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Who is God calling us to be? God is calling us to be real people… who admit our need and ask for help …with real fa

Who is God calling us to be? God is calling us to be real people… who admit our need and ask for help …with real faith… that is consistent and bold What is God calling us to do? …making real impact planting churches helping the poor sharing our faith.

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Who is God calling us to be? God is calling us to be real people… who admit our need and ask for help …with real fa

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  1. Who is God calling us to be? • God is calling us to be real people… • who admit our need and ask for help • …with real faith… • that is consistent and bold • What is God calling us to do? • …making real impact • planting churches • helping the poor • sharing our faith

  2. The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. • (NIV) • The good-hearted understand what it’s like to be poor; the hardhearted haven’t the faintest idea. • (The Message) Proverbs 29:7

  3. Who is God calling us to be? • God is calling us to be real people… • who admit our need and ask for help • …with real faith… • that is consistent and bold • What is God calling us to do? • …making real impact • planting churches • helping the poor • sharing our faith

  4. "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.  • Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand.” • (The Message) Matthew 5:13-15

  5. Who is God calling us to be? • God is calling us to be real people… • who admit our need and ask for help • …with real faith… • that is consistent and bold • What is God calling us to do? • …making real impact • planting churches • helping the poor • sharing our faith

  6. Definitions of Compassion: “An emotion that is a sense of shared suffering, most often combined with a desire to alleviate or reduce the suffering of another; to show special kindness to those who suffer.” “Unconditional acceptance that endures with action and courage.”

  7. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting • a harder battle.”  Plato • “We must learn to regard people less in • the light of what they do or omit to do, • and more in the light of what they suffer.” • Dietrich Bonhoeffer • “Letters and Papers from Prison”

  8. Compassion is caught, not taught. • Three aspects to consider: • Statistics about our region. • What does Scripture say? • What are some practical takeaways?

  9. In Sedgwick county: • 21% of families live below the poverty • line. • 60% of kids in the public school system • receive a free or reduced lunch. • In Wichita: • Almost 75% of kids in the public school • system receive a free or reduced lunch.

  10. In the neighborhood that straddles Kellogg just west of the Arkansas River, the poverty rate has grown from 9.4% to 33.6% in the past decade. • In the Planeview area 40% of residents live in poverty.

  11. Colvin Elementary School has over 900 students: • 98.7% of the students receive a free or reduced lunch. • The average monthly income for a family of 5 is approximately $800.

  12. Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God, your God’s, blessing in everything you do, all your work and ventures. There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors. • (The Message) Deuteronomy 15:10-11

  13. Practical “take-a-ways” • Beginning level • Pray – that God would open your eyes to • see the needs of the poor/suffering and • that He would give you compassion for • them. • Read a book – “The Hole in our Gospel” • (LifeGroupStudy – see James) • 2 free books at Connect Table

  14. Practical “take-a-ways” • Intermediate level • Get involved through our ministry partners • Stop, talk, connect with one of the groups • in the ministry fair in the lobby. • Observe – Drive down to the SE side of • Wichita or Planeview; observe and pray.

  15. Practical “take-a-ways” • Advanced level • “Adopt” a Child through World Vision or • Compassion International. • Research ways to defend justice for the • poor. • Trip – take a trip to a third world country. • Business– start a business hiring poor.

  16. Who is God calling us to be? • God is calling us to be real people… • who admit our need and ask for help • …with real faith… • that is consistent and bold • What is God calling us to do? • …making real impact • planting churches • helping the poor • sharing our faith

  17. Wichita Metropolitan Area population = 500,000 people NO Church Affiliation 266,500 (46.7%) (53.3%) Church Affiliation 233,500

  18. Of the 233,500 who affiliate themselves with a religion or church: Ch. Christ / Christian 7.2% No Affiliation Methodist 12.8% S. Baptist 15.1% Catholic 29.6% Other 35.3%

  19. 35,260 people “claim” they are with the S. Baptists. The 2012 average combined attendance in all 52 of the SBC churches in the Wichita area was approx. 8,000. No Affiliation

  20. “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? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’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.” (NIV) Luke 15:4-7

  21. Practical “take-a-ways” • Beginning level • Pray – that God would open your eyes to • see people around you who need Jesus. • Write down - a 3 most wanted list. • Read a book – “Just Walk Across the Room” • (LifeGroupStudy – see James) • 2 free books at Connect Table - see Jana!

  22. Practical “take-a-ways” • Intermediate level • Class “Easy Ways to Share Your Faith” – • begins March 30, 9:45 in Activity Center

  23. In the past, I have been apprehensive about approaching others to discuss my faith as I always felt like if I started a conversation with someone that I needed to be able to answer any question that they may have.  The class taught me that sharing my faith involves being hospitable towards others, asking questions, and most importantly listening.  Through this class I have come to realize that people just want you to be real and don’t expect you to have all of the answers when you share your faith with them. Jack Boucher

  24. “Easy Ways to Share Jesus” is just that.  It’s a reminder of natural ways to engage someone in conversation that lead to a spiritual subject and an opportunity to share your faith and experiences. Harold Franz

  25. Practical “take-a-ways” • Intermediate level • Class “Easy ways to share your faith” – • begins March 30, 9:45 in Activity Center • Ask your waiter/waitress for a prayer request • Connect with your 3 most wanted list - social

  26. Practical “take-a-ways” Advanced level Invite – a friend for Easter and then take them out for coffee and ask them what they think.

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