Midweek Moment

Talking about faith can be scary. Talking about our faith can be terrifying. There is something about opening yourself up to a subject that is so intimate and personal that it makes many people shy away from sharing it.

I am always in awe of those people that have the gift of evangelism. I watch those gifted people speak with others, in what seems like such an effortless exchange, as they give of themselves to lead another person into the Kingdom of God. If you have ever been able to witness that instance, whether it happened to you or another, you know the power of God contained in that moment.

This past Sunday in worship we talked about one of the practices of the Methodist Way, Radical Hospitality. I mentioned how this practice focuses on how effective we are at reaching out to the non-religious and nominally religious people in our lives. As the body of Christ, we are to be about the work of spreading the Good News of the Gospel all over this world. I encouraged you to find your neighbors, your co-workers, your friends, and your family members that may be non-religious and/or nominally religious and invite them to our church to experience our hospitality. I hope in the days since we last gathered, you have been thinking about who you can invite. (Just in case you are curious, you can invite more than one!)

Each of you that are a part of this family, have experienced God in some way, shape, or form. You have each felt the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in some aspect of your life that keeps you striving to deepen that relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is something that keeps that spark of God alive within you that makes you willing to acknowledge God’s role in your life. That is the story I encourage you to share with the people you invite to church.

Share with them how God has heard your prayers, tell them of how Christ has carried you, explain to them how the Holy Spirit has guided you during certain moments in your life. Help them understand that the joy, the happiness, and confidence you have in this life is because of what God has done for you! You all have wonderful stories! You all have tremendous experiences of how God has come to you, transformed you, and remade you into his image. Do not let those stories go untold. Do not let those wonderful examples of God’s love and joy stay under lock and key. Go forth and share. Go forth and welcome others in the same way Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God!

Have a great week and I will see you Sunday!