My Passion

Has Christ’s passion for the lost become your passion? I believe that as I have continued to grow in my knowledge and understanding of Christ, my desire to be a part of his mission has grown. I believe that God is continuing to develop me into the person that he wants me to be, and that as I can continue to grow in my understanding of him, he will continue to reveal to me the work that he has in store for me. It is up to me to follow in his passion for people by working to meet the physical, aesthetic, and spiritual needs of others. When I do this, then I am right where I need to be.

Impacting my life.

How has God used people and/or events to fulfill His purpose for your life? Who are the people around you who most need you to bear witness to God’s goodness in your life? In my early years, my Parents played a significant role in guiding me towards God's purpose for me life. They did this by making sure I went to Church, that I learned about Jesus in the Church and in our home. They weren't perfect, but they excelled at loving me the way that Christ called them to love me, and sharing their faith so I could begin to make a faith of my own. I can remember another individual that God used to fulfill His purpose in my life. He goes by the name of Ben Elery Barnes. The Barnes showed his love for Christ through his love for me. He didn't have to be all preachy and teachy with me; he instead witnessed the love of Christ through his relationship with me. I can't remember a single sermon he preached, except for one that had something to do with toilets. But his love for Christ and his love for me impacted me in such a way that I committed myself to loving Christ and others in a similar fashion. I can think of several people that I need to bear witness of God's goodness. First off, I think of the young people that I minister to on a regular basis. They come from varying degrees of spirituality, and they need a tangible example of God's love for them through my actions. I also think of family and close friends that need this same thing, the same thing I received from those close to me in my younger years.

My Life Mission

How closely does your life mission approximate the mission statements of Jesus? · To seek and to save the lost (Lk 19:10) · To heal the sick (Lk 4:18) · To minister to the poor (Lk 4:18) · To give life (Jn 10:10) · Not to be served, but to serve (Mk 10:45) I think my mission meets up very well with the mission statements of Jesus. I feel that as I have grown in my faith and understanding of God, that he has enabled me to be a servant, to heal and give life, and to seek the lost. I think he has especially placed a soft spot in my heart for the poor, to minister to them, to be an advocate for their needs.

My First Convert

Recall the first person that you led to Jesus. Pray for that person. Recall the last person that you led to Jesus. Pray for that person. Pray for the family and friends, of those two, who are in need of Jesus. The first person I ever led to Christ was a girl that I went to High School with. She had been going through a rough family situation, and I was able to share about the power of Christ to restore her life. She accepted Christ quickly, and I maintained a good friendship with her until she moved to Texas later on that year. After that, I wasn't able to maintain contact with her. Lord, I pray for this young lady, that you would be with her. I hope she is still following you. Be with her, and surround her with people that will love her, and build her up in Christ. Be with her family and friends, that they may know you as well. The last person I led to Christ was a young man in my youth group. He doesn't come from a Christian family, but is supported by the family of his best friend. Lord, I pray for this young man, that you would be with him. I pray that you will continue to surround him in your love, that he can continue to grow in his faith. I pray that the situation at home would not be a bowl that puts the fire of his conversion out. Rather, I pray that he will be the first of many of his friends and family to accept you as their Lord and Savior.

A prayer for the new believer

Write a prayer for those individuals you have personally led to Christ. Lord, I pray for those that I have helped lead towards a relationship with you. I pray that as each day goes on, that they can grow closer and closer to you. I pray that their desire would be to know you and grow deeper in a personal relationship with. I pray that there faith can continue to grow and mature, and that you will show them the great work that you have set out for them in the body of Christ. Protect them from the evil one, that he may not take away the joy of their salvation. Bless them I pray in Jesus name, Amen.

Hospitality

When was the last time you reached out in hospitality to an unbeliever? The last time that remains fresh in my mind was during our mission trip. I got the opportunity to go to The Bay Area of California and meet and hang out with some cool people. The individuals that I met there had one common trait; they wanted to be accepted and loved. They may have had different walks of life, but they had that individual need to belong. I was thankful to provide that in a variety of ways, through serving food, through hanging out, through playing and having fun... It can sometimes be easy to reach out in hospitality. How is worship a witness? I think when Christians worship together, they exemplify once again to the unbeliever why we are different, why we hold on to the hope that we have. It is a tangible way for the unbeliever to witness our love and adoration towards our savior.

Using My Gifts

Reflect on how God can use your gifts to reach those that you have identified as needing Jesus. I think one of my major gifts is the gift of service. I find that often times, the area where I find myself working in ministry is behind the scenes in acts of service and compassion. I love working with those who have needs, and I enjoy being the hands and feet of Jesus that work to meet those needs. I find that when I am meeting the personal and physical needs of people, I am more apt and able to meet their spiritual needs as well. When I can show love and compassion, that is when I am best able to reach those that need Jesus.

My Attitude towards Evangelism

Reflect on how your attitude or motivation is changing as a result of this class. I think this class has given me an appreciation for how easy and difficult it can be to witness your faith. It is easy, because God gives us all the gifts and talents we need to live our lives the way he wants us to live, but it is also difficult, because there are so many unknowns when it comes to sharing your faith: "Will I be rejected or made fun of? Will they get mad?". There are so many personal inhibitions that could come up and prevent a person from sharing their faith, but if we rely on God, he gives us the strength to tell the Good News in both our words and our actions.

God's Call

How firmly or tentatively have you embraced God’s call to make disciples of others? I think I have firmly embraced God's call to make disciples. There was a point in my life when I was hesitant to follow the call towards discipleship, or even full-time ministry as a career. Yet in this season of my life, God has shown to me time and time again that he has set out something for me to do, and it is my job to simply respond to his call and follow him. I may not be perfect at making disciples, but with his help, I can strive to work towards that end.

Prayer for the Unsaved

This week, I wrote a paper regarding some individuals that need to know the saving power of Jesus Christ. This is the prayer that I wrote for them: Father God, I pray that these individuals I have discussed would come to a place where they can know you personally. Lord, wherever they are at in their own life, I pray that you would bring them to a place where they can know you on a deeper level today. I pray that your Spirit will continue to work in their hearts to bring them to a place where they can be reconciled with you. I pray that you will place the right people in their lives to witness and minister to them, and that my interactions and encounters with them would bring evidence and glory to your power and your saving grace. In Jesus name, Amen.

Values that compete with Jesus

Reflect on the values you hold that might compete with your love for Jesus. As I think about this prompt, I am drawn to Jesus' strong words regarding this topic: Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple." I think anything that comes between myself and Jesus needs to be addressed, even things that are not intrinsically sinful or evil. The good stuff in life can come between myself and Jesus just as quickly as the bad stuff. I think sometimes the good stuff can be even more of a barrier, because it doesn't often come with guilt. I think any time something comes between my focus and commitment to Jesus, it has to be analyzed. Nothing is exempt when it comes to Christ.