How to Shine Your Message to A Community Or Church Leader
OPENING PRAYER:
Jesus, I pray you give me the wisdom to speak into the leader or person that you have brought to my mind today.
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ”“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. John 3:1-5
REFLECT:
There may be a time in your life where you hear a message at church or in conversation you hear a pastor, church staff or a community leader speak about Jesus or Christianity in a negative or wrong light. This can be intimidating to think about correcting and confronting a person like this but we can do it confidently and follow Jesus’s example.
APPLY:
Jesus in the scriptures above is questioned by Nicodemus who is a prominent religious figure. Nicodemus was a well-known person who knew scripture and he was well versed. Many people wouldn’t dare question Nicodemus and his teachings. That’s not what Jesus does though, once questioned by Nicodemus, Jesus doesn't respond with a rude comment. Jesus speaks truth to him in a way that Nicodemus can understand.
We have the freedom to do this well because Jesus did it, in fact if someone is preaching something that’s false we should try and speak truth and life into them.
CLOSING PRAYER:
: Heavenly father, the person I thought of earlier, help me go to them in kindness and humility and speak truth into them. May they see you through Jesus. Amen.
CONTINUED READING:
John 3:9-16