As Pastor Josh winds down our Engaging With Purpose message series, based on Michael Frost’s Surprise the World, we encourage you to keep practising the habits that were taught and have included some extra resources to help keep you going …

BLESS – “I will bless three people this week, at least one of whom is not a member of our church.”

EAT – “I will eat with three people this week, at least one of whom doesn’t attend our church.”

LISTEN – “I will spend at least one period of the week listening for the Spirit’s voice.”

LEARN – “I will spend at least one period of the week learning Christ.”

SENT- “I will journal throughout the week all the ways I alerted others to God’s presence, character and culture.”

 

BOOKS IN OUR WESTHEIGHTS RESOURCE CENTRE

“Why Jesus Cross the Road: Learning to follow the unconventional travel itinerary of a first-century carpenter and his ragtag group of friends as they hop fences, cross borders, and generally go where most people don’t” by Bruce Main – If we are completely honest, all of us have places, situations, and people whom we would rather avoid. Yet in a world that was governed strictly by geographical, religious, and social barriers, Jesus was audacious enough to cross the borders that kept people in safe categories. He demonstrated that the God-following life is one committed to entering the lives and stories of all people―a life committed to the lost spiritual discipline of border-crossing. In Why Jesus Crossed the Road, Bruce Main shows how God can use your own “crossings” to change your life, and the lives of those you meet along the way.

“Beyond Awkward” by Beau Crosetto – Spoiler alert: Talking about Jesus is awkward. We love to share good news with the world. We tweet about a great new restaurant, we share pictures of our newborn child and we celebrate about receiving that sought-after promotion. We are evangelists for many great things. So why don’t we do the same with Jesus? It’s not hard to see that we bring our own anxieties and awkwardness into every evangelistic conversation. Not to mention the often vast differences between our experiences of God and religion and those of the people around us. And then there’s the inner awkwardness of our conversation partners, who are actively contending, even unconsciously, with the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Evangelism is awkward, yes. But on the other side of that awkwardness is something amazing: transformed lives, healed relationships, new vision, eternal life. After spending years working with college students and churchgoers, Beau Crosetto hasn’t solved the problem of awkwardness in evangelism. But he’s learned how to push through it and how we can set ourselves and those we love at ease as we enter into conversations of eternal consequence. Read this book and move beyond awkward into the most awesome privilege of God’s people: proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ.

“Social Networking” by Leonard Sweet – God came to earth to invite us, personally, into a relationship. And while Christians at times downplay relationships, the social-media generation is completely sold on the idea. In Viral, Leonard Sweet says Christians need to learn about connecting with others from the experts—those who can’t seem to stop texting, IM-ing, tweeting, and updating their Facebook statuses. What would happen, he asks, if Christians devoted less attention to strategies and statistics and paid more attention to pursuing relationships? The current generation is driven by a God-given desire to know others and to be known by others. Most of them, in seeking to connect in meaningful ways, have found a place of belonging that is outside the organized church. Why not bring the two together?

“Hospitality – Clues for the Clueless” – Do your palms start to sweat at the mere thought of having people over for a meal? How can Christians make their homes warm, friendly, and comforting places to welcome guests? You’ll discover: how to welcome people to your neighbourhood; ways to get to know neighbours without being intrusive; keys to staying calm before the event; creative icebreakers and conversation savers; how to get rid of a guest who stays too long.

 

ONLINE RESOURCES

Bullet journaling – https://bulletjournal.com/pages/learn

Five-Minute Journaling App for newbies – https://www.intelligentchange.com/pages/five-minute-journal-app

Videos by Michael Frost, talking about each habit:

Bless

Eat

Learn

Listen

Sent

SUGGESTIONS?

Email us if you have some other great ideas or resources on how to BLESS, EAT, LEARN, LISTEN, AND BE SENT! We’d love to hear from you!