What is Outreach?
faithward.org says “Outreach ministry is the practice of looking beyond yourself to the people around you and sharing the love of Christ as you serve and connect with your community. This doesn’t require a big budget or a five-year plan. You can simply start with whatever is in your hand that you can offer to your neighbor.”
Matthew 25:31-40
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
When we look beyond ourselves to those around us Jesus tells us when we do these things we do them for him.
Matthew 22:36-40
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
If you can’t look beyond yourself then you can't love your neighbor.
The love of Jesus can’t be shared if there is no one willing to go and share it. Someone willing to connect with the community.
Romans 10:14-15
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
The people who bring the Good news are beautiful. Not because of their outward appearance but because what they carry is beautiful. The Gospel is beautiful because God’s timing is beautiful.
OUTREACH IS POINTLESS IF WE LEAVE OUT JESUS.
- How do we preach the Good news? We share with them the Gospel (Good News)
- We are created for a relationship with God.
- But, we messed it up.
- Our sin cost us everything.
- God loved you so much, He paid the price in the only way possible: Giving his Son as a Selfless sacrifice.
- God offers salvation as a free gift and accepting it is as easy as Romans 10:9
- Romans 10:9-10
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
- This is just one of many ways to share the good news with someone. If you are not confident in sharing the Gospel, talk to the person who disciples you
- You can also talk about it with your Life Group leader.
- Maybe you can practice with your life group in the neighborhood where you meet.
OUTREACH ISN'T JUST ABOUT WHAT WE DO AS A CHURCH.
God has called each of us to love our neighbor.
WHERE DO WE START? START WITH WHAT IS IN YOUR HAND.
What are you good at?
- Are you good at baking? Make some cookies for your neighbor.
- Are you good at yard work? Mow someone's grass.
- Are you good at planning parties? Throw a block party for your neighbors.
- Offer tutoring to the kids in the neighborhood.
It's not really about what you do. It's about serving Jesus by loving others.
