, adoptive families, special needs children, special needs adults, and the elderly members of our communities.  Get plugged in somewhere whether it be your church, a pregnancy center, a community center, a nursing home, a rehab center, or any other place where volunteers are needed to serve your community.  

Of course, pray.  Pray for the people God places in your path.  Many of them do not have a relationship with Jesus and you are someone who can present the gospel to them.

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Love Your Neighbors (Love Where You Live Series)

We know the Bible tells us to love our neighbors, but who are our neighbors?  I grew up in the pre-social media age.  Our neighbors were the people who lived next to us in our neighbors.  It was that simple.  Today, the definition of the word "neighbor" has changed a bit.  Vocabulary.com defines "neighbor" as "a nearby person or thing."  That's a pretty general definition.  In our current "everything is instant" culture, even people are as near as your phone or computer screen.  We can see someone face-to-face almost anytime we want with a few clicks of a few buttons or keys.  Therefore, our neighbors extend beyond the people who live right next to you.  My pastor's first sermon in his new series (Love Where You Live) is titled, "Love Your Neighbors."  Let's learn how to love our neighbors like the Lord tells us to love them.

Love Your Neighbors (Love Where You Live Series)

The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon titled Love Your Neighbors.  You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.

Loving Our Neighbors | January 5, 2019 | Pastor Jeff Crook from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

Love Your Neighbors

The past is a nice place to visit, but a terrible place to live.  We need to let go of past grudges and move forward into the future.

See your world with clear vision.  Learn to love the people around you because God has brought them into your path.  He has placed you where you are so you can love the people where you are.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."  There is no other commandment greater than these. - Mark 12:30-31

Love the Lord with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself.

Loving God flows into loving others.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20

It is possible to reach even your most difficult neighbors because you have the authority of Christ.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. - Acts 1:8

Start where you are.  Love where you are first.  People like Billy Graham are great and wonderful with huge platforms and God uses them to reach large numbers of people, but God uses people like you and me to reach people face-to-face, one person at a time too.

Who is your neighbor?  Your neighbors are the people who live near you but they are also any people who God places in your path.  

Who lives with you?  Your spouse, kids, a parent, a grandparent?  a dorm roommate?  Someone else?  Do the people who live with you know Jesus?  Do the people who live with you know you know Jesus?  
Don't let difficult people keep you from sharing Jesus with them because according to Acts 1:8, it is not you but the power of the Holy Spirit who reaches them.

2020 Focus:  Love where you live by continuing to bless and and love your family and friends.  Create a "love where you live" culture by discipling your church family to make a gospel impact in the community by using your resources, influence, and voice.

Who lives around you?  Only 10% of people can name one of their neighbors and only 1% has had a meaningful conversation with one.  (The Art of Neighboring)
We have gone from front porches to privacy fences.  We have many connections on social media but we have only shallow relationships and those relationships are growing less and less meaningful.

Our culture has changed but God has not changed.

We can't love our neighbors if we don't know who they are.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. - Romans 12:10-13

This Christian Canvas Wall Art is available here.

This kind of hospitality as described in Romans 12:10-13 is not and option or a spiritual gift.  It is a command that we are all supposed to obey.  

Jesus came to serve and to save.  He was focused on building relationships. 

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. - Luke 19:10

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, "Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!" - Luke 7:34

A meal is a good way to build a relationship.  People don't care how much you know (about Jesus, the Bible, or God) until they know how much you care (about them).

Our current culture has us somewhat afraid of people we don't know, but if we get to know them, we won't fear them.  

Who lives in you?  This is the most important question because if God lives in you, then you will love your neighbors.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. - Romans 8:11

As we move forward in this new year, we will not go alone.  If we want God to do something new, we need to get to know new people.   

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Love Your Neighbors (Love Where You Live Series)

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Are You in the Right Place?

Our pastor is continuing his series titled Christ in Every Place.  Today's sermon was titled "Are You in the Right Place?  The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.

Image Credit:  Ben White - Public Domain Image via Freely Photos

Christ in Every Place

 Our scripture passage is Luke 5:1-11.

Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; ² and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. ³ And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. ⁴ When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” ⁶ When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; ⁷ so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. ⁸ But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; ¹⁰ and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” ¹¹ When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him. - Luke 5:1-11

Are You in the Right Place? 

 You are invited to watch the entire sermon here.

Every Place - Are You In The Right Place? from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.


Christ must do something in me before He can do something through me.  I can never embrace a greater vision until I am in the right place spiritually.

 

I like my places of comfort.  I'm a pretty shy person so stepping out of my comfort zone is not easy for me to do.  If you're like me, it's easy to stay in one place in life too long.  It's easy to get used to a regular routine, staying just comfortable enough to be comfortable where I am.   Jesus said, "Go deeper."

When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” - Luke 5:4

When we resolve to "go deeper" in obedience to God - to reach out beyond our comfort zone, obedience yields amazing results.

When Peter, James, and John responded in obedience and went into deeper waters, they caught so much fish that their nets began to break and their boat began to sink.

When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. - Luke 5:6-7

When we respond in obedience to go into the right places, then we will "catch men."

And so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.” - Luke 5:10

Then, they left everything and followed Jesus.

When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him. - Luke 5:11

Saved people want to see people saved.  

For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. - Luke 19:10

 Ask Jesus:  Am I in the right place spiritually?

 1.  Jesus invites us to join His mission.  

(Does this sound familiar?  This is the theme from our current ladies' Bible study.)

Jesus can do ministry alone but He doesn't.  He invites us to participate in His perfect plan.

 2.  Jesus uses our places to show us "our place."

If we are believers, then we all have a ministry of some sort.  Jesus meets us where we are.

3.  He calls us from out of our safe places into places of trust, obedience, and risks.

We catch bigger fish (more fish) by going into deeper waters.

God blesses us in places of obedience.

4.  Jesus brings us into places we never anticipated and it is awesome.

5.  Jesus wants us to get to the place where we are more like Him.

2019 Challenge

In order to help get us into "deeper waters," our pastor is encouraging us to focus on 5 people/families in 2019.  Do you know 5 people - 5 families - who don't know Jesus?  Perhaps you cn focus on them this year.  Build relationships with them.  Share Jesus with them.

I'd love to hear how you are "going deeper" this year.  If you feel comfortable doing so, encourage our blog community by sharing your stories in the comments below.

You'll find all my posts about this Bible study series here.

 

Christ in Every Place (Christ in Every Place Series)

This morning, our pastor shared his vision for our church community.  His new sermon series is titled Christ Place in Every Place.  We will be talking about the places where Jesus went.  Our church is about following the example of Christ.  My pastor's message applies to all Jesus-followers.  As born again believers, we should all be in the mindset of sharing Jesus with others.  Jesus lives in us so wherever we go as believers, He goes with us.

Image Credit:  Hugues de Buyer Mimeure - Public Domain Image via Freely Photos

 Christ in Every Place

You are invited to watch and listen to my pastor's entire sermon here.

Every Place Series: Christ In Every Place_January 27, 2019 from Christ Place Church on Vimeo.

Our focal passage for today is Luke:14-20.

Luke was a doctor.  He cared about people and wanted to meet their needs.  Our church is a caring place.  We care about our community.  As Jesus-followers, we should care about our communities.  Jesus stepped into people's lives.  

The Public Ministry of Jesus

And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. ¹⁵ And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

¹⁶ And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read. ¹⁷ And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
¹⁹ To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”

²⁰ And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

Notice verse 20.  All eyes were fixed on Jesus.  It is important for us to keep our eyes on Jesus.

Jesus read from the book of Isaiah.  He read from Isaiah 61:2. This verse would have been very familiar to the people of Jesus' day, so they would have immediately recognized the phrase that Jesus left off . . . "and the day of vengeance of our God."  Remember, this was the day Jesus chose to proclaim his ministry and Jesus was filled with grace.  He wasn't indicating that He didn't believe the whole of the Old Testament Scriptures.  He was telling the people that He came to save, redeem, and rescue.  He came to love and heal.  Jesus was filled with grace and truth.  He knew how to balance the two.  We are to live by His example.

Look at verses 18 and 19 above.  Jesus came for:

the poor in Spirit
the blind
the bound
the broken-hearted
the oppressed

Do you see yourself in verses 18 and 19?  I know that I see myself in those verses.  Jesus came for me and Jesus came for you.

Look at those verses again.  Do you feel what Jesus felt?  Once you have received grace, do you want to give it to others?  Do you want other people to experience the grace that you have experienced?

Are you about what Jesus was about?

Jesus ministered to others in every place He went.  He fulfilled His mission, but He invited His disciples to join Him in His mission. 

Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. - Luke 10:1

Jesus sent other ahead of Him.  He sent disciples ahead to all the places He planned to visit.

If we are disciples of Jesus, then we are to take Jesus into all the places we go - the places we work, learn, and play.

We are also to love others the way Jesus loves them and listen to them the way Jesus listened to them.

What if, for one day, Jesus were to become you?  What if, for 24 hours, Jesus wakes up in your bed, walks in your shoes, lives in your house, and assumes your schedule?  Your boss becomes His boss.  Your friends become His friends.  Your pains become His pains with one exception - nothing about your life changes.  Your health doesn't change.  Your circumstances don't change.  Your schedule isn't altered.  Your problems are not solved.  Only one change occurs - Jesus lives your life with His heart.  Your heart gets the day off and your heart is led by the heart of Christ.  His priorities govern your actions.  His passions drive your decisions.  His love directs your behavior.  Would others around you notice a change?  - Max Lucado

If we take Jesus into every place we go, the world will notice big changes.  We need to pray for God to extend our borders of ministry as Jabez did.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabez saying, “Because I bore him with pain.” ¹⁰ Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested. - 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

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Jesus said we are to do things as He did.

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. - John 14:12

 God can keep on doing what He has done.

Anything God has ever done, He can do now.   Anything God has done anywhere, He can do here.  Anything God has done in and through anyone, He can do through you. - A.W. Tozer

6 out of 10 people in my community do not know Jesus.  Perhaps the statistics in your community are similar . . . or worse.  We are to take life into lifeless places.  We must carry the love of Jesus where there is no love.  No place should be off limits.  There are no boundaries because Jesus is not bound.

We need to reach out to others with the contagious joy that we know in Christ Jesus.

Are you wondering how you can receive into your heart this Jesus we so eagerly share?  Please allow me to share more with you here.

*Note:  The day after attending this sermon, I started attending a new ladies' Bible study.  We are studying Jonah:  Navigating a Life Interrupted by Priscilla Shirer.  God had a vision for Nineveh just like we have a vision for our community and hopefully you have a vision for your community.  I am so encouraged by the parallelism of these two messages.  You'll find my first post bout this Bible study here.

God invited Jonah to participate in His plan and purpose for Nineveh which would impact eternity.  God is inviting me to participate in His plan and purpose for my community.  Is God inviting you to participate in His plan and purpose for your community?  What a privilege to be invited into God's plan and purpose!

How will you respond?  How will you take Jesus into every place in your community?

I'd love to hear your stories!  Please come back and use the comment section below to share with us all that God is doing in your places.

You'll find all my posts in this Bible study series here.