R.E.A.L. - Life Giving (Rouse)
Dennis Rouse, of http://victoryatl.com/, opens the last part of his series with a recap. R is for RELEVANT - loving others more than ourselves, E is for ENGAGING - living our lives in such a way that people are drawn to us or living our best, A is for AUTHENTICITY - living with a true love for God and not just artificial religion. In Matthew, Jesus comes through a village preaching, teaching and healing. But he sees that the people are weary and scattered. The 10 most common feelings Americans feel is 1) Powerlessness - the feeling that the government should be helping more or taking less. 2) Lonely - Online dating services are booming 3) Vulnerable 4) Controlled 5) Bewildered 6) Rejected 7) Insecure - Avg person changes jobs 5 times before they're 30 8) Stress - All the to-dos especially with children 9) Used - Usually walkouts in marriages 10) Void of Meaning. These are the most common feelings and we have a mess because these people are Vulnerable to all kinds of worldly attractions, like carnality, other religions, the pursuit of money, idolatry etc. There is a tremendous harvest! Jesus says "Look out in the fields". Dennis went for months without saying something to a neighbor and he finally went out of his way to invite her family to a Braves game. Focus outside of the church. Live a life with Christ. Jesus is counting on us!! He doesn't have a plan B. How will people hear if we don't tell them? The statistics of how God's people are doing is not encouraging. Since 1990, the population of the church has DROPPED 1% per year. The population has nearly doubled in the last 18 years, but the number of christians has dropped. Less than 3% of the population in most European countries is Christian! The church has been sleeping! Jesus used the parable of the good Samaritan to describe who our neighbor is and what we are to do as Christians. The thief in the story symbolizes a world that takes and takes. The first two passers-by are symbolic of the religious that turn a blind eye to the call for help. The good Samaritan is symbolic of who Jesus wishes us to be. "What's mine is yours". Life Giving is actually encouraging for us! If we have someone who looks up to us, we have a level of accountability. If we are sharing Christ with others, we are motivated to learn more. Paul says in Corinthians that we are to be 1) Servants to our neighbors. 2) Share their interests - Learn what people are interested in 3) Learn to be culturally relevant - Ask questions. Dennis talks about a man that he engaged at a party who opened up with him about his life after Dennis asked about his life. 4) Guide. Every single person has a need. If you have a solution to the need, you can open the door for Jesus.
