5 Keys to Starting a Church and Changing a Community

Matthew 9:9-13 NLT
9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.
10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?[d]”
12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’[e] For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

5 KEYS...

1. When Jesus tells you to do something, do it! (v.9) Matthew did not hesitate. He got up and followed Jesus.

2. Once you’ve decided to do it, do it right with all your might! (v.10) Matthew not only said he was going to do something, he did it. By that evening he not only had Jesus and His disciples over for dinner, he had all his rowdy friends over to. He jumped in with both feet!

3. Tell the naysayer’s to go jump in a lake! In other words, don’t let other peoples opinions keep you from doing what God has called you to do. (v.11) Unfortunately, some of the most criticizing people can be other Christians or even other churches. Just proves we are ALL sinners! Jesus was constantly questioned by the “religious people”, yet He remained focused on the goal of His Father’s work.

4. Remember the mission - Connecting people to the Truth that is Christ so that they might gain the Hope of all eternity (Living Bridge’s mission statement). Our goal is to see people in this community find the hope of Jesus Christ. We do this by building relationships, showing mercy, caring for them, loving them, and thinking better of them than we do ourselves… We do this by dining with them even when the Pharisees look down on us for doing so. We want to build bridges with the people of this community that lead them to the “Living Bridge” Jesus Christ.

5. Recognize the Harvest, Work the Harvest, and pray for others to join in on the Harvest. (Matthew 9:35-38) What happens to a crop that doesn’t get picked? It withers away and dies. Time is not on our side, and we are losing more and more harvest every day. We must be willing to work the fields ourselves and pray for God to send more workers. “He who began this work will be faithful to complete it”. Philippians 1:6

Matthew 9:35-38 NLT
35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”