OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCH

OUTWARD FOCUSED CHURCH

By Bruce Prindle

I started a journey a couple of years ago, one that I had not anticipated. I started reading about disciple-making movements around the world. I learned that the fastest growing church in the world was in Iran. I was stunned. The Gospel was also spreading rapidly in northern India, in an area that had once been known as the “missionary graveyard” because of how many had failed to reach people for Christ.

As I read about their strategy and results, I became more and more convicted, more focused on God’s call upon our church family, and me. If you could look at my notes from those days two years ago, you could read it almost like a roadmap through the last eighteen months. You could probably see some of them and recognize the effects of what you have heard from me, too.

LAST SUMMER

We were on a journey through the book of Acts, and we came to chapter 15, where the apostles had to decide what the core of the Gospel journey is. And I talked about our “Acts 15 Moments.” I said that day, “We must CHOOSE an outward focus. The natural inertia will always draw us to focus inward.”

So, what does that mean?

In the first two centuries after Jesus’ resurrection, the Gospel spread very quickly, despite pronounced persecution that every Jesus Follower had to face. It wasn’t some slick marketing campaign that fueled that spread. It wasn’t a grand church of programs that fueled it. It wasn’t driven by a supportive government, by extravagant financial resources, or by dynamic preachers. It spread through ordinary people who put into practice what we have been talking about for months: living and loving like Jesus.

LIVING WELL

Michael Green is a New Testament scholar who describes the early followers as people who combined two things: holy living and open mouths. They took Jesus’ teaching seriously and discovered a great life— the Jesus Life. They were different from their culture. Their integrity was noteworthy. They looked at Jesus’ instructions as the BEST way to live, and they trusted them, practiced those ways of living.

They were known for how they loved. They were generous with their resources, not just in business, but with their neighbors. They practiced great hospitality, both with their neighbors and with people in impoverished circumstances. They were willing and ready to forgive others and to reconcile differences rather than try to affix blame. They practiced shocking chastity, refusing sex outside of marriage, and a devoted fidelity within marriage. They faced adversity and suffering with strength and confident hope. And they worked tirelessly for the common good, not just their own good.

SPEAKING WELL

They were ready to claim Christ with their words. They told what they had experienced. They were willing to initiate conversations with people as they served and loved them. Their humble service was mirrored in their gratitude for grace. They embraced their every day work as an opportunity to demonstrate their devotion to Jesus and to serve people lovingly. When they did, they credited Jesus readily, because they believed that everyone NEEDED JESUS.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE OUTWARD FOCUSED NOW?

One of the most significant research groups in America has completed a recent survey about this. When asked what kind of situation people would prefer for exploring faith, two were clear: casual 1-on-1 conversations or casual conversation in a group with other non-Christians. When asked about Christians that they knew, the ones they admired had these qualities: hospitable and welcoming, caring toward that person, open to outsiders, reasonable and intelligent, open to questions, humble, and aware of their shortcomings. They were accessible to people who lived and loved well.

So, this year, we’re going to focus on how to practice better hospitality and care toward other people. We’re going to seek to grow in relationships– exploring avenues to connect. We’re going to grow in LOVING WELL as we serve others. That’s how Jesus loved, and He called us to join Him in that quest.

We’re going to pursue obedience to Jesus, not because of some legalistic bent. We’re going to choose to trust that Jesus’ instruction is the BEST way to live, that it’s the GOOD life—good for our own lives, good for our neighbors, and good for our community. He came to give us that kind of life, and we’re going to encourage each other to pursue it.

We’re going to seek ways to engage people who never attend a church. We’re going to ask every one of us to consider how we can LOVE and SERVE our neighbors, our co-workers, classmates, and teammates.

The November 24 edition of the Dallas Morning News ran an article about volunteerism and serving, focused on the emotional benefits of those who volunteer to serve other people.

By measuring hormones and brain activity, researchers have proven that being helpful to others releases dopamine — the “feel-good” chemical — in our brains and lights up the same part of the brain as receiving rewards or experiencing pleasure.

It’s called “the helper’s high”. *

In essence, humans are hard-wired to give to others; it’s rooted in biology.

Jesus called us to serve others, telling us that it was the path to true greatness. Ask any of our graduating teenagers about the most impactful experience they had in student ministry, and they sing a familiar chorus: Memphis Mission Trip. Serving others— being outward focused—creates a more fulfilling life, communicates Jesus' love more effectively, and allows other people to experience the hospitality, care, compassion, and generosity that Jesus “hardwired” us to share.

Will you join us in this outward-focused life?

* Baraz, James, and Shoshana Alexander.

“The Helper's High.” Greater Good, 1 Feb. 2010,

greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_helpers_high.