What kind of reputation do you want to be remembered with? When people think of you what thoughts, emotions, and reactions would you hope that they’d have? Looking at the way you live your life right now, would these things be what people  remember you by? In the next week of our series Scoreboard, we see how everywhere Jesus went, He had a following of people because of His willingness and His reputation to help people everywhere. But can you say that you’re friends, family, and neighbors would describe you in this way? If you needed to move off your street, would you be missed? In this teaching, we’ll talk about why getting involved in impacting your community is one of the markers of someone growing in their faith.

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MESSAGE NOTES

Scoreboard: We have been in a series looking at different markers of someone growing in their faith. If I am truly growing closer to Christ, I am going to:

Be more Intentional in helping others find faith.Build strong Relationships with other Christ followers. Be Generous with what God has given me. Be Involved in our church family.  Be Devoted by setting a Godly example at home.

This week, we are talking about something that many of you have seen lived out by people in this room.  For some of you, it is the reason you came to Grace Church in the first place.

What we do corporately we want you to do individually.  Find a creative ways to bless your community.

Sixth Marker: Responsible – Blessing my community.

Jeremiah 29:7 Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare. Where you live right now (zip code) is no accident.  God has placed you there to be a blessing. 

Jesus is our example in the feeding of the 5000  (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9 & John 6)

Today we are looking at 3 ways Jesus blessed His community:

Jesus contributed to the well-being of those around him.

John 6:1-2 After this, Jesus crossed over to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias. A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick.”

Jesus had the reputation of helping people everywhere He went, and because of that people were drawn to Him.  They knew He would love them and help them in anyway He could.  

Are you known as a person who helps those in your neighborhood?  (Ask your spouse!) Would your neighborhood miss you if you moves?

A sign of a growing Christ Follower: I contribute to the well-being of my neighborhood.

How can you contribute to the well-being of those in your neighborhood?

Do you even know your neighbors?

Do you pray for your neighbors?

Jesus actively helped people around Him. 

John 6:3-13  Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him. (It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration.) Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.  Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?” 10 “Tell everyone to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. (The men alone numbered about 5,000.) 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. 12 After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, “Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they picked up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with scraps left by the people who had eaten from the five barley loaves.

This isn’t always easy.

The timing of helping people can be difficult. (John the Baptist) was just killed. The disciples just got back from teaching and healing and hadn’t even eaten. They were supposed to be on vacation. No money to buy food. No place to get enough to feed 20,000 people.

Two types of people: those that see problems and those that look for solutions. The disciples response was it’s not our job but Jesus said YES it is!

 Luke 5:18-19 Men carried their friend to Jesus

A sign of a growing Christ Follower: I actively help people around me. 

Jesus cared for the disadvantaged.

Jesus saw they were hungry.  Many no doubt struggled to feed themselves.  Jesus knew sending them away, like the disciples suggested, meant they may not be able to eat.  Jesus took responsibility for them. And because he did, the next day he talked to them about being the bread of life.

This has always been a part of God’s plan for his people to take care of the disadvantaged.

Leviticus 23:22 “When you harvest the corps of your land, do not harvest the grain along the edges of your fields, and do not pick up what the harvesters drop.  Leave it for the poor and the foreigners living among you. I am the Lord your God.”

James 1:27 “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” 

Regardless of your political stance on social issues, how we respond to people is a faith issue! Matthew 25 talks about helping those who are hungry, thirsty, naked & in prison

What we do corporately, we want you to do individually.

A sign of a growing Christ Follower: I care for the disadvantaged.

Take-Away

1. To be a blessing to your community you need to be intentional.  What can you do to care for your neighbors?

Never judge your problem in light of your resources; God has a plan.  You are the right person & right place.

Always put yourself in a position to do something, even if it’s something small.

God wants to grow your faith through serving your community.

Next Steps:  Go to our community page (thatsgrace.org/local) and see how you can serve your community.