Who is God calling us to be?
God is calling us to be real people…
- who admit our need and ask for help
…with real faith…
- that is consistent and bold
What is God calling us to do?
…making real impact
- planting churches
- helping the poor
- sharing our faith
The righteous care about justice for the
poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
(NIV)
The good-hearted understand what it’s like
to be poor; the hardhearted haven’t the
faintest idea.
(The Message)
Proverbs 29:7
Who is God calling us to be?
God is calling us to be real people…
- who admit our need and ask for help
…with real faith…
- that is consistent and bold
What is God calling us to do?
…making real impact
- planting churches
- helping the poor
- sharing our faith
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here
to be salt-seasoning that brings out the Godflavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness,
how will people taste godliness? You've lost
your usefulness and will end up in the
garbage.
Here's another way to put it: You're here to be
light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.
God is not a secret to be kept. We're going
public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I
make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm
going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm
putting you on a light stand.”Matthew 5:13-15
(The Message)
Who is God calling us to be?
God is calling us to be real people…
- who admit our need and ask for help
…with real faith…
- that is consistent and bold
What is God calling us to do?
…making real impact
- planting churches
- helping the poor
- sharing our faith
Definitions of Compassion:
“An emotion that is a sense of shared
suffering, most often combined with a desire
to alleviate or reduce the suffering of
another; to show special kindness to those
who suffer.”
“Unconditional acceptance that endures with
action and courage.”
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting
a harder battle.”
Plato
“We must learn to regard people less in
the light of what they do or omit to do,
and more in the light of what they suffer.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Letters and Papers from Prison”
Compassion is caught, not taught.
Three aspects to consider:
• Statistics about our region.
• What does Scripture say?
• What are some practical takeaways?
In Sedgwick county:
 21% of families live below the poverty
line.
 60% of kids in the public school system
receive a free or reduced lunch.
In Wichita:
 Almost 75% of kids in the public school
system receive a free or reduced lunch.
In the neighborhood that straddles Kellogg
just west of the Arkansas River, the poverty
rate has grown from 9.4% to 33.6% in the
past decade.
In the Planeview area 40% of residents live
in poverty.
Colvin Elementary School has over 900
students:
98.7% of the students receive a free or
reduced lunch.
The average monthly income for a
family of 5 is approximately $800.
Give freely and spontaneously. Don’t have a
stingy heart. The way you handle matters like
this triggers GOD, your God’s, blessing in
everything you do, all your work and ventures.
There are always going to be poor and needy
people among you. So I command you: Always
be generous, open purse and hands, give to
your neighbors in trouble, your poor and
hurting neighbors.
(The Message)
Deuteronomy 15:10-11
Practical “take-a-ways”
Beginning level
• Pray – that God would open your eyes to
see the needs of the poor/suffering and
that He would give you compassion for
them.
• Read a book – “The Hole in our Gospel”
(LifeGroup Study – see James)
2 free books at Connect Table
Practical “take-a-ways”
Intermediate level
• Get involved through our ministry partners
Stop, talk, connect with one of the groups
in the ministry fair in the lobby.
• Observe – Drive down to the SE side of
Wichita or Planeview; observe and pray.
Practical “take-a-ways”
Advanced level
• “Adopt” a Child through World Vision or
Compassion International.
• Research ways to defend justice for the
poor.
• Trip – take a trip to a third world country.
• Business – start a business hiring poor.
Who is God calling us to be?
God is calling us to be real people…
- who admit our need and ask for help
…with real faith…
- that is consistent and bold
What is God calling us to do?
…making real impact
- planting churches
- helping the poor
- sharing our faith
Wichita Metropolitan Area population
500,000 people
=
NO Church Affiliation
266,500
(53.3%)
(46.7%)
Church Affiliation
233,500
Of the 233,500 who affiliate themselves
with a religion or church:
Ch. Christ / Christian 7.2%
No Affiliation
Methodist 12.8%
S. Baptist 15.1%
Catholic 29.6%
Other 35.3%
35,260 people “claim” they are with the S. Baptists.
The 2012 average combined attendance
No Affiliation
in all 52 of
the SBC
churches
in the
Wichita
area was
approx.
8,000.
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and
loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninetynine in the open country and go after the lost
sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it,
he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes
home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors
together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have
found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same
way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over
one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine
righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
(NIV)
Luke 15:4-7
Practical “take-a-ways”
Beginning level
• Pray – that God would open your eyes to
see people around you who need Jesus.
• Write down - a 3 most wanted list.
• Read a book – “Just Walk Across the Room”
(LifeGroup Study – see James)
2 free books at Connect Table - see Jana!
Practical “take-a-ways”
Intermediate level
• Class “Easy Ways to Share Your Faith” –
begins March 30, 9:45 in Activity Center
In the past, I have been apprehensive about
approaching others to discuss my faith as I
always felt like if I started a conversation with
someone that I needed to be able to answer
any question that they may have. The class
taught me that sharing my faith involves being
hospitable towards others, asking questions,
and most importantly listening. Through this
class I have come to realize that people just
want you to be real and don’t expect you to
have all of the answers when you share your
faith with them.
Jack Boucher
“Easy Ways to Share Jesus” is just that. It’s
a reminder of natural ways to engage
someone in conversation that lead to a
spiritual subject and an opportunity to
share your faith and experiences.
Harold Franz
Practical “take-a-ways”
Intermediate level
• Class “Easy ways to share your faith” –
begins March 30, 9:45 in Activity Center
• Ask your waiter/waitress for a prayer request
• Connect with your 3 most wanted list - social
Practical “take-a-ways”
Advanced level
Invite – a friend for Easter and then take
them out for coffee and ask them what they
think.