THOUGHTS ON THE LORD’S DAY
“God did not send a brochure, He sent His son.”
Exodus 3:4 says, “When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush.”
The Church must provide context if they are going to be relevant on today’s secular battlefield, the marketplace. Relevance is not compromising or watering down the Gospel message but putting it in context.
In the Gospels, Matthew was speaking to the Jews; Mark to the Romans; Luke to the Gentiles; and John to the Greeks. One message with four views. How do you provide context and relevancy to those to whom God has called you to reach with his message?
First, you get their attention. If you want them to pay attention, you must first get their attention. You can’t demand attention. Your message must not only be in context, it requires passion, energy and fire.
Moses was attracted by the fire. Methods are not sacred, only the message and it must never change. Jesus was always getting people’s attention. Always doing the unexpected.
Second, you create connection. You get attention so you can make that connection. The fire got Moses’ attention. Now the bush speaks and makes the connection. Don’t try to connect if you don’t have their attention. The bush knew Moses’ name.
Make sure you are on “speaking terms” before sharing your message. Otherwise you are only informing but not communicating. Information does not create relationships, only the communication of God’s message of hope.
God didn’t send a brochure to reach the lost. He sent His Son. He got their attention and Jesus’ life made the connection. On the Day of Pentecost, the “mighty rushing wind” got their attention and connection was made by every man hearing the message “in his own language.”
For the Church to be relevant, she must be real. She must be interesting, informed and most of all present where she’s needed the most, the marketplace.
Third, you bring revelation. The Church is more than conveyors of the message. They must be the revelation of that message by the life they live. God told Moses, “I am the God of your fathers.” God connects him to the big story through revelation. “I am going to bring you out, so I can bring you in.”
Our message must be powered by the Holy Spirit to bring revelation. We are not in the education business. We are in the revelation business. IKEA creates showrooms out of brown flat boxes.
Our message must not consist of brown flat packages. We have provided “showrooms” on Sundays, but brown flat boxes in the marketplace. The Church needs to unpack the message and create a “taste and see” experience for those who need it the most.
Fourth, teach the application. Brown flat packages must be put together—application. Now we move from what to how. God said, “I will guide you.” The Church must follow the blueprint, the infallible Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit!
Revelation without application is worth very little. The Church needs to provide a blueprint the lost can read. One with pictures, our daily lives reflecting Jesus in every action, conversation and decision.
Is your witness a living example of Jesus Christ, or just a plain brown flat package? Brochures, websites and social media will never take the place of a living witness.