Reading: Acts 1

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’” 

-Acts 1:8

We know this verse. It’s a common one. “This is our calling.” says so many people. I agree. Wow, Jesus tells us this. The text is red in those red print bibles. Jesus is very clear here.

Step 1. Receive the Holy Spirit

Step 2. GO SHARE THE NEWS THAT JESUS HAS SAVED THE WORLD

I LOVE  to talk about sports. Like wow, ask me anything about the NBA, NFL, Premier League, D1 Football, or D1 Basketball and I guarantee I will talk your ear off. Other people like to talk about music or work, or cars, and whatever else. But what I’m always wondering is where is the Jesus talk? I feel like yes there is a time for sports talk or music talk or car talk or whatever else...but why isn’t Jesus talk happening first or during the conversation? I’m not talking about when you first meet a person, sometimes slow and steady is the best way to lead a person to Christ (I recommend to pray the moment you meet someone for God to reveal a way to shine the light of Christ on them)...no, I’m talking about when we first get to Church or meet up with a small group or just someone who we know is a fellow believer. It’s always something small talk related first and then maybe Jesus gets mentioned. Jesus isn’t only for Sunday school and the Sanctuary, Jesus is for everywhere always. I would like to see us as Christians asking each other about how often we’re in the word or if Jesus has revealed anything to us that week. (we don’t have to share deeply...a simple yes or no is sufficient.)

I challenge you all (myself is always included in these challenges) to start your next conversation with a good Christian friend something like this “Hi, how has your walk with Christ been this week?” and I can guarantee you will have better conversations that hit deep to the heart with this person as you do this more and more. It might not work the first time but eventually, it will. Now, why this verse with that challenge? This is where things get intense...now that you’re comfortable with your Christian friends...maybe try a non-believing friend. Ask them how you can pray for them, and then do it, right there. Then give a good verse or something of encouragement and then talk your small talk if that’s where the conversation goes. Make disciples of all nations, I’ll use this verse again and go a completely different direction on it..probably soon, but this one is just as important.

Dear Jesus, help us to see how you want us to speak to our friends, co-workers, and families. Let’s not begin with angry political talks but instead to talk about positive Jesus related things or sad things that we can lift up in prayer. God we know you call us to make disciples of all nations and Jesus we just ask that we can do this and even make disciples of you out of friends, co-workers, and family members.

In your name, I pray, Amen.