1. A Simple Sermon for a Complex Time

2. Mat 11:28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am 6 gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 “ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

3. As I think about this I am wondering about goals. In ‘The lost art of discipleship Eims talked to a veteran missionary who has come to him (Leroy) to talk about his experiences abroad… I think our goals are simple, define the elder's area's of over- site and begin to settle in and pick some men to pour our lives into. It's really that simple. If we can't find men, then joining a small group or starting one is a good place to find a pool of people. There are also couples we can work with within the groups. I think to leave out the women is a mistake. We forget about Phoebe, Dorcus, Timothy's mother and grandmother and many others. I think it is very simple and we make it hard.

4. Spending time, that is the key. So, what if we are short on time? Well, it’s not a matter of making time, it’s just letting someone be a part of your life. It's about taking someone hunting and saying, “Hey I learned something today about God, check it out” and then hearing him say, "that's cool! Maybe it is one thing, then maybe another day it is a bunch. It's about calling up another and saying let's go for a ride and listen to someone on tape, or just talking about how to take care of kids.

5. Or going to college to help someone sign up for some classes. It's about saying to another, “Hey if you’re feeling lonely on Saturdays stop by and we will just hang out. It's about playing video games with another because that is where that one is and letting some of Jesus rub off on him. Maybe it is taking someone for an afternoon of doing whatever you do. Disciplining people is not 1,2,3 steps and you got a product. People are not products or employees. You can't put them in a box with a nice neat bow.

6. It’s about getting messy(that is the yucky stuff) but none of that is going to happen unless people trust you and that only happens by sharing your life. Is it hard? Ya it is sometimes, but most times it is not, it is just being you and letting someone else in far enough so that you have the right to say something, to help, comfort or correct. So buddy there it is. Let's just live quietly and let someone be a part of our life and give them Jesus, just simple stuff. We can't reach everyone and shouldn't but there are some we can reach, some who have our fit and we fit them because we connect in some way. Just let them be a part of your life guys, I think it is that simple.

7. How else are we to practice the one-anothers of the New Covenant? Rom 12:5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; Rom 14:19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

8. Gal 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Gal 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Eph 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

9. Eph 5:21 submitting to one another in the fear of God. Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 1Thess 4:9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 1Thess 5:11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1Pet 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

10. 1John 3:11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, There is no way this is possible with everyone, nor is it possible from a distance You gotta let someone in!!!!!!!