The Easter season is fast approaching. We are anticipating an awesome time as we prepare to celebrate our risen Saviour. There will be two services. The first one will be on March 30th, Good Friday, at 10:00 AM. This will be a shared, multicultural service with New Life, New Life Korean, and Zion Chinese CRC. Then, the second service will be on Easter Sunday which is on April 1st this year (no, that is not a joke)! However, here at New Life, Easter Sunday is also “Invite Sunday.”
During the weeks leading up to Easter, we are taking about the value that we as a community share for “nurturing relationships for gospel encounters.” God has put relationships in each of our lives with people who desperately need to hear the good news that this season brings. This week, we would like to take the opportunity to share a few practical tips for connecting with those unchurched people that God has put in our lives:
- Use the giftings that God has given you. If you have the gift of hospitality, take a plate of cookies over to a neighbor or invite someone over for coffee.
- Take the opportunity to do random acts of kindness for people and then let the Holy Spirit lead in the conversations that follow.
- Pray that God will give you opportunities to have conversations with people at work or in other places of connection. The Holy Spirit is very faithful to lead in these situations. Often times a unique question will be asked or a comment will be made that can lead conversations in spiritual directions.
- Look for Holy Spirit led moments wherever you go. Let the compassion you have for others spill out into your world. Look for people who need a touch of healing or who are in distress. Then offer to pray for them. Jesus is at His best when you are reaching out to those that He loves.
In all of these situations, there is one thing to keep in mind: be yourself. Don’t try to conjure up things, led Jesus lead you. You are the only person who can carry His heart for your world. Let His heart lead you as you release His love into the world in which you have influence.