Being Missional Demands Sacrifice

[Paul Worcester]

It is easy to get excited about being missional and forget what it will actually take to reach those far from God. Often it means doing things you would never otherwise do and getting in risky situations.

I remember taking a guy from work bowling who I wanted to share Jesus with. He was having a horrible time with his girlfriend who was actually being abusive to him. He would show up to work with huge cuts on his body. He was at a low point, so I decided to spend some time with him and share Jesus with him. He seemed very open other times I identified with Christ. To be honest I expected him to repent on the spot when I shared the Gospel. I picked him up to go bowling and I should have guessed how the night was going to go when he told me he had no money. I was fine picking up the tab for the bowling but then he decided to order a "basket" of beers! I am baptist and have no experience with alcohol so I figured he could handle himself. He knew I was not going to drink with him so I figured he wouldn't get drunk. We had a good time bowling until he got drunk, started staring and pointing at all the girls.  He was also constantly asking me to buy him more drinks. The only chance I got to mention Christ he said "You are not trying to convert me are you?"  As I drove him home the whole way he was asking me for money. When I told him I was out of cash he got really mad, slammed the car door.

 

So my huge evangelistic opportunity ended up being $40 down the drain, no meaningful conversation, he got drunk and he ended up mad at me. I have experienced many awkward moments like this as I am trying to live on mission.  To be honest it often is not fun but there is no joy like seeing people take one step closer to following Jesus or stepping over the line of faith. Spurgeon once said “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.”

 

We must be willing to do whatever it takes to love the lost no matter how costly it may be. "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24 If we want to bear fruit like Jesus we must be willing to die like he did.  "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:21 Followers of Christ are called to follow Jesus and die to ourselves so the lost can find life in Christ! Check out this story of two young men willing to lay down their lives saying "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering." Can you say that by how you live your life? What sacrifice is God calling you to make to reach lost people?

 

Paul Worcester, director of Christian Challenge at Chico State in California. After planting Challenge a little over two years ago their team has seen over 100 people make decisions to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord! His passion is to equip people to effectively share Jesus and multiply disciples to the end of the earth. For a game changing outreach tool called "gospel appointments click...

[James Nored]

Wonderful! So glad that we found one another, Paul. 

[Paul Worcester]

Thanks! That is super encouraging! The speaker in the video is Paris Reidhead an old pastor missionary. I look forward to posting more stuff and checking out this awesome site more! Looks like lots of great stuff! https://twitter.com/#!/PaulWorcester

[James Nored]

Paul, thank you for sharing this! Yes, being missional does require sacrifice in time, money, emotional energy, and potentially other ways as well. Popularity. My D.Min. director lost half his church when he went from no expectations, entertainment driven culture to a high expectation culture. When we get involved in the lives of the people that we are trying to reach, it will cost us. It cost you money. I am about to start two new Story of Redemption studies this week, and both of these groups are filled with people that are incredibly broken. One group is broken financially. Another group is broken emotionally and relationally--beyond what I believe I am prepared to handle.

 

Love the Spurgeon quote, and that is a great video about Christians becoming slaves so that they could reach people for Christ. Wow. Who was talking in the video?

 

I hope that you will blog for us regularly! Thank you.