About Outward October
Being outward focused is a posture, and matter of the heart.
And being outward focused is not strenuous or hard, rather it is natural. - Maybe this is something you can do in your neighbourhood around your house, walking or even driving past the streets where you live. God has given you that space to be His light, a light not to be hidden under anything. - - - Perhaps it is something you can take to the area around the Church, and take some time each day, and either walk or drive up a street in the Stirling village, and pray for each household and business, that hearts would turn to Jesus. Or perhaps it works at your school or place of work, during a lunch break – to move around the area and pray for workers for the ripe harvest.
What about giving 5 minutes before you do your groceries or that trip to the bank or post office - walk around the area and pray for people you see, pray for doors to be opened to the Gospel. And who said walking was mandatory? Sitting and being works too! - Sit in the mall area, and pray for people as they walk past. - - - Sit in the park or street side area, and pray. Sit in your front porch rocking chair, and pray. Even better, sit with a cuppa in your favourite Café and pray for everyone you see walk in the door.
But there must also be the more overt, in real life action. Outwardness needs a body!
We are a church who Make a Difference everyday in every generation in the name of Jesus.
Our church mission statement can be understood by breaking it down into three parts of action: Make a Difference…everyday - - - - - This means we seek everyday, we anticipate, we expect, we pray and believe for an opportunity to make a difference each day – not seasonally – but daily
And that leads to the question – what does difference mean? What difference should Jesus make where you find yourself each day? That difference. Jesus in you, where you are. A Christlike attitude, posture, action and effect!
A prayerful heart that seeks Jesus in every moment – even at the checkout, on the freeway and in the community spaces – Jesus – that will make a difference. What would Jesus do and say? A better new creation believer question is: o Lord, what would you have me do today? Lord, who would you have me speak to today? Lord, I believe today that the harvest is ripe, send workers Lord…Send me!
In Every Generation - - - - This means that Jesus is near all generations, young and old. There is no barrier to the good news, age and stage is not something we use to say I reach the young people – or I reach the old people. Or I am old, so I reach the old people! No. People are people, and age is not a factor in the Kingdom. We seek to reach every generation for Christ. We are kingdom minded for the generations.
In the Name of Jesus - In the name of Jesus is that name which we speak and act. - - It is that name which we have authority to speak to both flesh and blood, and the invisible. It is by that name we pray and seek opportunity for the Good News. It is by that name we dare to believe that the Holy Spirit is at work before me – preparing the way for goodness and kindness to work, and the opportunity to answer a question for the hope we have.
It starts and finishes with a heart full of Jesus – let it be in my heart Lord! It starts with prayerful expectation – “Lord, I give myself to this shared mission of the gathering of saints I belong to known as Stirling Family Church”. It starts with a desire for the demonstration of the gifts of the Spirit. It is the attitude of anticipation of our eyes and ears, being led by the Spirit. And it’s a mission because it always requires taking joy in obedience to the Spirit; and the overwhelming delight in the witness of salvation!
