What does the image say to you about serving? -Can t really tell whether it is practice or the real deal, -Practice is paramount; -We should be

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1 What does the image say to you about serving? -Can t really tell whether it is practice or the real deal, -Practice is paramount; -We should be reflecting someone..i.e..the shadow (we re not alone, we have the Holy Spirit within us and called to reflect Christ) Christ is the standard; -We must understand how to serve, who we re serving to, our boundaries and parameters; -There is revelation in understanding. 1

2 TheParable of the Net Brief Background (pending time): Jesus 7-part series about the Kingdom -Here, the 7 th (biblical number for completion), -In the parable of the sower: Vs. 11 ( Jesus said to His disciples the knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven has been given to you, not to them) in other words: understanding is key -Jesus spoke to the people in parables to a) fulfill prophesy and b) to impart revelation: see Vs. 35 -So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hiddensince the creation of the world. [c] 2

3 Implications from The Net -Actual context of the Parable: in using he word like it is a simile, means similar (in appearance or character) not identical a comparison, a typology -Net: designed to catch; a large net, a seine net (see examples above)..can be used to sweep nearly whole breadth of a river - all kinds of fish : Know your waters, but expect God to draw all kinds, all manner of fish - when it was full : The Lord specializes in filling things, bringing them to fullness and completion (He that has begun a good work in you [Php. 1:6].So is His Word [Is. 55:11]); Know that God will fill and complete things in you and through you as you endeavor to serve with HIM! **all of this is in reference to the context of serving, and seeking to understand those you are called to serve 3

4 What are some characteristics of the people group you serve (ex. ethnicity, gender, age, character, culture, etc.)? 4

5 Understanding: climates, atmospheres and cultures i. Climate - the prevailing influence or environmental conditions characterizing a group or period : ii. Atmosphere - the air of a locality:a surrounding influence or environment:an intriguing or singular tone, effect, or appeal iii. Culture -the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also:the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time: :the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization: :the set of values, conventions, or social practices associated with a particular field, activity, or societal characteristic -Interdependence between all three at work here; Sustained climates produce a certain atmosphere and sustained atmospheres produce or influence cultures **taking time to prayerfully considerand contemplate the role climates and atmospheres play in influencing cultures helps place us in better position to begin to understand the manner of impact and influence they have on the populace we serve. This positioning helps us to better discern what the Spirit of Truth chooses to reveal in any given situation concerning the impact the above may have concerning such things as societal norms, various ethnicities and religious practices. 5

6 Importance of keeping up with current events and statistical research -Be mindful of what s going on around us (don t be so heavenly minded that we miss out on the practical/tangible); -Current events/statistical research/studies can often be great conversation starters/ice breakers that can lead to a shift an ordinary encounter can become a Kingdom Appointment 6

7 A Kingdom Approach to Serving.Discerning Needs a. Spiritual Discernment(Jn 4:1-26; 39-42: Woman and the Well ) i. Map: highlights Samaria/Jews dynamic (Jews ordinarily crossed over Jordan river when going from Judea to Galilee to avoid Samira/Samiritans; But not Christ) demonstrates how true spiritual discernment transcends ethnic and relational issues ii. KJV must needs go : shows how being led of the Holy Spirit positions us for divine appointments iii. Meeting divine appointments provides avenue for spiritual insight and divine revelation (also note: Jesus relationship with the Father was characterized by consistent and powerful prayer-life) b. Discerning physical needs (Jn 6:1-15: Jesus feeds the five thousand ) i. Vs. 6: already had in mind KJV himself knew ~i'-do: past tense, to see, be aware, have knowledge, perceive, understand ii. Jesus saw the crowd coming, understood the need and alreadyhad in mind how he would meet the need. This demonstrates a lifestyle of meeting the obvious physical need. c. Sitting Where They Sit listening with insight and compassion (Acts 9:36-43: Tabita raised from the dead ) i. Scripture accounts that Tabitha was always doing good and helping the poor and that widows cried and showed Peter robes and other clothing Tabitha had made.i believe this implies that Peter listened with insightconcerning the life that Tabitha had lived and her impact with the people therefore, Peter displayed compassion in his actions 7

8 Got to Tightrope (Staying Balanced) Ex. Janelle Monae s song Tightrope chorus Whether you re high or low, gotta tip on the tightrope -Example of using something/someone seemingly non-congruent on the surface in effort to better relate to people. Here, the fundamental message of the song is about staying balanced. -It is important for us, in serving, to remain spiritually balanced: a. In-reach and outreach i. Maintain healthy balance between internal and corporate/external building up; i.e. spiritual balance ii. Also, must maintain healthy balance in reaching out to Saved/churched and the un-churched/unsaved: i.e. spiritual balance (over focus on one above the other produces imbalance, which places us in a position of being off-keel. b. Kingdom Relevance vs. Conformity i. The Gospel and the Kingdom life is counter-culture (dichotomy serving pop-culture while being counter culture) ii. However, the Good News ( Gospel ) is eternally relevant (ex. Jer. 33:20-21, see below text: covenant day/night Christ on the throne; also ref. Gen. 1:3-5; 14-19: God creating governing laws of day/night, dark/light, seasons 20 This is what the LORDsays: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne (prophesy about Jesus Christ, David s descendant, post-cross, eternally being King of Kings and Lord of Lords i.e. the Gospel). In other words, whenever have you witnessed the failure of day or night to come at their appointed times? In like manner, just as day and night are eternally relevant, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is, indeed, eternally relevant! -Therefore, we should never feel as though we have to conform to reach the lost. Trust that the Gospel is eternally Kingdom relevant. 8

9 The Gospel is our basis for relevancy, however we are relational in our methods so we may present an effective platform to share Christ ( I Cor. 9:22) So, in our understanding the population we are called to serve, there should be proper balance in allowing room for Kingdom relevance while also effectively relating; but never conforming to the world s ways or vices. Paul sumsall this up masterfully in I Cor. 9:22! (fyi, slave used here is also translated servant) 9

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