We Outside!

Spiritual Privilege and Community

• Speaker expresses gratitude for the opportunity to speak in church.

  • Honored to be flown in by Medus and appreciates the community and journey of faith among attendees.

  • Acknowledges the impact of Pastor Robert and the church, emphasizing ongoing social battles and God's work through the church, especially in Dallas.

  • Expresses faith in the potential for a significant donation of $6 million during the service.

Opening Prayer

• Invites congregation to pray together, demonstrating humility and community focus.

• Key elements of prayer:

  • Acknowledgment of divine presence

  • Seeking personal encounters with God

  • Emphasis on being present and open to God's influence.

Personal Family Information

• Describes the speaker's family:

  • Wife: Amanda

  • Children: Jackson (10 years old, participates in multiple sports) and Roman (6 years old, recently saved, once struggled with behavior).

  • Reflects on the differences in their upbringing versus the speaker's childhood experience of church.

Childhood Church Experience

• The speaker reminisces about upbringing in an African Methodist Episcopal Church.

  • Highlights:

  • Characterized as primarily black church, welcoming to all.

  • Services start late, often stretching for hours with various choirs performing.

  • Testimony time was a significant and lengthy aspect of the service, illustrating communal sharing.

  • The emotional impact of testimony and community bonding experiences.

  • Transition in family circumstances after the father suffered a stroke, affecting income and church involvement, leading to a change in church experiences as the speaker attended a predominantly white church in high school.

  • Observations on differences in church cultures:

  • Timeliness and structure of white churches

  • New experiences like cafes and brunches associated with church gatherings.

Development in Faith Journey

• The speaker's faith experiences evolve through various church environments:

  • Highlights a mixed church experience in college, leading to an appreciation for diversity in worship.

  • Encounters within prosperity gospel church that emphasize generosity and the presence of God.

  • Reflects on the significance of individuals being offered an opportunity to become followers of Christ, acknowledging the universal necessity for healing.

Sharing Faith Beyond the Church

• Discusses the contrast between enthusiasm for faith inside church walls and reluctance to share it outside.

  • Highlights that a majority of individuals' time is often spent at work, yet many Christians feel insufficiently equipped to share their faith in professional settings.

  • References to Matthew 28:18 (the Great Commission), calling for active sharing of faith:
    > "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

  • Emphasizes that opportunities to witness may not come with explicit warnings and that one must be prepared to act.

Practical Applications of Faith Sharing

Walking in Wisdom

• Encourages walking wisely toward outsiders, fostering genuine relationships and avoiding aggressive evangelism (referencing Colossians 4:5).

  • Shares a personal anecdote of witnessing street preachers not utilizing wisdom in their approach to faith-sharing.

Embracing Jesus-Inspired Life

• Emphasis on living a life that naturally inspires curiosity about one's faith, demonstrating positivity and joy in daily life.

  • References to Mark 5 and 6, discussing the woman with an issue of blood who demonstrates faith and impacts public perception of Jesus' miracles.

  • Connects the notion of miracles and faith-sharing directly to workplaces and public spaces.

Three Ways to Share Faith

1. Through Wounds

   • Discusses sharing personal pain or struggles as a testimony to God's work.

   • Highlights John 4:15 as a narrative of vulnerability and authenticity leading to faith:

   "If you only knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink…"

   • Encouragement to share ongoing struggles rather than pretending to have it all together—a crucial aspect in building connections.

2. Through Work

   • Importance of embodying Christ-like attributes in professional settings, using second Corinthians 5 to illuminate being Christ’s ambassadors.

   • Suggestions for sharing faith at work include:

     • Be on time – It shows respect.

     • Give best effort – Excellence in work invites inquiries about the source of success.

     • Maintain positive body language – Attitude matters most.

     • Give credit – Share successes rather than hogging recognition.

     • Follow through on commitments.

     • Be open to coaching and learning.

     • Spread positivity about others.

     • Go beyond what's required – Work hard out of honesty and integrity.

   • Reinforces that building respect in work environments enables conversations about faith to naturally arise.

3. Through Words

   • Preparedness is paramount when sharing faith; one needs to always be ready to respond to inquiries about one's hope (1 Peter 3:15).

   • Encouragement to have go-to statements or questions ready, such as:

   • Asking service providers if there’s anything they need prayer for, demonstrating an openness to conversation about faith and life struggles.

   • Examples of personal experiences where this approach has led to deep conversations or ministry opportunities.

Concluding Encouragement

• Speaker calls for attendees to reflect on their spiritual journeys and readiness to share faith beyond church walls.

• An invitation for personal commitment to faith and acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord and Savior, creating an inclusive moment for connection and community prayer to affirm faith decisions.

• Observer reflection on the significance of congregants recognizing their collective potential to embody Christ's love, reaching both internal church members and the broader community.