Ray Stark

Everyone models their life after someone or something.  That model, goal, or focus, influences our direction in life.  The question is who or what is YOUR model?  Who or what is defining how you live your life?

This past weekend we looked at Jesus as our model for loving others.  We said that we need to accept others the way Jesus accepts us - just as we are and unconditionally.  We need to value others the way Jesus values us.  We need to forgive others the way Jesus forgives us.  And, we need to believe in others the way Jesus believes in us.

Of those four (accept, value, forgive, and believe) which is the hardest for you to express in your love toward other people?  Post your comments.  I look forward to reading them.

Yesterday we began the 40 Days of Love church-wide emphasis.  For the next 40 days we are going to be looking at this idea of love.  I’m wondering what lessons we will learn as a church throughout the next 40 days.  I’m also thinking about day 41.  Will what we learn simply be another “program” that the church has done, or will it be a life-changing experience for our people and our church?  I’m praying that it will be the latter.  I’d like to invite you to join me on this journey by sharing your “love stories” - those things that God teaches you throughout the next 40 days.  Post your comments and the lessons that God is teaching you and together we’ll learn to be more loving.

This past weekend we celebrated National Back To Church Sunday with churches across our nation.  As always, events such as this make me wonder how effective we Christ-followers are at reaching out to our friends who don’t know Christ.  If our effectiveness is marked by the attendance at church on special days like this past weekend, then our churches should almost double in attendance on these days.  Sadly, very few do.  So, this makes me want to ask some hard questions.  I don’t have any preconceived answers to most of these questions.  But, I would like your comments as you attempt to answer the questions.

• Why is it that the average Christ-follower doesn’t involve themselves in reaching out to the people they know who don’t know Christ?  (Thom Rainer says that only 2% of church-goers invite their friends to church.)
• Is it because we are too busy with our own lives, we don’t know any non-Christians, or we simply don’t care?
• If we don’t know any non-Christians because all our friends are Christ-followers, then why aren’t we intentionally taking time to get to know and care about non-Christians?
• What would it take to get YOU to step out of your comfort zone and begin reaching out to others?  Training?  Motivation?  Urgency?  Something else?

We’ll continue the dialogue as you post your answers to these questions.  Have a great day!

This past weekend we discussed what it meant to have the heart of God for our community.  We looked at the idea of social justice and how we, as Christ-followers, need to respond to the needs of those around us.  It is not enough to simply let the task up to others, we must be actively involved in being the hands and feet of Jesus to the world around us - including our own back yard.

How do we go about doing something about the social injustice around us?  What does God expect from us?  As we pray the prayer “God, break my heart with the things that break you heart,” God begins to show us exactly what He wants us to do.  The problem is that far too few Christ-followers ever pray that prayer.  Will you pray that prayer, listen to what God says to you, and then respond by taking action and doing something about the social injustice in your part of the world?

This past weekend we discussed the topic “Reconnecting with the Heart of God.”  As Christ-followers, we should become more like Christ in our thoughts, actions, and behaviors.  This process of becoming more like Christ should be an everyday growth process.  In other words, I should be more like Christ today than I was yesterday, last week, last month, or last year.  The more I mature in my relationship with God, the more my heart is moved by the things that move the heart of God.

Yet, the opposite seems to be true in the life of the average Christ-follower.  We tend to get so focused on the fact that we are in a personal relationship with Christ, that we forget the practical side of that relationship - being Christ to a lost, hurting, and dying world.  Over time, we find ourselves so disconnected from the source of life (God) that we lose touch with the “Heart of God.”

Could it be that being a Christ-follower is really about something more than just MY relationship with God?  Is it possible that being a Christ-follower also means that I have to share my faith with others?  Does it mean that I can no longer look the other way and be uninvolved, but instead, I have to do something about the injustice that I see in the world around me?  Does it mean that when I see someone who is hurting or in need, that I actually have to care and help meet that need?  After all, that’s what Christ did!  He was constantly interrupted by people in need.  And, He stopped to meet those needs.

Perhaps, we should pray the prayer every day “God, help me to see the world as you see the world.  Help me to reconnect with your heart for others.”  I suppose if we ACTUALLY prayed that prayer…our lives would have to radically change.

This past Sunday discussed God’s love and our response. God gave us Jesus Christ to be the penalty for our sin through His death on the cross. In response to that love we are to love God and love others - in a way that bears fruit. What are some of the practical ways that you respond to God’s love?

This past Sunday, we discussed the topic of Peace. What is it? How do I find true peace? Share a story of how God worked in a situation in your life and brought peace to a difficult situation or relationship.

This past Sunday we talked about the hope of Christmas. Christ’s coming to earth brought hope into a dark and “hopeless” situation. We challenged you to think about a time when God intervened in your life and brought about a solution to a hopeless situation. Here’s part two of the challenge. Why not share your story with us on the blog? Let others learn from your circumstance or situation and see how God worked in your life. You might just encourage someone who is going through something similar today. So, what’s YOUR story of hope?

This past weekend we looked at how Jesus modeled leadership. The greater the impact or influence he had in peoples lives, the smaller the number of people in the group.

• He shared his teachings with the crowds
• He shared his ministry with the 72 disciples
• He shared his responsibility with the 12 apostles
• He shared his life with his 3 closest friends - Peter, James, and John

In reproducing your influence to the world around you, how do you do it at each of the four levels above?

• Serving those around you
• Initiating conversation with those who ask questions
• Inviting those who are interested to participate with you
• Investing your life in a close group of friends