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July 20, 2008
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
People First, by Mike Barres
In 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay climbed to the top
of Mount Everest. Later, in May of 2006, mountaineers with dreams of
reaching the summit passed a dying climber in order to fulfill their
dreams. Sir Edmund Hillary was repeatedly asked what he would have done
had he been there. He normally did not engage in controversy, but in
the year before his death, he rebuked the climbers who had left the man
to die. "I think the whole attitude towards climbing Mount Everest has
become rather horrifying," Hillary said. "People just want to get to
the top."
On August 31, 2007, when asked about the 2006 incident where climbers
had to choose between realizing their dreams or saving the injured, Sir
Edmund leaned forward with fire in his eyes and rasped, "Save the man!"
(Quotes from article by David Mohan on Winning the Second Billion
Together web site.)
Often in the church of today, we think of big crowds, a lot of
excitement, and the expectation of a good show -- a mountain top
experience. Yet what is so simple, yet profound, is that the important
part of this church equation must be the people -- each person -- that
has come seeking Jesus.
If I had to state the core values of our church, they would simply be,
Jesus, the Bible, and people. We know that we can't have this "attract
the crowd" mentality alone. We have to think of individual people. We
need to reach more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Statistics
have proven over and over that most people come to Jesus because of
personal contact with another believer. Someone cared enough to spend
time with a person, talk about their faith in Christ, and invite them
to church, an evangelistic event, or a Bible study about Jesus.
Jesus wants our lives to be about reaching people!
This outreach mentality means dong outreach intentionally.
Then the master said to the servant, "Go out into the highways and
hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled" (Luke
14:23 NKJV).
Paul warned the Corinthians "Come out from among them and be separate"
(2 Corinthians 6:17). Some, however, have taken this too far. I have
actually heard people say, "I don't spend time with anyone who isn't a
Christian." If this is true, then you aren't going or making disciples
(Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 14:23)! Be sure your circle of friends has some
who don't know the Lord. Have people that you are reaching out to with
the love of Jesus.
What are you doing to reach and disciple another person? Jesus wants
our lives to be about people, but this passion can't be general: it
must be specific. Think about one person who doesn't know Jesus. Think
about a person who is hurting, or alone. Think about one person who
used to attend your church, but doesn't now. It's not just about
crowds. It's not just about the mountain top experience. It's about
"people" -- one at a time, you and me reaching out to them in the name
of Jesus with the grace of Jesus.
---------
(c) 2008 Mike Barres <mbarres@dnet.net>.
RELATED LINKS:
* All!
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200803/20080331_all.html
* Family to Those Who are Alone
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200602/20060208_family.html
* Lost
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200608/20060802_lost.html
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200807/20080720_peoplefirst.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
SIMPLY CHRISTIAN: WHY CHRISTIANITY MAKES SENSE, by N. T. Wright
Destined to become a classic alongside Lewis's Mere Christianity - a
fascinating and accessible apologetic for modern seekers.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?255
Find more great books, CDs and videos at the Heartlight store! With
each purchase you make, you're helping to support Heartlight's
ministry. Thanks SO MUCH for your help!
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