Talk to others about Jesus

Sunday, July 12th, Gina, Bethany and I began the day with worship on the beach. The Foley United Methodist Church holds a worship service on the beach at the Gulf Shores State Park. It was a beautiful morning and a wonderful experience of worship. The message asked the question, “Why I Love Jesus.” The seagulls joined in the praise of God as we sang. As the benediction concluded, a dolphin leaped off shore, as if it was dancing before God.

Later that day, we stopped by the grocery store. As I was waiting for Gina and Bethany to pick out some fruit, I entered into conversation with one of the employees. He greeted me, and as we often do, he asked how I was doing. I responded by saying, “It’s a great day. I began the day with worship on the beach.” At that he stopped straightening up the cans and said, “I hope to go to worship when I get off.” A brief conversation followed. It all happened because I made a simple reference to worship.

On the next isle I got ahead of Gina and Bethany again. As I stood waiting for them, an employee asked if he could help me. I told him I was waiting on my wife. He made a comment about having to wait on females that lead to the statement, “Can’t live with them and can’t live without them.” I responded, “But they are God’s gift.” He looked kind of shocked. Before I could go any further, another shopper asked him where to find something, so he turned and walked away.

I was open to those two encounters because of what I have been learning from the book, The Unexpected Adventure, by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg. Lee and Mark have reminded me that I have daily opportunities to enter into faith conversations if I simply look for an entrance point. The book has been more aware of seizing the little openings that have the potential of turning into the unexpected adventure of sharing Jesus. It is amazing how a simple reference to “worship on the beach” can turn into a conversation about Jesus.

This Sunday you will have the opportunity to purchase the book The Unexpected Adventure and sign up for a Small Group to study the book. Most of the Small Groups begin the week of August 2nd. We have groups Sunday through Thursday nights and some during the day. If you have ever made an excuse about witnessing, this study could be a blessing in your life.

I will also be doing some teaching about this adventure of faith-sharing the first 4 Sunday nights in August. I hope you will join us for worship and growing as a witness for Jesus Christ.

I believe God works in the timing of opportunities in His Church. I was lead to “The Unexpected Adventure” last spring. Only God knew that our Prayer Team would later decide to have the emphasis Pray-Invite-Reach or that the Evangelism team would lead us in a Back to Church Day. The timing must be a God work, for your participation in The Unexpected Adventure studies, can help you follow through with these other opportunities.

This Sunday, July 26, you will have the opportunity to make a commitment to the Pray-Invite-Reach emphasis. You are encouraged to make a commitment to pray for one to five unchurched/undiscipled persons who you will later invite to worship during Reach 2009-August Camp Meeting and/or Back to Church Day, August 9th. If you were in worship last Sunday (July 19) there was a Pray-Invite-Reach card in your bulletin. Pray-Invite-Reach cards will also be available this Sunday. I encourage you to prayerfully consider your friends, relatives, associations and neighbors, who God is leading you to invite to worship. There will also be Invitation Cards available to use in inviting persons to Back to Church Day.

Have you seen the line up of Discipleship opportunities that are beginning August 12? In addition to The Unexpected Adventure being offered during Wednesday Grow, there are numbers of others opportunities to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. It would be helpful if you would go ahead and sign up so that books can be ordered in time to arrive by August 12th. You can see a list of opportunities around the church and register by emailing Jeri Hunt jhunt@gmvumc.org.

As always, your responses to these Reflections are welcome. You can email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.