When tragedy strikes, one of the most frequently asked questions that I get from people is, "What can I do?" or "How can I help?" Here are 4 quick things you can do to really serve those around you that are hurting.
1. SHOW UP
The best thing you can do for people that are hurting is to just be there. Your presence can help heal. Text, call, and email, but don't stop there. Show up.
Be there WITH them and FOR them.
2. SHUT UP
During a hard time in life, your friends will have tons of questions. Resist the desire to "answer" all of the questions or try to "fix" the problem.
Chances are, they aren't asking you for an answer. They just want to share. They want you to listen. Sometimes the best thing is to sit there with them and say absolutely nothing.
So show up and shut up.
3. SHARE THE PAIN
Cry with them, laugh with them, pray with them, be broken with them, and cry some more with them. Don't alienate yourself from their situation. Get in the trenches with them.
Sharing the pain brings great comfort by helping your friends know they aren't doing this alone.
4. TAKE THE INITIATIVE
The worst thing you can do for a hurting friend is to say, "Call me if you need anything." You've just placed all of the responsibility on their shoulders. They don't need that.
Take the initiative and do something. Cook them a meal, mow their grass, bring them bags of groceries, wash their dishes, clean their house, babysit their kids, treat them to a dinner out.
Don't wait around for them to ask you, and don't wait around for someone else to come up with a plan. Just spring into action.
I've been the recipient of all of these things in my life during times of pain and struggle, and I hope they help you too.
Showing posts with label Be the Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Be the Church. Show all posts
Easter: Grab a Corner
Mark 2:1-3: "And when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And Jesus was preaching the Word to them. And they came, bringing to Jesus a paralytic carried by 4 men."
Four men heard that there was an opportunity to see and hear Jesus around their city. Their thought and goal became simple: identify someone that needs to be changed by Jesus, and ban together to get that person to Jesus. These men brought someone to Jesus that needed to be changed, and they would not allow ANYTHING to stand in their way.
Will you let anything stand in your way of getting someone to Jesus this week?
Four men heard that there was an opportunity to see and hear Jesus around their city. Their thought and goal became simple: identify someone that needs to be changed by Jesus, and ban together to get that person to Jesus. These men brought someone to Jesus that needed to be changed, and they would not allow ANYTHING to stand in their way.
Will you let anything stand in your way of getting someone to Jesus this week?
-2 Fool-Proof Marketing Ideas for the Church-
Last week a guy that is planting a church in the next few months asked me what was the best way to advertise and market his new church. He had some money put away for signage, mass mailers, advertising, and other ideas to get the word out.
At REVO, we tried a lot of things. Some ideas bombed and some were successful. Nevertheless, there is a FOOL-PROOF way to successfully advertise and market in the community. In fact, these two methods have had more success for us than all of our other attempts combined!
The first is "Word of Mouth." Having a personal connection with someone is irreplaceable. People can read a mass-mailer one time and throw it straight in the trash. They can drive by your billboard and think nothing about it. Yet, a conversation with someone that they know and trust can be the deciding factor in them attending your church. A friend can give them a ride, meet them at the front door, and even sit with them during the worship experience. A postcard can't.
Another reason word of mouth is so effective is that the person that is promoting your church or organization stands to receive no personal benefit from it. Your friend doesn't get paid if the person comes. There is no hidden agenda in inviting them. No one gets a gold star in word of mouth advertising. It's just real, authentic critique.
The second, and by far the most important and most successful, is "Life Change." Nothing creates a buzz like someone's life getting changed. Nothing is more exciting and contagious than a person whose life has been turned upside down by the Gospel message.
Sometimes people that have been believers for a while have lost their zeal about what Jesus has done for them. For some reason it gets stale and lackluster. In fact, people can often get in the mindset that telling other people about what Jesus has done in their life is simply voluntary and not really necessary.
A new believer doesn't know any better. They are on fire. A new believer can't help but to talk about what Jesus has done and how their life has changed.
Also, a new believer has connections that you don't. He has other friends that he has been hanging out with that don't like Church, don't know Jesus, and probably wouldn't give you the time of day. Yet, they like their friend and are willing to listen to him, especially if he is excited and if they can see the difference in his life. Then your advertising strategy switches back to word of mouth.
So if you are interested in marketing and advertising your church, tell people about Jesus! When someone experiences life change through Him, you won't be able to shut them up. They will go places and say things that will impact people you may have never had a chance in reaching.
Instead of just attending or promoting a church, challenge people to Be the Church.
Don't make the Church buy a sign to accomplish what followers of Jesus are called to do!
At REVO, we tried a lot of things. Some ideas bombed and some were successful. Nevertheless, there is a FOOL-PROOF way to successfully advertise and market in the community. In fact, these two methods have had more success for us than all of our other attempts combined!
The first is "Word of Mouth." Having a personal connection with someone is irreplaceable. People can read a mass-mailer one time and throw it straight in the trash. They can drive by your billboard and think nothing about it. Yet, a conversation with someone that they know and trust can be the deciding factor in them attending your church. A friend can give them a ride, meet them at the front door, and even sit with them during the worship experience. A postcard can't.
Another reason word of mouth is so effective is that the person that is promoting your church or organization stands to receive no personal benefit from it. Your friend doesn't get paid if the person comes. There is no hidden agenda in inviting them. No one gets a gold star in word of mouth advertising. It's just real, authentic critique.
The second, and by far the most important and most successful, is "Life Change." Nothing creates a buzz like someone's life getting changed. Nothing is more exciting and contagious than a person whose life has been turned upside down by the Gospel message.
Sometimes people that have been believers for a while have lost their zeal about what Jesus has done for them. For some reason it gets stale and lackluster. In fact, people can often get in the mindset that telling other people about what Jesus has done in their life is simply voluntary and not really necessary.
A new believer doesn't know any better. They are on fire. A new believer can't help but to talk about what Jesus has done and how their life has changed.
Also, a new believer has connections that you don't. He has other friends that he has been hanging out with that don't like Church, don't know Jesus, and probably wouldn't give you the time of day. Yet, they like their friend and are willing to listen to him, especially if he is excited and if they can see the difference in his life. Then your advertising strategy switches back to word of mouth.
So if you are interested in marketing and advertising your church, tell people about Jesus! When someone experiences life change through Him, you won't be able to shut them up. They will go places and say things that will impact people you may have never had a chance in reaching.
Instead of just attending or promoting a church, challenge people to Be the Church.
Don't make the Church buy a sign to accomplish what followers of Jesus are called to do!
-10 Thoughts on a Challenging Sunday-
Here's 10 things that I was reminded of today at REVO to share with you and challenge you with.
1. The same power that was in Jesus as he preached, healed, performed miracles, and equipped disciples is now in us. We are unstoppable!
2. The Word of God is authoritative, powerful, life-changing, and challenging. We need to know it!
2. The same calling and mission in Acts 1:8 that Jesus gave the first New Testament Church is the same mission that the Church has today. We know what to do!
3. Jesus forgiving sins, dying in our place, resurrecting from the dead, and offering salvation is worthy of more excitement and fanfare than anything that ever happens in a stadium or sports arena. We're on the winning team!
4. The Spirit is the same, the message is the same, the God is the same, the power and authority of the Word is the same, the direct access to God through prayer is the same, and the method that God chose to share Jesus with the world is the same today as it was in Acts. We are dangerous!
5. The mission has been communicated and the Spirit has been sent. We don't need anything else!
6. We bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus not out of obligation or guilt but out of excitement, anticipation, jubilation, and obedience. We have to tell people!
7. The calling on followers of Jesus is from our hometown to the ends of the earth. We have to go!
8. Even with below-freezing temperatures outside, worshipping authentically and preaching twice in one day is a workout. We have to wear more deodorant next week!
9. It takes an army of people that are All-In to help REVO be obedient in sparking a revolution of life change through Jesus. We have some incredible volunteers!
10. The Church not only gathers, but also scatters to accomplish the mission and be faithful with the opportunity that we've been entrusted with. We don't go to church, we ARE the church!
Let's be a Dangerous Church!
1. The same power that was in Jesus as he preached, healed, performed miracles, and equipped disciples is now in us. We are unstoppable!
2. The Word of God is authoritative, powerful, life-changing, and challenging. We need to know it!
2. The same calling and mission in Acts 1:8 that Jesus gave the first New Testament Church is the same mission that the Church has today. We know what to do!
3. Jesus forgiving sins, dying in our place, resurrecting from the dead, and offering salvation is worthy of more excitement and fanfare than anything that ever happens in a stadium or sports arena. We're on the winning team!
4. The Spirit is the same, the message is the same, the God is the same, the power and authority of the Word is the same, the direct access to God through prayer is the same, and the method that God chose to share Jesus with the world is the same today as it was in Acts. We are dangerous!
5. The mission has been communicated and the Spirit has been sent. We don't need anything else!
6. We bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus not out of obligation or guilt but out of excitement, anticipation, jubilation, and obedience. We have to tell people!
7. The calling on followers of Jesus is from our hometown to the ends of the earth. We have to go!
8. Even with below-freezing temperatures outside, worshipping authentically and preaching twice in one day is a workout. We have to wear more deodorant next week!
9. It takes an army of people that are All-In to help REVO be obedient in sparking a revolution of life change through Jesus. We have some incredible volunteers!
10. The Church not only gathers, but also scatters to accomplish the mission and be faithful with the opportunity that we've been entrusted with. We don't go to church, we ARE the church!
Let's be a Dangerous Church!
-"Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays?" Jesus Doesn't Care-
The "Occupy Wall Street" protests are getting a little stale, so it's time to look at another point of tension. It's the hotly debated topic of whether or not retailers and Americans in general should keep "Christ in Christmas." Ground zero of the argument is specifically saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."
The "Occupy Christmas" protests are a lot more digital than its predecessor, but money is still involved. Most people post their picket signs on facebook or twitter with complaints about others offering no regard to "the real reason for the season." The irony of most of those posts is that the only time most people post something on Facebook about Jesus is when they are complaining about other people not acknowledging Him. Really?? To make it Twitter compatible in 140 characters or less, I'd go with, "Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? I don't think Jesus cares."
Some shoppers even threaten to boycott stores that say any salutation other than "Merry Christmas." I guess if you want to hit them where it hurts, the best place to aim is their pockets. But before you get the undies on your gingerbread men in a wad, let's think about this from a biblical standpoint.
Whose responsibility is it to tell people about Jesus? Whose responsibility is it to make sure His name is appropriately proclaimed? Whose speech, attitude, actions, and lives are REALLY suppose to be representing Christ?
In Scripture, Jesus said:
Acts 1:8- YOU are to be my witnesses...
Mark 8:29- Who do YOU say that I am?
Jesus never said "Walmart is to be a witness to my name." I can hear people telling Jesus, "some people are saying Happy Holidays and some Winter Solstice and some Happy Kwanza and not even telling people Merry Christmas?!?!" And I could imagine Jesus saying, "I don't care how Hallmark is portraying me on their cards, who do YOU say I am? What is YOUR life conveying to the world about who I am?"
Jesus calls believers to represent Him and make his name famous in the world today. A retailers job is to sell you reasonably well-crafted products at a competitive price. Their mission statement is not Matthew 28:18-20 and purpose statement is not Acts 1:8.
It's not Hallmark's responsibility to tell people about Jesus on their Christmas cards. It's not the job of some retail corporate giant to acknowledge Jesus in their marketing and advertisements. As followers of Jesus, it's OUR responsibility to tell people about Jesus.
So stop freaking out. Step down off the soapbox and enjoy some eggnog. Stop shifting the blame onto secular organizations for not talking about Jesus. Stop posting sappy monologues on Facebook about people taking "Christ out of Christmas."
Stop trying to "Occupy Christmas" and go tell someone about Jesus.
The "Occupy Christmas" protests are a lot more digital than its predecessor, but money is still involved. Most people post their picket signs on facebook or twitter with complaints about others offering no regard to "the real reason for the season." The irony of most of those posts is that the only time most people post something on Facebook about Jesus is when they are complaining about other people not acknowledging Him. Really?? To make it Twitter compatible in 140 characters or less, I'd go with, "Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? I don't think Jesus cares."
Some shoppers even threaten to boycott stores that say any salutation other than "Merry Christmas." I guess if you want to hit them where it hurts, the best place to aim is their pockets. But before you get the undies on your gingerbread men in a wad, let's think about this from a biblical standpoint.
Whose responsibility is it to tell people about Jesus? Whose responsibility is it to make sure His name is appropriately proclaimed? Whose speech, attitude, actions, and lives are REALLY suppose to be representing Christ?
In Scripture, Jesus said:
Acts 1:8- YOU are to be my witnesses...
Mark 8:29- Who do YOU say that I am?
Jesus never said "Walmart is to be a witness to my name." I can hear people telling Jesus, "some people are saying Happy Holidays and some Winter Solstice and some Happy Kwanza and not even telling people Merry Christmas?!?!" And I could imagine Jesus saying, "I don't care how Hallmark is portraying me on their cards, who do YOU say I am? What is YOUR life conveying to the world about who I am?"
Jesus calls believers to represent Him and make his name famous in the world today. A retailers job is to sell you reasonably well-crafted products at a competitive price. Their mission statement is not Matthew 28:18-20 and purpose statement is not Acts 1:8.
It's not Hallmark's responsibility to tell people about Jesus on their Christmas cards. It's not the job of some retail corporate giant to acknowledge Jesus in their marketing and advertisements. As followers of Jesus, it's OUR responsibility to tell people about Jesus.
So stop freaking out. Step down off the soapbox and enjoy some eggnog. Stop shifting the blame onto secular organizations for not talking about Jesus. Stop posting sappy monologues on Facebook about people taking "Christ out of Christmas."
Stop trying to "Occupy Christmas" and go tell someone about Jesus.
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