What If My House, Neighborhood, Work, Grocery Store…
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…were like rooms of a local church?
…were like rooms of a local church?
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What if my house were a church sanctuary/auditorium where I worshiped God throughout each day and invited Him into all of daily activities?
What if my house were a church sanctuary/auditorium where I worshiped God throughout each day and invited Him into all of daily activities?
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What if my neighborhood were a church parking lot where I intentionally sought out, lovingly greeted and gently invited people into God’s adopted family?
What if my neighborhood were a church parking lot where I intentionally sought out, lovingly greeted and gently invited people into God’s adopted family?
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What if my workplace and local grocery store/big-box retailer were a church lobby where I genuinely inquired of others, listened to what they are going through and humbly offered them encouragement, friendship, empathy and a traveling companion on their journeys?
What if my workplace and local grocery store/big-box retailer were a church lobby where I genuinely inquired of others, listened to what they are going through and humbly offered them encouragement, friendship, empathy and a traveling companion on their journeys?
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What if the internet (especially Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.) were the neighborhoods and cul-de-sacs immediately surrounding/facing a local church where I went out, as an intentional missionary, to share the Good News of Jesus’ free offer of love and grace with anyone who will listen?
What if the internet (especially Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.) were the neighborhoods and cul-de-sacs immediately surrounding/facing a local church where I went out, as an intentional missionary, to share the Good News of Jesus’ free offer of love and grace with anyone who will listen?
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What if I realized that, as a Christian who has chosen to receive Jesus’ forgiveness by faith, I am the pastor of such literal locations, of such “congregations” of those who may not yet believe how much Jesus loves them?
What if I realized that, as a Christian who has chosen to receive Jesus’ forgiveness by faith, I am the pastor of such literal locations, of such “congregations” of those who may not yet believe how much Jesus loves them?
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What if I understood that I am a missionary sent by God to such “foreign lands” within arms reach to lovingly remind others–or to share with them for the first time–of all that Jesus is offering them–freedom, forgiveness, and a full life!–and offering it all to them for FREE?
What if I understood that I am a missionary sent by God to such “foreign lands” within arms reach to lovingly remind others–or to share with them for the first time–of all that Jesus is offering them–freedom, forgiveness, and a full life!–and offering it all to them for FREE?
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How would such a perspective-change transform the way I view my daily life, tasks, and goals?
How would such a perspective-change transform the way I view my daily life, tasks, and goals?
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How would such a purpose-shift alter the way I view the reasons for meeting together weekly with other pastors and missionaries in the local church building?
How would such a purpose-shift alter the way I view the reasons for meeting together weekly with other pastors and missionaries in the local church building?
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How would such an identity-development mature the way I view what it means to be a Christian?
How would such an identity-development mature the way I view what it means to be a Christian?
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What if…
What if…
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Romans 10:14-15 NLT:
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Romans 10:14-15 NLT:
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14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
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Matthew 9:37-38 NIV:
Matthew 9:37-38 NIV:
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Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Then [Jesus] said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
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Romans 12:1-2 The Message:
Romans 12:1-2 The Message:
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“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”