Pastoral Blog

The following is adapted from the Just Walk Across the Room sermon series; this segment is based on chapters 3-5 of the book.

Deciding to “just walk” is one thing, but knowing what to do once you reach the destination – the person standing on the other side of the room – is quite
another!  Living in 3D encourages Christ-followers to learn how to reach out to others effectively once they find themselves standing in the Zone of the Unknown. Awkward first meetings can grow into transformational friendships by tuning into the Spirit and by choosing to “live in 3D”:

• Developing friendships
• Discovering stories
• Discerning next steps

Too often, the trajectory Christians follow is that the longer they walk with Christ, the more isolated and insulated they become from the world they are called to reach. Instead of openly accepting and embracing people who are far from God, they snub their noses at anyone who isn’t already “in” the circle.

Living in 3D, Christ-followers find that the mission Jesus lived and died for can be fulfilled in their lives too: people who name the name of Christ can be God’s loving hands and active feet in a world that desperately needs to know God’s care. Christ-followers need to begin viewing every interaction as a potential friendship in the making – an opportunity to learn of another person’s journey, as well as to add value to that person’s life by naturally and appropriately sourcing the needs they reveal.

What do you think about the idea that Christians often times find themselves isolated from the world?  How do we avoid that?  What are ways that you intentionally try to develop friendships, discover their stories and discern the next steps you will take with the person you have walked across the room to?

- Pastor Matthew