One at a Time - Proximity Principle, Part 2

According to recent reports for billion people use social media regularly for billion.

That's over half the world's population, and yet experts tell us the world's number one social disease is loneliness today will learn how Jesus solves the loneliness problem that we can be a part. Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge with the mission of these daily programs is to motivate Christians to really live like Christian as most of you know chips are regular Bible teacher for rational discipleship ministry for this series is turn the mic over to a close friend file titled guest Living on the Edge before Kyle is the lead pastor at Southeast Christian church. The popular author and speaker was just a minute he'll pick up where he left off last time in a series one at a time by talking about the idea of closeness and how just being there for someone could pneumatically impact their life. But before we begin, let me encourage you to use our message notes while you listen will really help you get the most out of what you're about to hear download broadcasts to have that LivingontheEdge.org hapless news tab Phil notes what's going Kyle now for the second half of his talk. There something about proximity about being close.

There's ever a time where we need to be reminded of that.

I suppose this is the time because we become more more comfortable with isolation and doing light from a distance more more uncomfortable with people being too close to us more more aware when someone gets into her personal space and yet there's something about us that we have been made to live life in close proximity with others.

I was reading a New York Times article that a guy named Howell who had 700 friends on social media can remember. If it is Facebook or Instagram but had like 700 friends and pretty proud of that you will be really cool dude for the stories. A writer be really cool to get all 700 friends together the rights and on the evening in question. I took a shower and shaved the new pants and favorite shirt brimming with optimism.

I headed over to the neighborhood watering hole and waited and waited and waited and eventually one person showed up and one woman who showed up to meet Howell. He didn't know her. She was a friend of a friend. They talked for a few moments. She laughed.

He waited till midnight. No one else came. He ordered a beer and salt and he concludes his article with these words. 700 friends, but I'm drinking alone that captures where a lot of people are at in our world.

I was reading earlier this year were Elon musk, the world's richest human think these networks select $280 billion was you selling all of his homes and he talked a bit about why that the material possessions or have a distraction from what he really wanted to focus on with, but then he did this interview where he talked a little bit more and and here's what he said.

He said being in a huge empty house when there are no footsteps echoing through the hallways. How do you make yourself happy in a situation like that here someone is worth $280 billion but there's within him. This awareness that if you're living alone.

If you're missing out on proximity that is hard to find joy and so if you look at Jesus. He seemed to know this.

And sometimes it was someone who was wealthy like Zakia's Jesus just knew he needs to spend some time with me thanking us go to your house today for lunch and sometimes it was someone who was more of an outcast, like the woman at the well Jesus it's down has a conversation with her and admit ministry flowed from proximity and said I want sleep for a few minutes at a parable found in Luke 14's look at this quickly. This parable called the great banquet pencil for contacts. Jesus tells the story while he's having dinner at the house of one of these religious leaders and so he looks around. I think you're probably quite a few people invited but he looks around, and he recognizes that everybody there is a part of asserting social club. They'll have a certain status, religious status about them like it's excluded. Well, it's exclusive, and most of us really drawn to anything that's exclusive, but if somebody's advertising membership.

It's an exclusive mess not for everyone.

It's exclusive exclusive sees the world through this us and them category and we always want to make sure in the last category. And Jesus looks around and he sees that this is how these religious leaders are doing things like, it's, it's us there's no them and so he decides he's going to confront the situation and he says in verse well I was. I could've been there. Then he turned to the house guys their own party. When you put on a luncheon or a banquet and this is a hypothetical. This is a long lunch and I like this is what's happening. He said don't invite your friends, brothers, rough tips and its neighbors.

I was in there, but I think what's happening is if you had been there you would've looked around and eluded them like a lot since friends, his brothers, his relatives, his rich neighbors. So he says to the guy who thrown a party and invite all these people when either party. Don't invite all these people and it's awkward this part of us that them and that's that's how we try to structure our lives. We want to spend as much time as possible of people who look like us and talk like us and live like us to believe what we believe in people are comfortable with us and more comfortable with them.

People who can do for us or not just doing for them.

And Jesus says very directly.

Don't do that, for they will invite you back and that will be your only reward.

Here's what Jesus is doing really interesting. He's could listen. He is connecting your reward in heaven with the people you spend time with you on earth. I'm not. I'm not making that He's making a connection. I'm not saying he's saying that he's connecting your reward in heaven with the people you love, here on earth and and so it gets really awkward in that moment Jesus is instead invite the poor to cripple the lame and the blind and at the resurrection of the righteous in heaven.

God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you a row you need to invite a bunch of people who are not here subdividing out these people that some people who don't usually get invited and assist tense but there's this guy who's at the table is one of these people who doesn't like conflict if something like this in your life like your some people who like conflict you like some popcorn. This can be good.

There's other people.

There's other people who when conflict arises, they just feel the need to immediately make everything okay.

That's the sky. Verse 15 hearing this, a man sitting at the table and Jesus exclaimed what a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the kingdom of God talk about this instead. And Jesus decides us keep going on pushing a little bit more and so Jesus tells a story gives this parable a man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations when the banquet was ready, Hayes sent his servant to tell the Gascon.

The banquet is ready, but they all began making excuses all these people who had expected to be invited got invited but they start making excuses. One said I just bought a field unless inspected. Please excuse me.

Another said I just bought five pair of oxen I want to try mount that taken for test drive. Please accuse me another said, I just got married again, my wife will let me go.

So my faults are fault so they need to give these excuses. Each of the excuses are not rude and not hostile like there politeness is not a good time.

Right now every excuses the zip is a priority excuse every excuses I got.

It's not that I don't want to insist that this is more important to me right now. I think that when it comes to responding to the invitation.

Do life in proximity with God and other people tends to be the same like we may not talk about the five oxen, but it's a priority thing and Jesus in verse 21 continues with this story.

The servant returned and told his master what they had said in his master was furious and said go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town go to these places you don't usually go invite some people that you don't usually invite invite the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. This is an exclusive.

This can be inclusive ever go go everywhere invite everyone.

This is the one at a time approached proximity I got couple things I would just draw your attention to is that if you live this one at a time way living in proximity means being fully present means being fully present in your going to be engaged where you are. The disciples struggled with this like they could have a hard time seeing opportunities in front of them because they were focused on all these other demands and pressures at some I struggle with my my wife will sometimes say to me sometimes sweetly not always, but sometimes to say if you like your here but you're not present something like that season. The last service@and and she's right. I got I have. I don't do it on purpose by just have this within me, were most thinking about Simon was distracted with something. Something that needs my attention over here and so I'm around people that I love and love me around people where I've opportunities to encourage them and influence them that impact them. I'm not really presence not really there listening and not really engaged. I'm not I'm not thinking what would it be like to be them today. I'm not putting myself in their shoes or think about the context of their life and what's happening in their situation where I might be able encourage them, pointing to Jesus a little bit in my own world, distracted Jesus just had a way of being fully present. So, proximity means been fully present today. You can have a chance to do that, there's gonna be someone in your life that needs you to be fully present and when years show up that way your showing up like Jesus. So he left so he left. The second thing I would say that we see in this is that proximity means loving uninvited and overlooked people.

This is tough because it's it means caring for reaching out to people that you might normally do your best to avoid and some of us live very careful lives to make sure were never around anyone like this. Anyone that might drain us any mind that were always doing for them, but they never do for us.

We avoid places like this. We do our best suited to just keep those walls in place.

Jesus talks about poor people here. He's speaking in financial terms but the word is interesting because is literally translated as people without value.

Invite those people. So who is this for you, then maybe it's someone at work. They just quickly walked past it.

Did someone at school usually sits by himself at launch.

You avoid eye contact with them. Worried about what my duty or reputation may be someone in your neighborhood that is just think it's probably better than not not have a conversation with. Maybe it's a relative who's is always needing something and it seems like it is always are going out of their way to make a mess out of things and there's something powerful when we show up in proximity with people who can do nothing for us in return.

You might not get anything for that here, but there is a reward one day when you love the way that Jesus left that's more tells a story of subbing at the airport and knew she was at her dates coming in settled and there was an elderly man who's in a wheelchair and then he was. Looks kind dirty, unkempt see he is hair was long and become matted and then she just had this instinct was entered to cut it.

Give him some space to distance herself from him and she was caring for her next talk next speaking engagement and and she just fell this impression from God that she was forced to go talk to him and sees the goal.

This is a good time and she thought maybe she's pursued a witness to them, but then she had this impression from God that she was supposed to go brush his hair. She says that seems really weird to you.

It's usually weird to me.

That's never been something I've felt the Holy Spirit asked me to do before or since. But in that moment there was and she quickly dismisses Michelle you have a hairbrush and then yet she couldn't escape it. And so she went over to them and she said, as quietly she could draw much attention sir may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair this elderly man said what it wanted to say and she said I have the pleasure brushing your hair and he said the lady if if you expect me to hear you have to talk louder than that everybody's look in sir may I have the pleasure brushing your hair and he can't, guard by the question is if you really want to see you really want to but she said I'd be glad to. I just don't have a hairbrush. She said I have one in my back so she got on her hands and knees behind his wheelchair and she unzipped the strangers bag and she found a hairbrush and she sir brushing his hair she says she tells the story is not a lot of things that I do well but I've raised two girls I know a lot about brush out tangled hair.

She said I know this sounds strange but I never have felt that kind of love for someone I didn't know in my entire life. You know what that's like. I think if you're a Christ follower. You know exactly what she's talking about or conscious decides to put someone in your path and you love them and care about them and you don't really know why she brush out his hair color is nice and smooth and she's okay. This is the partner I need to talk to him about Jesus. Make sure this is where it's all going to show she said surge. You know my Jesus and he said yes I do. She was surprised by that. She thought the purpose was gonna be to introduce him to Jesus the man said, I've known Jesus ever since I married my bride.

She wouldn't let me get to know her until I got to know him this elderly man said that the problem as I am.

See my bride and them in months. I had to have open heart surgery out of town and she's been too ill to come see me.

I was sitting here thinking to myself, I'm gonna look like such a mess when I see my bride today.

Immediately best new okay this is what God wanted. She was happy to help. She still thought it was unusual because thought that the idea was probably to help somebody meet Jesus and a few minutes later she was boarding the plane when the airline hostess approached her tears in her eyes and said I saw what you did for that man you mind me asking, why did you do that and she said you know my Jesus and she's explained that this is the way that Jesus loves me so I know that I'm supposed to let other people that way. And Jesus says by this the world will know that you're my followers. By this, our story and the 14 ends with the servant going out and giving invitations to people who would not been invited.

But here's what happens next. As we wrap this up. After the sermon had done this. He reported there still room for more silver and white invite all these people, but there's still room for more.

As master said go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come so that the house will be full waffle house go find anyone you can so living in proximity means loving uninvited and overlook people and it also means going to unfamiliar and uncomfortable places. This is my challenge for this week to mix it up, to mix up your proximity usually go over here for coffee go somewhere else for coffee to go that place. The rest of this for this week usually go to the Scripture story go to different grocery store, and as you go I want to pray this prayer.

God help me to find myself in proximity with somebody that needs to be seen needs to be love needs to be cared for that help help me give you that opportunity.

And when you go to unfamiliar and uncomfortable places you'll probably be surprised at some of the one at a time. Opportunities that begin to come up. I think if you don't do that if you just can't stay in your bubble and you just can come here and he said your office and you go home and just around the same people and it is harder have the stories but when when you change up your proximity is amazing. Some of the one at a time, opportunities to begin to flow your listening to Living on the Edge with your finger up Kyle I the is been our guest teacher for this program proximity principle which is probably series one at a time. You will join us in just a minute to share his application for this message. Have you ever consider the remarkable impact Jesus's head on the history will think about it.

He lived over 2000 years ago and only had a small group of followers yet. Fast forward to today. Christianity is the leading world religion.

So what was Jesus secret in the series Kyle idled and reveals the unexpected simple practice Jesus use to change our world. Don't miss how you and I can continue the work he started one interaction, one conversation, one life at a time to learn more about the series or Kyle's best-selling book go to LivingontheEdge.org the Chip Ingram up or call us at AAA to 333-6003 will ship. Still with me in studio and ship you know there's a belief circulating in Christian circles nowadays that the practice of making disciples revolves around us and our abilities could you take a minute to dispel that belief and give us a more accurate picture of how we can engage those were lost. Well Dave I think the really is sort of this idea that you have to be a super Christian. I think discipleship actually has really been sorta warped into it's all these other Christians that I meet and how many studies that I do and how many Bible studies and in my theology and don't get me wrong, those things are really really important.

But two things happen one is that you never quite learned enough, you sorta get filled with all this information but we don't have any real relationships with unbelievers and the Pharisees basically got that one down.

And what Jesus showed them and is showing us to Kyle's book when the time is it discipleship certainly is about study and meeting in a group. I mean, we believe that with all of our hard but it's really about Christ living in us, moment by moment and allowing him to do what he wants to do as the spirit guides us as we connect with people that are far from God people that we don't have anything in common with people that look different talk different there a different color. There different political party there not from our side of town and Jesus constantly was intersecting with those people taking an interest in them one at a time building a relationship. Pulling down stereotypes and then what we would find is they came to know him and they came to grow in him, and I look back and I have to tell you I'm so glad someone did that for me and what Kyle's book has done for me. It is reminded me you don't have to have it all together. It's just one relationship at a time. It's one meal is one conversation it's one meeting is one small invitation to go to coffee go to breakfast have lunch play golf with someone far from God and then just be yourself and watch what God does fix trip will to order your copy of one of the time by Kyle idled and go to LivingontheEdge.org or call us at AAA 333-6003. Our prayer is that this tool will help you find simple ways to share the profound hope we have in Jesus with those who so desperately need to hear it again to get your hands on this book from Kyle visit LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA to 333-6003 Listeners tap special offers.

Now here's chip with some final thoughts on this message. As we close today's program. I was especially challenged by what Kyle said in terms of create proximity.

He said for one week.

Go someplace different. In other words, if you normally stop every morning you get coffee or if you sit at a certain place, you know, or take a certain path when you go to work or if you go to one grocery store, go to a different one this week, but for seven days.

Change your schedule change your rhythm and get proximity to people that you're normally not around. Now here's the deal. We often hear things like that. When we hear a teacher or a speaker and we not only say well that's that's interesting okay I don't want to be interesting. I want you to do it okay if you do it, I'll do it means starting today I'm gonna do it. I'm a pretty rhythmic person if you will. I get coffee at the same place and I even tend to sit at the same seat. Then I tend to drive the same pattern in you know I go to the 1 Grocery Store Way more than any of the others. So are you ready you and me for the next seven days. Let's do this and then I want you to walk-in and since you don't know where everything is at this grocery store I want you to meander that I want you to make eye contact when you check out what you look for people that look like they might be hurting or lost, or discouraged and nothing big were not gonna get weird but just, you know, maybe ask them for directions or how are you doing or how long have you been coming here I often say to people. How long have you worked here. I do that a lot and they tell me as well. How did you find this job all I want you to do this week is to start seeing people one person at a time and what happens when we are in our rights. If you will. We just say hi to the same people we just keep sitting in the same places and her eyes glaze over. But what I'm asking you to do is get close to some people that are different and just observe and silently prayed to God for them and introduce yourself or ask a question that causes you to see them as a real person and you just might be shocked that when you and I do what Jesus did I contact a genuine question. Genuine concern the Lord may open doors like never before. Would you do it. Let's do it together. Greek word ship will as we wrap up this program just a quick but important thought Living on the Edge depends on listeners just like you to help us continue to encourage Christians to live like Christians. So, would you consider partnering with us on the monthly basis so others can benefit from the ministry of Living on the Edge, you can set up a recurring donation by going to LivingontheEdge.org the chipping roadmap by texting the word donate to 741 41. That's the word donate to 741 41 thanks for doing whatever the Lord leads you to do join us next time as our guest teacher. Kyle idled and continues his series. One of the time until Viv this is Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge