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This coming Sunday, I'm preaching live in Osage from 1 Peter 2 about "Witness" and how we are here to live our lives in such a way that people are drawn to Jesus.  One of the questions our campus needs to answer in 2012 is "What does it look like to reach people in my town for Jesus?".  Sounds simple, but in reality it is a challenge.  Part of our DNA as a church is invitational and authentic and that is great for getting people to church who want to go to church.  But reaching the folks further from God is more challenging.  It will require us to really begin (or continue to) invest in the lives of people around us in new and difficult ways.  It will require us to put fears and worries aside and instead to engage people in our towns in new ways.

I found an article that I found compelling and interesting here that talks about 11 creative, Gospel-Centered ways to love your town.  Check it out.  Pray through it.  Ask God how you can be creative in being a Witness in your town and drawing people to Christ because of your love, grace, kindness and generosity.

Show up this Sunday at PLC-Osage.  I'm going to paint a picture of where we are going in 2012 as a campus and how God wants to transform our towns.  It will also be a great week to invite others.  The message will be high vision and high challenge.  God wants to do amazing things in 2012 through our campus.  Join me in praying for God to move mightily!

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1.  Each person came to Christ in part because they were invited to church by someone that they had a relationship with.  They came to Christ because they attended a church where people loved Jesus and were invited or brought to that church by someone they loved and respected.  Someone had the courage to invest in their lives, to invite them to church and follow up with them.  Keep investing in others and watch what God will do!

2. God used life circumstances (some painful and difficult) to bring them to a point where they saw their need for Jesus.  Sometimes God in His providence uses the low points in our lives to reach us.  He is in control and His Spirit is working on people constantly in ways we are often not even aware of.  He is preparing hearts and minds to receive Him.  It is easy to think that reaching our "One" is all about our fancy words or being the nicest person on the planet.  But more often, it is God working on a person and us simply loving them and investing in their lives.

3. Every single person giving a testimony yesterday is currently serving in a ministry area at PLC.  How cool is that.  When Jesus changes your life you want to see Him change the lives of others as well.  Life change leads to more life change.  Those of us transformed by the power of the Gospel want others to experince that as well.

4. Every story is different.  Though Jesus is the only way to the Father (John 14:6), there are millions of ways He uses people, places and events to bring people to Himself.  It is fun to hear how every person's story of coming to Jesus is different.  The results are always the same.  The path never is.

5. God is not done with them yet.  Each person I interviewed talked about a desire for God that was beyond any earthly desire.  And they all talked about the constant need for growth, repentance and sanctification.  They all realized that they are not a finished product but a work in progress.  It was amazing to hear their humility and obedience.

So Prairie Lakes - be encouraged.  God continues to transform hearts and lives in our community and he's using us play a part.  Continue to invest in the lives of those around you.  It's making an eternal difference!

To register for the Art of Marriage Conference click here or call Shelly at the church office - 641-832-2913.

For a preview of the conference click here.

The change he experienced was that salvation came to him (literally His house!).  Jesus came to him.  The love of a savior visited him and chose him.  It isn't recorded that Jesus gave new commands to follow or chided him for his greed and sin.  Instead it was the kindness and love of a savior that drew him to Jesus.  It was the Gospel that changed Zacchaeus.  It was the good news that Jesus offered salvation not through a new law to follow but through His life laid down for many.  The Good News that God would chose to befriend and save him.

Here's a quote from Greear's book. 

Gospel change is the Spirit of God using the story of God to make the beauty of God come alive in our hearts.  Having our eyes opened to see our part in that story creates in us a love for God that is strong enough to finally drive out our attraction to other idols.  The Gospel cures us of fear, dissatisfaction and pride.

How do people truly change?  The Gospel.  Lasting change comes through experiencing the love and grace of God to us.  It comes from seeing the beauty of God.  It comes from recognize we are helpless to save ourselves.  We see that in the short example of Zacchaeus.

We are talking a lot this year about our "one".  About helping to reach that one person for Christ and taking them along the discipleship process with you.  Here are few reminders as you all do so.

1. Grace and love go much further than condemnation and judgement.  There is a place for truth-telling and honesty, but it's usually after showing folks the beauty of God.

2. God is already pursuing them.  And He's much better at it than you.  Trust his plan and timing.

3. As you reach out to others, make sure that your own heart is continually amazed by the beauty of the story of God unfolding in your own life.  The more you treasure the beauty of God, the more winsome and attractive you'll be to those far from God.

4.  Don't stop praying.  I've seen some of the most hardened hearts trust Jesus and sometimes it took years to see Gospel change.

Remember that true change comes through the Gospel.  Get after it!

"In Christ, there is nothing I can do that would make you love me more, and nothing I have done that makes you love me less."

"Your presence and approval are all I need for everlasting joy."

As You have been to me, so I will be to others."

"As I pray, I'll measure Your compassion by the cross and Your power by the resurrection."

Let's be honest - it can feel awkward and forced to share our faith at times.  We often feel weird about doing it and often aren't confident how people will react.  One big emphasis that Prairie Lakes Church has for 2012 is our "One for One" challenge.  We are challenging each PLC'er to reach/invite/disciple one person in 2012 and invite them into a next step.

I recently read an article from Tim Gaydos, a pastor in Seattle, that I found helpful.  In the article, Tim gives seven tips for talking to your neighbor about Jesus.  You can read it here.

Share your faith with others this year.  Be bold.  Have courage.  But don't be awkward.