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Jul
16
E Leader , F Leader , I Leader , L Leader , Paul Wilkinson

Praying for the Lost and Searching

By Paul Wilkinson

Shelly and I are working with an organization this week in Jamaica called American Caribbean Experience (ACE). They essentially do the Middle Tennessee Initiative in rural Jamaica, focusing on healthcare, education, poverty, and spiritual development. We went to church yesterday at High Gate Gospel Chapel and, shockingly, they have a very similar discipleship strategy as us: being faithful followers of Jesus while making followers of Jesus, cf. being disciples of Jesus while making disciples with Jesus. I say “shockingly” in jest, because Bible believing congregations throughout the world who take the Great Commission seriously will have that same strategy. An elder preached instead of the pastor and he said this: “Witnessing to unbelievers begins by praying for them and praying for ourselves, that the Spirit will work through you for them.“
The elder’s comment prompted my mind to an old evangelist question: if God answered “Yes!” to every one of your prayers, how many new believers would there be? For years, for me, the answer was zero. I didn’t have compassion for the lost and searching like I should have, even though I was being trained in seminary to reach them! The knowledge and ability to evangelize the lost and searching does not create in us a will to evangelize the lost and searching; prayer brings our will in line with God’s so that we become passionate for and compassionate towards the lost and searching. The elder was correct: it all starts with prayer. I challenge you to challenge your groups this week as we get ready for Group Connect (August 29) and Fall New Group launches: if God answered all of the prayers of our group with a resounding, “YES!” how many new citizens of the kingdom would there be; how many people would be saved?
Encourage them to have 3 people in their minds at all times for whom they are praying to come to faith. If they don’t know three lost people, then encourage them to pray for God to make them aware of friends with 3 lost people that they can pray for. Share with them your handful of lost and searching people that you pray for to give them a model. But don’t forget to encourage them to pray for themselves, as well, that they’d have the boldness to share, a sound gospel message, and  a confident personal testimony when the time comes.


Remember the Welcome–Launch Rally on Sunday, August 5!

4:00 PM – Leaders will gather in Hudson Hall
6:00 PM – Burgers and Hot Dogs on the Lawn for the whole family

Please RSVP to help us plan!

 
 
 

Apr
30
E Leader , F Leader , I Leader , L Leader , Sonnie Bain

BE NICE

By Sonnie Bain

Sonnie Bain has written our blog for today. May you find it an encouragement about the great hospitality in our groups and a challenge to begin inviting the lost and searching into our communities to experience that kindness of Christ. Thank you, Sonnie, for taking such good care of our groups and loving our leaders well.
Paul Wilkinson, Adult Minister–Groups Associate

A few years ago, Williamson County schools adopted the simple mantra, “BE NICE.”  It started at Fairview High School as a way to create a culture of kindness in their school.  After witnessing the success, the school district expanded the message to all 44 county schools.  What a wonderful character trait to teach our young people – to practice kindness in their everyday lives.  They made bumper stickers, they created T-shirts, and they took great pride in working together to create a movement that started showing up all across social media and around the world.  In fact, September has been declared “BE NICE Month” in Williamson County.
I remember how this movement transformed our community when it started and grew.  I wonder what would happen if the adults created that type of movement.  Children have a special wonder and excitement that we should all try to emulate from time to time. 
As I have been visiting Sunday morning LIFE Groups, I have seen how the “BE NICE” mantra is revealed in our people.  It shows up in the way they take care of their own.  They know their fellow class members very well, they are a part of each other’s lives, and they support and care for one another.  It was fascinating to see how involved they were in the relationships within that group.  They knew how and what to pray for when their people were going through loss or grief.  They kept up with each other’s burdens, whether they involved health, finances, relationships or just living.  They also shared in praises for the ways God has worked in their lives.
So, thank you to the leaders and teachers of our LIFE Groups, for loving your groups and working to make community so important.  I applaud the class members for loving each other well.  I will certainly keep visiting, as I have enjoyed meeting you and being a part of your groups. 
Keep up the good work that God has started in you and, above all, BE NICE.

 
 
Sonnie Bain is the Administrative Assistant in the Adult Ministry–Groups, Brentwood campus, Brentwood Baptist Church.   [email protected]