Today, P2 went to church with Steven. JPCC is apparently one of the Hillsong family. It was a church of a couple thousand people in one service, with an incredible sermon. It was so applicable to what our team is doing right now, so here is a brief summary.
In Luke 5:27-34, Matthew (Levi) has invited Jesus, some tax collectors, and a bunch of other people to eat with him. The Pharisees have a beef with Jesus about eating with tax collectors, so they complain to Jesus’ disciples. The pastor’s point was that when there is no relationship between people, insensitivity, misassumption, misinterpretation, and miscommunication happen. He then gave four ways of avoiding skewed relationships.
First, we have to be relevant to the people we are trying to touch. We have to be bold, laying down some of our attributes to be at the level of those around us. In Philippians 2:6-7 Jesus became like us, leaving his divinity behind to become human. This was a step down for him. Often, we act so religious that people cannot relate to us. We become more down to earth and simple the more we know God.
Second, we have to love people for them to trust us. Love is a desire to make others happy even if we have to make sacrifices. The price we are willing to pay shows how much we love. Jesus paid with his life.
Third, we need to honor and respect those with whom we want to have a relationship. Rick Godwin says, “What you respect or honor, you will attract. What you don’t respect or honor will leave you.” A bridge has to connect A to B, but if you don’t understand and respect the other party, you will never know how to build the side of the bridge touching them.
Lastly, we need to have wisdom in what bridges to build. The Father guides us in these decisions! Without his wisdom, we can do nothing.
We cannot have good relationships with people with being relevant to their lives and cultures, loving them without borders, honoring and respecting their cultures and traditions, and using wisdom in where to connect with them.
#redefiningdisciple #GodIsInControl
