I’m not the guy that has people getting saved in supermarket aisles or a stranger in the park get on his knees and give his heart to God.

However, despite sometimes being too comfortable and shy, I have made a decision. Although I am not naturally inclined to reach out to unchurched or the lost, I made this choice: to see the city of Brisbane as a missions field that God has sent me too. I have made it my mission to reach the lost.

I am now constantly inviting people to church. I personally invite people, I use Facebook, I give out church invite cards, and just last week I had 2 people at church I had invited. I have found if you are willing to step out and ask, that people will respond.

Matt 9:35-38
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

When Jesus saw the people he was moved deep down inside with a compassion for the lost. Amidst the chaos of the world this one thing moved Jesus the most – the lost.

Even in Jesus’ greatest moment of need on the cross, He was witnessing to the thief next to Him!

Think of someone you can reach out to and invite to church this week.

Make this choice with me: I will reach the lost.

We are always looking for new and creative ways to equip people to invite their friends to church.

It is out of that desire that we have designed some great invites for you to use on Facebook.

Basically, this is a way for you to invite a friend to “sit with me on Sunday” at church.

To access the invites, go to our Facebook group for Lifeplace and look under photos. From there, you will notice one of the photos has step by step instructions on how to share a photo with a friend. There a number to chose from, including ones specifically for both West End and Carindale.

Our Facebook group can be found by clicking this link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=61392193567

Go ahead and try it – it is so easy and quick, and it is the perfect way to invite a friend to church.

Why not try someone right now and invite them to church this Sunday!

Here are some of the invites available:

Sit with me on Sunday

Have you ever heard this: The church should be doing more of this ____(X)____? It could be: Feed the poor, witness more, worship more, pray more, give more, get more, have more grace, have higher standards, love the broken…

The list goes on.

It is so easy to say that and then walk away not actually doing anything about it.

Whenever we expect “the church” to do something, let’s remember that the church is only as effective as the individuals that make it up. In other words, let not expect somebody else to do something that we are actually called to do.

I believe in the institution and corporate gathering of church. But I am convinced that we will only be effective if every person takes ownership at the personal level.

There is literally thousands of Christians in the world today that are paralyzed in their faith because they are waiting for “the church” to do what they are called to do.

They shortcut their potential by arguing – “The CHURCH needs to do it.”
Instead of personalising their faith by thinking – “I SHOULD DO IT.”

Here are some things that are individual, no one else can do these things for you:

• Loving people
• inviting your friends to church
• reaching people
• helping others

So next time you have an idea or find yourself thinking:

• The church should have more prayer, say “I can have more prayer”
• The church should reach people in the community, “I can reach someone”
• The church should reach more unchurched people “I can reach more unchurched people.

YOU are the Church!

We all have a choice to make…

Will life just be about me? My dreams. My desires. My happiness. Or am I prepared to live a life that touches other people? Will I change my perspective and stop looking at just myself?

This is where transformation can truly take place in an individual’s life: moving from a mirror to a window.

Mirrors – we look at.

We can have a mirror syndrome. How do I look? How are my clothes? Look at all my amazing accomplishments.

Windows – we look through.

We need more people to live with a window perspective. How can I help you? What can I do for someone else? How can my circumstances in life benefit others?

Too often we put ourselves at the centre, and use God as our genie when we need something. Yet Christianity is only truly lived out when we forget ourselves and love others.

You can make a difference in other people’s lives. It is your calling in life. Everyday you are surrounded by people. Make a difference. Make a decision. A choice. Start a new perspective today!

We all have a choice – will we spend all our time with a mirror perspective, or will we look outside of ourselves and have a window perspective?

Here is the greatest injustice in the Bible. By one man’s sin we all have sinned (Adam). Seems unfair doesn’t it.

However, think about this: the second greatest injustice in the Bible – By one mans death we all have life (Jesus).

In other words, the same formula that brought sin is the same formula that brings life!

Through the cross, Jesus made it possible for us to connection with God again.It is so easy to forget about the main aspects of the Bible. We can get caught up in all kinds of secondary issues, and get tied up with the business of life we allow the vital fundamentals to fade into the night of forgetfulness. Let’s remember the basics.

Jesus made a way:

1. He Died in Our Place:
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8

2. He Rose from the Dead:
“Christ died for our sins… He was buried… He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures… He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred…” I Corinthians 15:3-6

3. He is the Only Way to God:
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’” John 14:6

What is the cross? It is a symbol of death but also a symbol of God’s love for humanity.

However, for us it is an image of what it means to be a Christian. We all have to die to ourselves. In other words, the kind of life where you are the final authority and your happiness is the most important thing – that needs to be replaced with this:

God and the Bible are the final authority in your life, and living for God is the most important thing.

Jesus made a way, so take up your cross and follow him!

We all have 168 hours in a week. Ok, so I have 167 once you take out watching the occasional Seinfeld re-run.

The Australian revealed we spend 13.7 online hours per week, and 13.3 hours watching TV.

Out of the 112 hours we are awake each week, Australians spend 89.2 hours a week consuming media, including laptops, phones, etc.

I think about my own life. Wow – a lot of time in traffic each week. Flicking between TV channels trying to find something is also a habit of mine!

Eating – well add a bunch more time there. Chasing after my little boy Houston – he keeps us all running all day!

Here’s what’s interesting to me as a pastor, and that is people claiming they are too busy for church.

At Lifeplace our meetings are about an hour long. Let’s say with drive time and fellowship, it actually takes up 2 hours… that is 1.1% of your week.

It’s a fraction of the time you spend on Facebook or TV or ironing or most other things.

Catch this: it is this 1.1% of your week that is vitally essential to your life.

Are you willing to invest 1.1% of your life into God’s house? When you think about it, it’s really the least we can do.

Now, off to use my Iphone to access my Facebook that’s linked to my blog to answer comments

2  Timothy 3:14
But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.

We live in a time where one of the most important things is staying true to the fundamentals.

Remaining faithful to church is a key to many other areas of your life. Faithfulness in marriage, to your friends, your work, your ministry, to God, can all be affected by your attitudes and convictions toward church.

Here is some key non-negotiable of church life we must remain faithful to:

• Faithful to worship in church
• Faithful to hear the Word in church
• Faithful to small groups
• Faithful in serving others
• Faithful to building the church
• Faithful in tithes and offering

A life that pleases God is a life dedicated to consistency. Steadfast. Dependable. Unwavering. Even in the face of adversity and difficult situations, you remain consistent.

No mater what comes up, no mater how busy you are, no matter how difficult things become, make room for church. Be faithful to God’s house and he will be faithful to yours.

Culture is a vital part of our lives. The term widely used to describe today’s culture is postmodern. It refers to a society that lacks a sense of absolutes. No absolute truth, no moral compass, and all roads lead to God. The Bible has already predicted what will happen within society, and it categorised it into 2 main things.

1. Worldly culture

· People will love money

· People will love themselves

2 Timothy 3:1-2 (NLT)
¹ You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. ² For people will love only themselves and their money.

2. Godly culture

· Love the Lord (you cannot serve both God and money)

· Love others

Luke 10:27 (NLT)

²⁷Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and Love your neighbour as yourself.

Notice how they are directly opposite to each other? Well, we are caught right in the middle and our lives can go either way.

The key to swinging the pendulum the right way and living a life that pleases God is to remember being a Christian has nothing to do with our past, our looks, our personality, our gifts, our charisma, our skill or even how long we pray. It is about our actual lifestyle, the things that we can control, our character, our habits, our morals and our decisions.

We all have the power to choose how and what we live for, YOU are in control!