by Daniel Keeran, MSW, Victoria, Canada collegemhc@gmail.com
Helping People Follow Jesus
Helping People Follow Jesus by Daniel Keeran, MSW collegemhc@gmail.com The following are suggested ways of helping people begin their walk with Jesus. If a person can catch a glimpse of Jesus and bond emotionally to the person of Christ, perhaps they will want to keep walking with Him and seek support from others who share the same desire. Number One uses curiosity while Number Two uses mental imagery to attract people to the message and the Man.
Number One: The Influence of a Homeless Man How could a homeless man command such an enormous following today? He was conceived by an unmarried girl. Then he became a refugee pursued by a death squad immediately after his birth in a cave in a remote part of the world. He grew up in a small town, hung out with marginalized people, and was executed like a common criminal although he had committed no crime. He taught care for the poor and love for one’s enemies. The guards who arrested him and held him in custody before his execution, said: "No one ever spoke the way this man does." He did many other signs in the presence of his followers, which are not written down, but the signs we know about are written that we may believe that he is the one chosen by God and that by believing we may have life in his name (from the biography by his follower John, chapter 20, verses 30-31). Today, I follow this homeless man. I wonder if you have thought about learning more about him.
Number Two: Suppose You Saw a Man Suppose you saw a man tell a dead person to walk and speak to a violent storm and command it to be calm, and you saw it happen. Would you think: “This person is more than a man”? Would you think: “I want to follow this man wherever he goes and listen to every word he says”? He taught people to love their enemies and to care for the poor. Suppose after hearing his teaching, you saw him killed by his enemies and then you saw him alive again a few days later? What would you think? What would you do? If you think you would follow him just to see what he will do and say, you have joined the multitudes. A true and accurate account of what this man did and said, has been written by those who saw and heard him. I have read this account and am convinced he is who he claims to be: ‘I AM’ the name of God and one who existed from eternity before his physical birth. Today I am his follower and confess my poor ability to fully understand and do all he has taught, yet I can do nothing less than devote my life to him and his teaching, or die trying. Do you also want to be one of his followers? I am here to encourage you. Call me at 250-590-2882 or email collegemhc@gmail.com in Victoria. I also encourage you to be part of a faith community to get the hope and meaning you need to face difficult life challenges and to learn values and beliefs for making healthy choices in life. Free Download Book http://app.box.com/lovegod 2
Christian Counseling: The New Evangelism Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.- 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 How can the Christian community give hope to the troubled and lost? "We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." - Hebrews 6:18,19 So we say to those seeking help: “I recommend that you become part of a faith community to build a foundation of values and beliefs needed for healthy choices, and to grow hope and meaning needed to face painful challenges. Strengthening your faith is a key to healing and happiness in your adult life and relationships.� The affordable Mental Health Counsellor Training Course (none turned away) at www.collegemhc.com provides the core knowledge and skills for members of the Christian community for reaching out to a hurting world, people in your community who need to be part of a worshipping community of people seeking to follow Jesus.
Inclusive Christian Community By Daniel Keeran, MSW collegemhc@gmail.com Victoria, BC, Canada (Distribute freely. No permission needed.) Against the unity prayer of Jesus in the gospel of John chapter 17, divisions among different selfidentified Christian groups have been common from the beginning. New steps for inclusiveness are outlined in this report as a foundation for opportunities in local churches and communities. Fundamental to the new inclusive movement are principles and a change in paradigm that give a fresh approach to the ancient problem of divisions among people who identify themselves as followers of Jesus. PRINCIPLES OF UNITY The first principle of the new movement is that no one alive today is inspired or has a direct channel from God to speak or reveal divine truth. The second principle is to extend trust to others, believing everyone sincerely wants to believe and do what is right and true. The third principle is that acceptance can best be achieved within a framework of respectful conversation in which all views are enthusiastically welcomed. 3
The fourth principle, and the new paradigm, is that acceptance must be based upon mutual understanding rather than agreement. We can be together in community when we accept the above principles and are committed to understanding others points of view even if we remain in disagreement on specific teachings. NEW PARADIGM FOR UNITY This new paradigm is community with the shared value and goal of mutual understanding rather than agreement with specific teachings beyond the following fundamental beliefs: the Bible is inspired by God; Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; Jesus died for the sins of the world; and Jesus rose bodily from the dead. BENEFITS OF THE PROCESS The process of working toward inclusive community is a worthwhile end in itself because of the following benefits: 1. Bringing people together from different denominations. 2. Stimulating in-depth scripture study. 3. Encouraging respectful conversation in all relationships. 4. Fostering acceptance of the sincerity of others in their spiritual journey. 5. Attracting others to the Christian message, who may not yet identify as Christians. 6. Providing personal physical interaction as a balance to internet social media. THE FORMAT The process is a grass-roots movement in local churches and meeting places in which a speaker is invited from each identified faith perspective or denomination. The presentation or lesson may be to outline the special contribution(s) of his or her faith group. The presentation is then followed by small group discussions in which participants are encouraged to express agreement or disagreement, with Scripture to support their views as much as possible. A trained moderator in each small group facilitates discussion, reminds members of discussion guidelines as needed, and maintains safety and respect within the small group. Discussion Guidelines: 1. No dominating. Keep comments brief. Over-talking can be interpreted as aggression or a need to control and dominate. 2. No name-calling, negative innuendo, sarcastic put-down’s or threats of any kind. 3. Before responding to passionate views, try sincerely reflecting others views with whom you disagree. 4. Keep your voice volume normal and avoid shouting, yelling, pointing, or pounding your fist. 5. Ask others what they are saying rather than tell them what they are saying. Don’t put words in others mouths. 6. Avoid directing anger toward others, especially those with whom you disagree. The author can be reached for discussion at collegemhc@gmail.com
4
More Resources Evidences of the Supernatural https://app.box.com/s/swd9qsyv3djy0ob2tbfp Your Spirituality Score https://app.box.com/s/hh6k6tkjjvocv8ph1ov8 The Deity of Christ https://app.box.com/s/gucrvhltcnpubqvuwoiv Your True Self https://app.box.com/s/1yg93w5fz6z53nayeelb Become A Christian https://app.box.com/lovegod IS THE BIBLE A TRUE AND RELIABLE DOCUMENT https://app.box.com/s/c0oxvw0i8m4nh6shkxpc When did baptism change from immersion to pouring? https://app.box.com/s/aeyf3qzjhhi0o99aaw7g REVIEW OF CHRISTIAN FAITH https://app.box.com/s/3eswqzw0xwicuto6zjxi Helping the Unchurched to Follow Jesus https://app.box.com/s/skp6t01po1zybfoqr9sp
5