Are your ready for something different? We are called to be the church gathered. No doubt, it is biblical and vital that we come together to worship and live life. But we are also the church scattered. Awhile back I preached a message entitled Rethink Neighboring out of Luke 10:25-42. Now we are moving from class to lab.

On Sunday, 24Jun07, we will blend the concepts of Rethink Neighboring and Church Scattered. Instead of meeting at the brewery, we will invite a non-churched or non-Christian friend into our Sunday morning. Have them over for breakfast or brunch. Go jogging or walking together. Perhaps you join forces and do something kind for someone else in your neighborhood. It could be a colleague, fellow student, neighbor, even someone you do not get along with. I am excited to hear how God stretches and teaches us.

Blog entry by Eric Hogue (www.erichogue.com) who has a Radio Talk Host and Syndicated Columnist… I like his “Gift Card” idea…

See below…

A determined caller asked, “What can I do to be missional in my neighborhood?”

I love questions that seek to create opportunities to share the simple ’love’ of Jesus. So I offered a quick list of suburbia ideas for the caller to consider for her ’neck of the Northern California suburbia woods’

practical Missional Marks for Christians

(This is a work in progress. Feedback is welcome.)

There are the usual signs of a good Christian: i.e., fruit of the Holy Spirit, spending regular time in prayer, increasing Scriptural knowledge, giving, serving with one’s gifts, etc. But just what does it mean to be a “missionally” effective Christian in practical terms? Confused by all the jargon? “Missional” is nothing more than a descriptive term. Some Christians are missional without even knowing what the term means. Here in a nutshell I offer some practical Missional Marks for a Christian. Wondering if you’re a “Missional” Christian? If these things describe you - then yes - you are a missional Christian.

History records this conversation Between Protagoras and Socrates in the 4th Century B.C. …

Protagoras: Truth is relative. It is only a matter of opinion.
Socrates: You mean that truth is mere subjective opinion?
Protagoras: Exactly. What is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me is true for me. Truth is subjective.
Socrates: Do you really mean that? That my opinion is true by virtue of its being my opinion?
Protagoras: Indeed I do.
Socrates: My opinion is: Truth is absolute, not opinion, and that you, Mr. Protagoras, are absolutely in error. Since this is my opinion, you must grant that it is true according to your philosophy.

The office Christmas party. The neighborhood Christmas party. Your friends’ Christmas party. Your pseudo-friends’ Christmas party. What do you do? Go! Jesus would. Jesus did. He spent a lot of time with his neighbors, friends and acquaintances. The Jews loved to celebrate. If you have kids, budget the extra money for baby-sitters. If you do not have kids, book your calendars in advance.

Enjoy the conversations. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the drinks. But do not be bore, a glutton or a drunk. Partake of the gifts, but do not abuse them. Be especially careful to use discipline if you drink alcohol. Employees have been fired because of their drunken antics at Christmas parties. At best, you can lose respect or credibility by drinking too much.

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” -Jesus

Doug Wever, John Thweatt and I have led several mission trips to East Africa. God always shows up in powerful and miraculous ways. Some of the greatest changes are made in the American team members. Normally, they go through various stages of culture shock and paradigm meltdown. We always challenge them to take their new teaching and experiences in missions and apply it to their own city/town back home.

Strangely enough, it appears that it is easier for most to go to Africa and engage in spiritual (Christocentric) conversation with a foreigner than a neighbor across the street. No stone-throwing here, I own this one as much as you.

The vision of Sojourn is to be a community of missionaries to our neighbors and culture. We are to take the gospel to our city and beyond by being and speaking the gospel. Some times followers of Christ misstep. They know that they are called to talk about the gospel, therefore they do whatever they can to speak that message to someone.

It is unfortunate when a Christian serves a person only far enough to tell them about the substitionary death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Then comes the watershed moment. The non-disciple’s response dictates whether the Christian will love or serve them anymore. This is conditional love, not grace. Continue to show concern for a non-Christian even when they do not surrender to Christ. I have seen circumstances where a non-Christian will voice resistance to God to see if the Christian will press in or abandon them.