March 16, 2015 - Let's W.I.kN. the Next 3 Weeks!

As a coach I remember those times when our team was facing seemingly insurmountable odds; the opponent was simply bigger than we felt prepared to face; some of my players were playing “scared”; some of my players were simply shutting down as if to say. “What’s the use?”

It was during those times that I learned to break the game down into smaller increments. At times I might call for us to try to win the quarter… other times I may even say let’s win the next 4 minutes… and in extreme cases I may even say let’s just see if this play will when the next possession. I wanted to get my players to stop looking always at end results and instead be faithful in the moment… and what they would find is that end results take care of themselves when you win the play with consistency.

Sometimes I feel like we, the church, spend so much time with the looking at the condition of the world and the enormous task we have in trying to reach people that we play “scared” or even shut down as if to say, “What’s the use?”

The reality is that we read so much garbage on social networks and listen to so much garbage from new outlets that we live in fear and frustration instead of in boldness and victory.

Can I simply remind us this week that our job is ultimately to reach individuals with the Gospel and nto necessarily the masses… and what we will find is that eventually we have reached enough individuals to be classified as “masses.”

Today “win the day” by being an influence at work or school! Today “win the play” by being an influence on individuals you come in contact with (each person a possibility!)

Our church entered into “21 Days of Prayer” this morning leading up to Easter Sunday. The reality is that Easter is a prime time with fertile ground to share the Gospel. People will go to church on Easter that never grace the doors on other Sundays. People are open to discussions about the death and resurrection, especially the resurrection since that was the game changer that sets Jesus apart! (Obviously there are many other things that set Him apart… i.e. God in the flesh, Virgin birth, perfect life, substitutionary death, etc. – but the resurrected Jesus is what caught even the skeptic’s eye!)

So my challenge this week is in line with our church’s challenge: Let’s W.I.kN. the next 3 weeks!

Witness: take time to share the message of the crucified and risen Savior – our Substitute!

Invite: take time to ask people to attend church with you on Easter so they will hear the Gospel proclaimed!

kNeel: in daily prayer for those that you know that need the Lord; those that will be sharing the Gospel that they will be faithful and clear; for opportunities for you to share the Gospel with and/or to invite friends, neighbors, coworkers, fellow students, people in the grocery store line, etc. to church with you on Easter!

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness.