This week we’re exploring this idea of “people of peace”.  Jesus sent his followers to various towns, and asked them find people of peace and go deeply in relationship with them, and not to go from house to house.  This was selective by design, and Jesus is okay with that.  Jesus focused on his 12 disciples, and sometimes even smaller groups, through much of his ministry.  Here he sends 72, not 72000.

Jesus sends them to focus on one family in each town.  Go deep into relationship with them.  He even says, if things don’t work out, move on.

But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. (Luke 10:10-12)

There can be all sorts of reasons why someone doesn’t want a close relationship with a follower of Jesus.  The authors of “The Art of Neighbouring” suggest they may be:

  • Too busy
  • Wary of certain people
  • Already relationally full
  • At a different stage of life
  • Afraid of exposure

They may not be your person of peace.  Not now, or ever.  They may be someone else’s person of peace!   But if they welcome you, are hospitable and friendly, invest in them, and they will invest in you.

Sometimes it’s obvious, but if it is not obvious, pray, and just dive in, meet people, see who pops up as generous, caring, patient, and hospitable.

Question: Who do you think might be a person of peace in your neighbourhood?

Ryan Sim - May 19, 2014

Monday - A New Idea - Pioneer People

We introduced our Pioneer Story series with the story of Steve Jobs. This may be because I just watched the film “Jobs”, that chronicles his life from starting the Apple company in a garage, and growing it to what we know today. There’s a scene where the filmmakers go to great pains to show a transformation in Steve. It’s the early days of Apple in a garage. He is angry, having found out his girlfriend is pregnant, and he’s told her to leave his life. He says it’s her problem, not his. We then find him enraged before a mirror, tucking in his shirt, tidying his hair. His face hardens. The next few scenes are designed to show us he’s isolated, hardened and hyperfocused on his success as a businessman. His anger is driving him now. One of his former friends explains to another ,”Steve changed.” This was not exactly a change to be copied in our own lives, that’s not why I tell the story! Steve Jobs accomplished great things, but at great cost. And the turning point, according to this film, was that day his girlfriend said she was pregnant. We’re going to explore a life transformation this week, but one that was ultimately for the good of the entire world, and those who were transformed themselves. This was the transformation that happened in Jesus’ followers when they received the Holy Spirit. With the resurrection of Jesus, they were transformed from terrified failures into emissaries on a mission. With the day of Pentecost, that we learned about last week, the Holy Spirit arrived and transformed them into confident speakers riskily challenging the status quo We’re going to see how that kind of transformation can happen with us. We want to explore those times where people say someone changed, not becoming a hardened, ruthless person, but changing for the better. Jesus still changes lives today, and it’s still up for debate among many whether that’s good or bad. People changed by Jesus are still disowned by families, shunned in workplaces, even killed in some places in the world. Following Jesus entails a transformation not to be taken lightly. Question: Have you ever seen Jesus transform a life? What changed in that person? Was it for the better or worse, in your opinion? What did they do?

From Series: Pioneer Story | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio

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