Speaking to the Heart
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009Matthew 7:28-29 the Message When Jesus concluded his address, the crowd burst into applause. They had never heard teaching like this. It was apparent that he was living everything he was saying—quite a contrast to their religion teachers! This was the best teaching they had ever heard.
Speaking to the heart was the method Jesus used so effectively to communicate to the masses. How did he do it? Simple. He told them stories that related to their life. To his soon-to-be disciples, he called these fishermen to be “fishers of men.” To the people throughout the countryside who farmed for a living Jesus taught using stories of planting seed in good soil. When referring to himself as being the true shepherd and the only gate, Jesus was undoubtedly teaching to families that raised sheep. The Master Communicator knew how to capture and hold the people’s attention. He spoke to their heart and not just to their mind and intellect as the religious teachers of their time did.
What does that mean for us today? Statistics tell us that there are over 100 million un-churched people in the United States. Of those who are between the ages of 18 to 29, the top three answers given to the question of how they would describe church, was judgmental, out of touch, and the number one answer, boring.
Over the next 10 weeks Katy Fellowship will go on a mission trip. Not to a third world country ridden with poverty and disease. Not to countries where sharing the gospel could land someone in jail or cost them their life. But our mission field is to part of that 100 million that reside right here in the borders of our own community. Our approach? Two services each Sunday morning designed to communicate stories that will be relevant, non-judgmental and certainly not boring. The method, though different than we may be used to, is the method that those people are more likely to respond to. One that can change their lives.
People came to hear Jesus not because of advertising and marketing strategies, but at the invitation of someone they knew who had experienced the good news spoken to their hearts. Sunday, September 13th the story will begin to unfold. Make it your mission to bring an un-churched friend, neighbor, co-worker, or family member. They may come to the same conclusion as the people described in Matthew 5, 6, and 7, bursting into applause.
Praying for you,
Tim
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