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The first Mother’s Day was celebrated in West Virginia in 1912. Mothers were to be recognized as an important part of our culture and lives. The heart of a mother is like a rare jewel. They love  their children during the worst and best of times.

A familiar Mother’s Day poem written in the early 1900’s is:

M is for the Many things she gave me,

O means only that she is growing Old.

T is for the Tears she shed to save me,

H is for her Heart of purest gold.

E is for her Eyes with love light shining,

R means Right and Right she will always be.

Put them all together, they spell MOTHER.
A word that means the world to me.

A mother’s love, guidance, and faith are all incredibly impactful on her children. As Abraham Lincoln shared, “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life” The encouragement of a mother is irreplaceable, and they deserve to be just as uplifted in return!

Moms have to wear a lot of hats during the week. They exhibit many different traits on a regular basis, like being patient, organized, optimistic, and flexible. So much of raising a family involves positive thinking while going with the flow, since the days can be completely unpredictable.  While this can make life interesting, to say the least, it also means that many moms could use regular encouragement and support.

I pray our mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers deeply feel the love of God on their special day and also the love and encouragement of family and friends.

This scripture seems to be written just for mothers.

“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:1-4 NIV)

Michael Kamplain

Friends & Family Day in Retrospect

1 Corinthians 3:8-15

Introduction

• Thanks to Everyone who made Friends & Family Day a Success! From those who invited, to those who prepared the building, decorated, made food, led worship – THANK YOU!
• There is a lot said in the Bible about self–evaluation, but not as much on a program/ministry level. However, Paul does address this in 1 Corinthians 3:8-18.
• Today’s Message will Consider Some Reasons I Believe last Sunday was a Success (and Some Applications for us).

I.   Christ was Exalted (Philippians 1:20).

In Sermon, Song Service, Worship, Invitations Themselves

II.  The Gospel was Preached (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).

Who Knows what Good will be Done?

III. The Church was Made Known (Ephesians 3:10-11).

Christ’s Church, Who We Are, Invited to Join.

IV.  Friends & Family Were Invited (Revelation 22:17).

Don’t be Discouraged. 10X Rule.  Build Habit.

V.   Fear was Overcome (1 John 4:18).

Fear of Inviting, Coming, Pandemic.

VI.  The Body was Strengthened (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Many Equipped, Involved, Goals Set and Accomplished.

VIII. A Communal Meal Was Shared (Matthew 8:11).

This Kind of Fellowship is at the Heart of God’s People.

Conclusion

• Of Course, There are Things we Could have Done Better. More Involvement. Earlier Start. More Area Canvassing.
• Nothing has to Stop because the Day has Past. Continue to Invite. Give your life to Christ. Rededicate your Life to Christ.

I want to thank everyone who made our Friends & Family Day a success!  Our purpose was to kick off our outreach for 2022.  In the messages preceding our special day we have discussed our mandate to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).  This involves finding the lost (going), converting the lost (baptizing), and teaching the lost (teaching).  This corresponds to pre-outreach, outreach, and post-outreach.  Friends & Family Day helped us with both pre-outreach and outreach itself. We have learned three models for making contact with people: attractional, missional, and personal.  Through our invitations we have sought both to create personal relationships and attract people to our worship and ministry opportunities.  Many of you used this opportunity to invite to nudge those closest to you and also reach out to your neighbors!

In this special day, we were able to practice many of these outreach strategies.  Today, I’ll be examining the success of our efforts.  It is my hope that these outreach practices will become habits for us!

Have a Great Week!  Joey

Introducing Boise Church of Christ

Acts 10:24, 34-43

Introduction

• We want to Extend a Very Special Welcome to all our Friends and Family Visiting with us Today! You are Here because Someone Loved you Enough to Invite you!
• We also Love you and want to be your Friend and Maybe at some point even Welcome you as a Part of our Church Family.
• More Importantly, God Loves You More than You Know! By Faith, we Believe you are here by His Providence.
• Today, I want to Introduce you to the Boise Church.

I.   We are a Christ Centered Church (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).

II.  We are a Disciple-Making Church (Matthew 28:19-20).

III. We are a Grace Oriented Church (Ephesians 2:8-9).

IV.  We are a Bible Believing Church (2 Timothy 3:14-17).

V.   We are an Independent Church (No Denominational Hierarchy).

VI.  We are a Church Led by Four Shepherds, Seven Deacons, Two Ministers, and Numerous Volunteers.

VII. We are a Church with Simple Membership Requirements (Acts 2:47).

VIII. We are a Church Involved in Various Ministries (Ephesians 2:10).

Conclusion

• Are You a Child of God?
• Do You have a Church Family which can Help You Grow?

Cornelius, a Roman centurion, was a seeker of the true God. God arranged for the apostle Peter to come and teach him.  Cornelius was ready for him.

Acts 10:24  The following day he [Peter] arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Cornelius knew Peter had a life-changing message about Jesus which he wanted to share with his friends and family.  That’s the reason you were invited by your friends and family to visit us.  We at the Boise Church believe we have a life-changing message.  Today, we want to introduce you to our church and to Jesus who saved us and made us a family.

I’ll be addressing this in my message, but we also have more detailed information available for you in our welcome pack so you can learn more about this family of believers.  Be sure to pick up one before you leave today and then join us for a potluck meal in your honor!

Welcome to our Family!  Joey

You Will Be My Witnesses

1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:8

Introduction

• The Death, Burial and Resurrection (DBR) of Jesus are at the Heart of Our Faith (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
• The DBR are Historical Facts Corroborated by Eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5-8).
• The DBR of Jesus are the Essence of the Gospel Message (1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Acts 1:8).
• How Can We be Witnesses of the DBR of Jesus?

I.   We Can be Witnesses of the God’s Grace.

• Through the DBR of Jesus, we Experience God’s Grace (Titus 2:11), God’s Love (John 3:16), and Jesus’ Sacrifice (Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
• We Witness, the DBR by Living the Story – We Share His Grace and Tell Our story.

II.  We Can be Witnesses of a Changed Life.

• Through the DBR of Jesus, We Experience Newness of Life (Titus 2:11-14; Romans 6:3-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
• We Witness the DBR by being his New Creation before the World – We Live by Kingdom Values.

III. We Can be Witnesses of the God’s Peace.

• Through the DBR of Jesus, we Experience the Peace of God (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:14-17; Philippians 4:7).
• We Witness the DBR by being – Instruments of His Peace.

IV.  We Can be Witnesses of our Future Hope.

• Through the DBR of Jesus, We Experience Hope for Tomorrow – Resurrected Body, Restored Creation, and Eternal Presence of God (1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Revelation 21:1-5).
• We Witness the DBR by demonstrating our Eternal Worldview.

Conclusion

• Are You a Witness of the DBR of Christ?
• Have you Responded to His Loving Sacrifice?

Jesus told his disciples,

…You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Jesus was addressing those who were eyewitnesses of his death, burial and resurrection.  The DBR of Jesus are the most significant events in human history because, through it, God demonstrated his love for his creation, forgave us our sins, and secured our eternal hope.  This is why the DBR is at the very heart of our faith.

My lesson today is how we can be witnesses of the DBR, even though we were not eyewitnesses to these actual events.  When we give our lives to Christ, we begin to experience the effects and significance of his DBR – God’s grace, a transformed life, peace with God (and others), and an eternal worldview.  It is to these experiences that we can attest.

Are you a witness of and for Jesus? Have you given your life to Christ?

I’ll say more in my message.  Joey

Witnessing

John 4:4-42

Introduction

• Outreach 2022: How the Boise Church Can Reach Out in 2022

1. 1. Making Disciples (Going, Baptizing, Teaching)
   2. Restoring the Erring
   3. Seeking the Lost (Attractional, Missional, Relational)
   4. Nudge Evangelism
   5. Neighboring is loving your neighbor as yourself.

• Two authoritative approaches to Outreach:

I.   Jesus’ Approach – Gentle Confrontation.

• Jesus Crossed Barriers (John 4:4-9).
• Jesus Used Natural Conversation (John 4:10-14).
• Jesus Was Flexible in His Approach (John 4:15-16).
• Jesus Focused on Her Life (John 4:17-18).
• Jesus Gently Corrected Her Misunderstanding (John 4:19-24).
• Jesus Pointed Her Toward Himself (John 4:24-26).

II.  Samaritan Woman’s Approach — Witnessing

• She Opened Her Eyes to Her Neighbors (John 4:28, John 4:35).
• She Told Her Story (John 4:39).
• She Asked a Thoughtful Question (John 4:29).

Conclusion

• Outreach is NOT One Size Fits All.
• Witnessing is a Powerful Tool Toward Leading Others to Jesus (John 4:39-42).
• Speak Like a Satisfied Customer!
• What is Your Testimony?

Sunday, I will be discussing two authoritative approaches to outreach from John 4.  The reason I emphasize authoritative is that we may not consider witnessing to be an authoritative approach because it deals with our subjective experience, i.e., “what Jesus has done for me.”  However, not only is it biblical, it is ideally applicable to our current culture.  Today, people distrust authority. Experience, practicality, and authenticity (what’s real) are what people trust.  Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman from the authority of his person; the Samaritan woman spoke to her village from the authority of her experience.  Both were effective.

We all have a story to tell.  Luke told Paul’s story once and Paul told it twice more in the book of Acts.  Paul alluded to his and his convert’s experience time and time again in his letters.  I’ll say more on Sunday.

Remember to be inviting people to our Friends and Family Day on April 24th.  We will be having a service geared toward visitors and a fellowship meal following.

I hope you will join us!  Joey

Neighboring

Matthew 22:36-40; Luke 10:25-37

Introduction

• Outreach 2022: How the Boise Church Can Reach Out in 2022
  1. Making Disciples (Going, Baptizing, Teaching)
  2. Restoring the Erring
  3. Seeking the Lost (Attractional, Missional, Relational)
  4. Nudge Evangelism
• Neighboring is loving your neighbor as yourself.
• Who is my Neighbor? Jesus described a man who was a neighbor.

I.   He “Saw” the Man (Luke 10:33).

II.  He Got His Hands Dirty (Luke 10:34).

III. He Was Inconvenienced (Luke 10:34).

IV.  He Befriended the Man.

V.   He Committed His Resources to his Wellbeing (Luke 10:35).

Conclusion

• Everyone is my neighbor.
• Everyone in Need is my neighbor.
• Neighboring begins with those Closest to you.
  Fourfold Plan:
  1. Stay in Your Neighborhood. Get to know your Neighbors
  2. Pray for Yourself & Your Neighbor.
  3. Play with your Neighbors. Exercise
  4. Say.   Witness.  Talk about Jesus.
• Are You a Good Neighbor?

I announced Sunday’s lesson would be on Neighborhood Evangelism, but that is really not a good description.  Neighboring is much more than an evangelistic strategy; it is about obeying what Jesus said are the two greatest commands – loving God and loving your neighbor.  Neighboring begins with those closest to you – your actual neighbors!  How well do you know your neighbors?  Of those who live in the eight closest homes/apartments to you, how many can you call by name?  Neighboring is moving from being strangers, to being acquaintances, to having relationships.  Neighboring is getting to know people well enough to know their hopes, their dreams, and their hurts. Neighboring is being willing to nudge them to see God at work in their lives, witness your faith, and speak the name of Jesus.  Neighboring is NOT a strategy for outreach; it is a strategy for loving, helping, and serving.

Many of the thoughts in this lesson come from The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside your Door. It is available in our library.  I recommend it highly.  I’ll say more in my message.

I hope you will join us!  Joey

Nudge Evangelism

Matthew 13:3-8; 1 Corinthians 3:6

Introduction

• Outreach 2022: How the Boise Church Can Reach Out in 2022
  • Making Disciples (Going, Baptizing, Teaching)
  • Restoring the Erring
  • Seeking the Lost (Attractional, Missional, Relational)
• Nudge Evangelism is a Primarily Pre-Evangelism & Relational.

I.   What is Nudge Evangelism?

• To nudge someone is to prod someone gently in order to draw their attention to something.
• Nudge Evangelism is prodding people to pay attention to the mission of God in their lives and to the necessity of responding.
• Two Farming Metaphors from Scripture
  • Evangelism as Seed Planted (Matthew 13:3-8)
  • Evangelism as a Cultivating Process (1 Corinthians 3:6)

II.  Nudge Evangelism Assumptions

• Jesus is Alive and Active in Our World.
• Followers of Jesus Know Jesus Well Enough to Recognize Where He is Active.
• Evangelists Nudge Others to Wake Up to the Activity of Jesus in their Lives through Many Small Nudges (Small Saves) that Have a Cumulative Effect.

Conclusion

• Everyone you Meet is a Potential Nudge, if you pay attention.
  • Every Brush is a Bush.
  • Every Worst is a Juncture for
  • Ever Best is
  • Every Noticer Needs a Nudge.
• How is Jesus Alive and Active in Your Life?

Making disciples involves preparing the soil, planting the seed, and nurturing to maturity. Seeking the lost would fall more into the preparing the soil category. Last week we discussed three strategies for seeking the lost – attractional (come and see), missional (go and serve), and relational (stay and play) and how we as individuals can participate. Understand, in this series I want to emphasize that outreach can take many different forms and that we all can play a part in making disciples.

This week I want to discuss another “preparing the soil” approach – Nudge Evangelism. This phrase was coined by Leonard Sweet in his book, Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God who is Already There.  Check the library. Jackie is trying to get us this resource.

God is already active in the lives of those around us.  Nudge Evangelism seeks to gently prod others to see his activity and respond.  A series of small nudges over time to those we encounter in life can eventually lead them to the Lord.  I’ll say more in my lesson.

I hope you will join us!  Joey

Seeking the Lost

Luke 19:1-10

Introduction

• Outreach 2022: How the Boise Church Can Reach Out in 2022
  1. Making Disciples (Going, Baptizing, Teaching)
  2. Restoring the Erring
  3. Seeking the Lost (Luke 19:1-10)
• How Can we Seek the Lost? Three Models

I.    The Attractional Model – Come and See (John 1:45-51)

• Advantages of the Attractional Model
  • Everyone can Participate – Invitation Evangelism.
  • It Encourages
  • It Helps Create a Seeker
• Disadvantages of the Attractional Model
  • Can Devolve into Consumerism.
  • Someone Else will Always be more Attractive.
• How the Boise Church can Benefit.
  • Invite Friends & Family.
  • Interact with our Guests.
  • Involve

II.   The Missional Model – Go and Serve (Mark 10:45)

• Advantages of the Missional Model
  • It is How Jesus Ministered (Acts 10:36-38).
  • It Attracts both Servants and the Served.
• Disadvantages of the Missional Model
  • It Requires Active Participation in Ministry.
  • Responses aren’t Always Sincere (John 6:26-27).
• How the Boise Church can Benefit:
  • We Already Have Active Ministries: Love, INC, BCA, Trail Life, AHG, BSC, Camp Ivydale.

III.  The Personal Model – Stay and Play (1 Thessalonians 2:8-12)

• Advantages of the Personal Model
  • Ready made Contacts
  • Outreach Requires Relationships.
• Disadvantages of the Personal Model
  • It Requires Opening ourselves to New Relationships.
  • We May Fear Transitioning to Spiritual
  • In our Fun, we may Forget the Son.
• How the Boise Church can Benefit:
  • We all have Relationships at Home, Work, Play, School, Day to Day Activities.  Introduce them to Jesus.

Conclusion

• Making Disciples involves Seeking the Lost.
• Are You Seeking the Lost?
• Are You Lost?

Christians have the imperative to “make disciples.” People are lost and need Jesus, but how can we identify these individuals and create an interest in learning more about him.  Jesus commanded us to “go.”  The idea is that we should actively search for those who are receptive to the gospel.  Jesus himself said that he came to “seek and save” the lost. (Luke 19:10).  Effort, even strategy is involved in this search.

In my lesson Sunday, I will discuss three strategies or models whereby we can seek the lost: attractional, missional, and personal.  The attractional model is when we seek to attract people to our worship services and various church ministries.  The missional model involves ministering in people’s lives on the basis of their felt needs but also sharing the gospel with them.  The personal model assumes we all have friends, neighbors, co-workers, school mates, day to day acquaintances/interactions with whom we can relate and share our faith.  I believe all three of these models are necessary because they have their own strengths and weaknesses.

I hope you will join us!  Joey

Restore the Erring

Galatians 6:1-5

Introduction

• Making Disciples is More than Baptism.
  • Jesus said preparation must be made – going.
  • Jesus also said we must teach them to observe all things he commanded.
  • This includes restoring Christians when they sin.
• Galatians 6:1-5 teaches us…

I.  Christians Can be and Often are Caught up in Sin (Galatians 6:1).

• Sometimes Sin Overtakes Us (Galatians 6:1).
• Sometimes We Wander Away (James 5:19).
• Sometimes We are Entangled & Overcome (2 Peter 2:20).

II.  Erring Christians Need to be Restored (Galatians 6:1).

• Later State Worse than First (2 Peter 2:20-22).
• Soul Death Awaits Them – (James 5:19-20).

III.  Christians Have Responsibilities toward Each Other (Galatians 6:1, 2).

• Bear Each Other’s Burdens – Preventative & Corrective Action.
• We must Mend, Turn Around, Bring to Repentance.

Conclusion

• Action Must be Taken with Care
  (Galatians 6:1-5). “Restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”
  • For the Sake of the Erring.
  • For Your Own Sake.
• Are You in Need of Restoration?

Last week we explored the command Jesus gave us to “make disciples.” In this command Jesus used three participles to describe how the disciple making process is accomplished: going, baptizing, and teaching.  All three are required and we all have gifts in one or more of these areas.  There is no excuse not to be about this task!

This week we will be examining another command given by Paul through the Holy Spirit – Restore the Erring.

Galatians 6:1-2  Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.  ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

We must not forget to encourage and restore those who were once among us, but have since chosen to leave their relationship with Jesus.  I’ll say more in my lesson.

I hope you will join us!  Joey

Make Disciples

Matthew 28:18-20

Introduction

• The Marching Orders for the Church: To Make Disciples
  1. Not Optional (v. 18)
  2. Not One Dimensional (vv.19-20)
• Three Dimensions of Disciple Making

I.   Going – Pre-Outreach

• Praying – Ask to See the Opportunity.
• Preparing – Make yourself ready for the task.
• Participating – Be involved in people’s lives.

II.  Baptizing – Outreach Proper

• Conversing – Tell the Good News.
• Confronting – Help people see their need.
• Converting – Explain what it means to respond.

III. Teaching – Post Outreach

• Modeling – Show them how a Christian acts.
• Mentoring – Teach them how a Christian acts.
• Motivating – Encourage them to act like a Christian

Conclusion

• God Expects you to Make Disciples.
• God Has Equipped you to Make Disciples.
• There is no Excuse NOT to Make

This week we begin a new series of lessons entitled, Outreach 2022.  It is our prayer that Covid-19 is becoming less of factor in the world and visitors will be more comfortable returning to church services and functions. This provides us with an opportunity to be more active in our personal outreach to friends, family, and colleagues.  These lessons are designed to motivate and equip us for the task.

The command to make disciples is not optional for the child of God. Jesus gave us our marching orders in Matthew 28:18-20.  We are to “make disciples of all nations.”  A disciple is a follower of Jesus.  Three participle phrases modify this command – going, baptizing, and teaching. This is how we are to make disciples.  I have summarized these as pre-outreach, outreach, and post-outreach.  We are to seek the lost, convert the lost, and help mature the saved into faithful disciples of Jesus.

There is something we all can do in this process. Let’s explore this together!  I’ll say more in my lesson.

I hope you will join us!  Joey