- “Feed my sheep” literally means “FEED my sheep”. Missional service, instead of focusing on “spiritually feeding” the already-saved.
- The lowest level of destitution will never be alleviated without direct intervention.
- Sodom: arrogant, overfed, and unconcerned
- The world knows about Jesus, His poverty, the theories, Him being a friend of the oppressed, etc. So American’s living in excess and ignoring the necessary interventions causes immense tension.
- “Do this in remembrance of me” == do this continuously.
- Become broken and poured out for the hopeless, just like Christ. Mercy has a cost — it will be exhausting.
- Ignorant intervention is a contributing factor to cycles of oppression.
- But we’re not allowed to neglect the oppressed because we have reservations about their discernment or whether or not it will be managed well.
- Can’t project our advantaged perspective onto struggling people and expect the same results. Most of us know nothing about the struggles of the poor.
- Be wise, but doing nothing is a sin of omission.
- Encountering some weeds is not a reason to ignore the whole field.
- We cannot identify with the wheat. We’re the same weeds, but shown mercy.
- WE ARE ONLY QUALIFIED TO ADMINISTER MERCY, NOT JUDGEMENT.
- Ascending the ladder is addicting, but saddles you with more to defend and toxic fear.
- Taking the lower position RELIEVES us from the burden of maintaining reputation.
- Christianity’s center is shifting to 2nd and 3rd world countries. The needy world loves a redeeming Savior — he is their only hope and inheritance.
- Having Jesus as the judge is like having your grandmother as a principal. No one loves you more and no one is more on your side. “Judge” should no longer cause fear, since His justice is now mercy and condemnation has been replaced by liberation by a friend.
- Jesus didn’t narrow his scope of “neighbor”. It was always outside the lines.
- People were healed first, then believed second. Err on the side of mercy and let Jesus sort out the rest.
- We literally serve Jesus every time we feed, give dignity, or acknowledge value.
- The spirit of mission can be wrecked by focusing on strategy. The “how” shouldn’t eclipse the “why”, especially too soon. Otherwise it creates a shift that focuses on defending the strategy, rather than listening.
- “Church” == a gathering of missionaries in love with God and their communities. It’s a collection of believers doing Christ’s work with their own independent lives. Church is nothing more than a loose structure to hold us together. PEOPLE are the church, not it in and of itself, nor is it the pastor. It’s not about how your church is thrilling or failing you. What are YOU doing to help?
- People came to belief AFTER an encounter. We can’t expect people to find church with little or no provocation, especially if it’s poorly represented by its people.
- The Christian community has shifted from laboring to others to prioritizing our own rights. We perpetuate a group identity as misunderstood and persecuted, preferring to be right or missional.
- We must connect with people on their own terms without thinking it a compromise, and not from our moral high ground.
- Loving, rather than angry defenders/separatists.
- Church staff isn’t solely responsible for transformative change.
- Church attendance is not the final goal!
- The pastor cannot become central, experiences hinging on his personality, teaching, and life. How many sermons have altered your life?!
- Your pastor cannot reach your co-workers, neighbors, etc. like you can!
- Church is purely the people you belong and worship with.
- Engaging a broken world while standing stubbornly on principle indicates an immature heart the prefers to be right rather than to seek others’ redemption.
- Love before doctrine. Insisting deference to our convictions is a sure way to repel. Sensitivity!
- Discipleship is about living, not just learning.