Creating Consistent Opportunities

 

You heard the story found in 1 Samuel 17:38-51, you know the story where Saul gives David his armor before going into battle.  We need tools and equipment that will best suit those about to rock!

I watched Magic growing up, not the card game, the basketball player.  He made good players great and great players All-Stars! He helped to distribute responsibility, opportunity, joy, passion, and trust. They were a great team because no one person was expected to carry the burden.  When Moses was confronted by Miriam & Levi to have more position & power; Moses was willing to give it up, he didn't fight for his position, but trusted the Lord's discernment.  Numbers 12:3 

People view leadership from a worldly perspective of what you can get from being the front man, but Jesus nails that perspective to the cross.  Like Moses, they see themself in the back pushing... "Oh... how often would I gather my children together."  You know the whole first and last thing.

So what kind of Magic can gather His children, if even Jesus lamented over the challenge?  

So first we aren't creating any new barrier to the Gospel.  Jesus died for your sins to make a way back to God, to know the Father.  We are actually removing barriers.  The arts can be used negatively, I think of Mein Kampf, and you know that big idol made of King Nebacanezar, or the other pagan idols heated up to melt children on.  Yeah that's not cool.  People have abused the power of creativity for a bunch of evil purposes.  

Propaganda is just a lie wrapped in creativity offering bits of truth with way too much high fructose corn syrup.

So how do we remove barriers?  We remove pride?  How do we remove pride, we become children.  How do we become children? We play together. 

We need to create opportunities for people to share what they found in Jesus wherever they are at.

By creating projects that require folks to participate, you create active waiting.  Not just standing around, but an opportunity to join in... or to Enter In.   

Evangelism is not just for the evangelist, it is for every christian to share the good news.  But we fall victim to the oldest idol, "I'm right, you're wrong."  Paul addressed it, "Let God be true and every man a liar." Even Jesus pushed back against the rich young ruler and explained why do you think I possess goodness like it's something to obtain and trade like gold, dont you know goodness only comes from our Father God and we can never use it to lord over, or to display.  Of course, I'm paraphrasing there, but the point is when we start with sharing our faith, we can forget that we are sharing good news.

Instead, what if we are just sitting around a table, widdling away at something and sharing when folks are drawn in.  That is my experience every time I paint on location.  People want to know what I'm doing, they want to engage, they want to be listened to.  

I don't know about Saul's armor, or fancy fishing poles, but through the arts the fish come to me.   When the arts gather belief & community, we call it culture. 

Though engaging folks one on one is still limiting. Magic Johnson was a great facilitator, we need to be great facilitators, to know our brothers and sisters and help them make connections to people where they are at.  If this happens every week, you make an expectation in the hearts and minds of those around you.  Just think to yourself... who do you expect to be in your path on a given day?  Do you think of them with delight or dread, to be avoided or engaged? 

We can create opportunities and expectations that are anticipated with delight if we are sharing good news naturally.   Utilizing creativity & sharing how we are serving/ministering are ways to keep it focused on connecting and sharing naturally.   When the projects turn to play, it creates an attractive environment to Enter In.