moves PREACHING THAT
IDENTITY ACTION
AsweconnectthepursuitofGodtowarduswithourcalltopursueandcareforvulnerablechildren andfamilies,wewanttodosoinsuchawaythatwe’renotmerelychurningupmoreactivityor gettingpeopletodomoreactsofservice
Instead,wewanttoseethegospeltransformheartsandminds,totheextentthatcaringfor vulnerablechildrenandfamiliesbecomesanextensionofouridentityasthepeopleofGodthat thentranslatesintoaction-wecarebecausewehavebeengreatlycaredforbyJesus
Makeitspecial.
Letyourmessagestandoutfromthenorm.Perhaps designateaspecialSundayorweekendemphasizing thecalltocareforvulnerablechildrenandfamilies, alongwithspecificcallstoactiontogetinvolvedwith thoserightthereinyourchurchorcommunity.
Thiscouldevenbeafullsermonseries,emphasizing thingslikemission,hospitalityandthevariousways yourchurchwantstomakeanimpactoutsideofits walls-inyourcommunityandaroundtheworld
PureReligionSundayis officiallyonthesecond SundayofNovember But, youcanhostitanytime throughouttheyear!Let thisSunday(orweekend) beanimportantmomentin thelifeofyourchurch, usingitasaLeveragePoint toinspireanddriveaction withinyourcongregation
Makeitnormal.
Preachingonthisdoesn’talwayshavetobe “special”;infact,inmanywayswewantittobe “normal.”Takeeveryopportunitytospotlightthe placesinScripturewhereyouseeGodmoving towardhardplacesandstrugglingpeople,not awayfromthem.“Normalize”thismessageby incorporatingitintoyourregularrhythmsof preachingandteachingthroughouttheyear.
TheBibleislitteredwithexamplesofGoddoingthis
EXAMPLE: “Hereagainweseethe characterofGodinhowHemovestoward ahardsituationorastrugglingperson This istheconsistentactionofGod,andit’sat thecoreofwhowearestrivingtobeasa church.Thisiswhywehavestrategically engagedinthespaceofcaringfor vulnerablechildrenandfamiliesthrough fostercare,adoptionandglobalorphan careinitiatives.Andifyou’dliketolearn moreabouthowtogetinvolvedinthose spacesatourchurch,youcandosoby ”
Tonameafew:GodappearingtotheIsraelitesinvariousforms(cloud,fire,etc);theincarnation ofJesus(theultimateexpressionofGod“movingtoward”thebroken);Jesus’encounterswiththe blindmen,lamebeggars,outcasttaxcollectors,sick,shame-filledandmore.Theseare opportunitiestoreinforcevisionforyourchurchandinvitepeopletotakeaction
Makeitforeveryone.
We’renotallcalledtodothesamething,buteveryonecandosomething!Thisistheessenceof whatitmeanstobedifferentbodypartswithuniquegiftsandfunctions,whoarestillconnected tothesamebodyandallworkingtogetherforthegoodofthewhole(1Corinthians12) Whilewe allcelebratethesamegospel,wecandemonstratethatgospelindiverseways!
So,thequestionisnolonger“CanIdosomething?”,butnow“InlightofwhatJesushasdonefor me,whatismysomethingIcandoforothers?”Giveyourpeoplethespacetocreatively considertheiranswertothatquestion
3ThingstoDo:
Giveclearpathwaysforourpeopletofindanddotheirsomething Reinforce“everyonecandosomething”withavarietyofdifferentwaystogetinvolved Celebratetheuniqueanddiversewaysyourpeopleareengaging.
[GUIDE] DownloadthePureReligionSundayFieldGuide designedtohelpyouplanyourspecialeventthisyear! [BOOK] CheckoutEveryoneCanDoSomething,filledwith principlesandpracticesforleadingaministryinyourchurch [PODCAST] ListentothelimitedseriesTheFosteringChurchto beinspiredandequippedwithtoolsandinsights!
