For Anyone, For Everyone, For You

August 17, 2021

I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me.                     Psalm 142:4 NLT

In my opinion, this is one of the saddest verses in the Bible. Can you imagine this awareness? “No one cares a bit what happens to me. No one cares whether I go to heaven or hell. No one is at all invested in me.” The King James Version says it this way: "No one cares for my soul." They may look great and apparently feel fine, but deep inside they wonder if anyone cares about them, at least in the most important ways.

Following Jesus means that you are not in that group. When you have experienced His forgiveness of sin and have found meaning and purpose in your life, you are not only cared for and loved by Jesus, but you are part of a purposeful community of fellow Jesus-followers. You also want everyone you know to experience and share what you have. This desire is a clear sign that you really do know Jesus in a personal way. You have found out that Jesus makes life better, and He makes you better at life. You want everyone to know it. You know it’s not only for you, but it is for anyone; for everyone.

Because of COVID, many of these people who secretly feel uncared for are now open to spiritual conversations. We need to be aware and vigilant. Jesus said that when we follow Him, He gives us the exciting and fulfilling challenge of being fishers of men. They are all around us, and we have been empowered to find them and “catch” them.

Perhaps an even better description for our time and culture, of our responsibility and privilege, is that Jesus called us salt and light. Salt and light both have a tremendous effect on the environment into which they are introduced. Just as light dispels darkness and salt brings flavor and goodness, we can and are called to change our worlds, not by policies or programs but by living with people, investing in them, showing them what Jesus has done for us, and then inviting them into a personal relationship with Him.

You may be experienced at this, or you may need assistance. We want everyone to know this joy, which is why we are having Plus One Sunday on August 29. We have a great experience planned for you and all of your family and friends who you want to make sure know Jesus in a personal life-changing way.

We believe that besides coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ yourself, the most important thing you can do with your life is to give other people the opportunity to know Him too. So we have designed a day that will be a great first experience with us for anyone you care about. Besides the day itself, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to have conversations with the people with whom you are doing life. So you will notice that at each campus we have billboards to attract attention and help you start the conversation.

Your beautician, your barber, your favorite restaurant servers, the people you golf with, work out with, work with, your neighbors. Do you care for their souls? Here’s a great chance to show them that you care in a non-threatening, loving, easy way. An invitation to a great experience that may end up being their invitation to life that is truly life.

I hope we will not just see you, but we will see you Plus One on August 29.