August 14, 2016
Relating to Non-Christians
Luke 19:37-42, Luke 15:3-7
Have Compassion For the Lost
All of us need to have hearts that are broken for the lost people around us. Even Jesus, who is God, had His heart broken for people that didn't know Him.
Luke 19:37-42
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
What is going through Jesus’ head when all this is happening? He’s thinking about the people who don’t know Him.
Luke 19:41-42
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
Out of the knowledge of that Gospel, and knowing that Christ weeps over his lost sheep, we can’t help but love lost people.
Luke 19:3-7
3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
How are YOU pursuing the lost people that God gives us?
We need to remember that our “normal” is not their “normal” when someone visits our church.
How to minister to people in the Near West Side neighborhood
- Love them where they are.
- Help meet practical needs where we can.
- Be a friend!
How to minister to college freshmen/new students
- Invite them to church.
- Be a friend.
- Invite them over for a meal!
- Offer to give them a ride
.
- Have a movie night or game night and invite some new students.
- Students, if you see a new student that looks lost, help them find their way around campus
.
- If you see someone crying, comfort them.
It’s not an “us” and “them” mentality. It’s a “we” mentality.
You weren't always a part of (Lf) either, but now you’re family. They can be too!
Communication Card
1. I’ll pray that God breaks my heart for the lost.
2. I will go out of my way to introduce myself to a new person at church every week this month.
3. I will pick 1 new people to invest in outside of church this semester.
