How you go is just as important as Where you go. (Or, How to be a friend to people)—John Wentz

12 Days Outside Reflections. How you go is just as important as Where you go.  (Or, How to be a friend to people)—John Wentz

This year we are challenging everyone who is able to serve 12 days outside the walls of the church. You can serve on your own, with your family, or with your small group or Sunday School Class.  The point is that we want people to be a blessing to people in the world around them.  This attitude of blessing is what it means to be a follower of Christ. He gave us the great example when he washed his disciples feet, and he gave us the great commission to go into all the world and make disciples. Therefore, we want you to GO outside the walls of South Side. Perhaps you are already blessing people outside the church at your local school as a mentor, at the hospital as a volunteer, or with your neighbor who needs a babysitter or a meal. Perhaps you need to find a place to go, and that is your biggest challenge. We are confident that God will lead you Where you need to go.  Whether it be a mission trip, a regularly scheduled day of the week, or whenever God prompts you, we know that God will show you Where you can be a blessing.

I want you to remember that How you go is just as important as Where you go.   This is the exact same lesson that we reinforce to kids at Garage-a-palooza each year. This attitude or posture comes from Colossians 3:17,23: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him… Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Do you see the emphasis? It isn’t so much on WHAT you do as HOW you do it. God is describing how YOU can be a blessing. So here is HOW you can be a blessing Wherever you go and in whatever you do:

B-Begin with prayer-Before you go out to be a blessing, pray for the people! Really pray. Let your starting place for serving be your love for God.

L-Listen to others. Our time and service with others could be considered arrogant if we don’t listen to those we are serving. Take time to listen to the individual or organization. People don’t care how much you know or what you want to do for them until they know how much you care. Listen to others!

E-Eat with people. Have you ever shared a meal with your neighbors? Go out to eat with them! As you eat, watch your friendship grow.

S-Serve people when you can. As you begin to pray, listen and eat with others, you will see how you can be a servant. Then politely serve!

S-Share the message of Christ when the time is right. After doing the first four things mentioned, the time will come when your friend will want to know more about God. Then share a simple story of why you love God. Doing so will truly bless the other person and help them find their way back to God. 

Are you a SENT ONE?

"Being Sent" is essential to what it means to follow Christ.

The twelve disciples were sent by Jesus in Luke 9.
72 other disciples were sent by Jesus in Luke 10.
As Jesus ascended into heaven he commanded his disciples to go into all the world and make disciples who do the same. Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20

That is when they transitioned from being "disciples" to "apostles." The word apostle literally means "sent one." You might have even heard it called "being missional."  The point is that you are a missionary. You are on a Mission from God!

Stop for a moment and think about yourself not just as a follower of Jesus, but as one who is SENT by Jesus. Where is Jesus SENDING you?  Where do you need to Go? Maybe you are already there and didn't realize it!

Are you a SENT ONE? Did you realize you were a SENT ONE? If not, it's time for you to live out your mission from God!

Taking Hospitality Seriously

"I am firmly convinced that hospitality will be one of the most significant spiritual gifts needed to lead our culture back to God."


φιλόξενος is the Greek word for hospitality. It is the combination of two words: 1) φιλό which means love, and 2) ξενος which means stranger. Thus, you get the concept of the word, "to love the stranger."

In the Bible we are commanded to:

"Show hospitality towards others without grumbling" 1 Peter 4:9

"Remember to show hospitality to strangers for in doing so we might be entertaining angels" Hebrews 13:2. 

These are all action-oriented concepts. Hospitality is something we do.  Jesus modeled it regularly, and also enjoyed the hospitality of others. 

You can do hospitality wherever you are. You can love the "stranger" on your way to work who needs to merge. You can practice hospitality by regularly inviting a co-worker to lunch, paying for the person next to you who is fumbling for change in their empty pocket, or by keeping your office door open more and always be willing to talk between 11:30 and 12.  (those conversations might naturally overflow into a lunch!) You can offer to pick your son's friends up for practice once a week or arrange to take a meal to a neighbor in need.  You don't just have to view hospitality is waiting for others to come to you. You can take hospitality to others wherever you go. 

Once you start practicing hospitality during the day, consider how you could practice hospitality when you get home at night.  Maybe it means spending time with your "stranger" neighbor, or taking them a random gift. Maybe in your own home you have become a "stranger" with your spouse or child or live-in parent. How can you begin to rebuild the relationship? Practice hospitality. Show some love! Do an extra chore, write an extra note of encouragement, spend time one on one playing a game together. Have a cup of hot chocolate before bed. Say "yes" to the other person's requests for a week. Don't make a big deal about it, just do it quietly. 

When you practice hospitality regularly, something happens. 

You shift from DOING to BEING. 

When that shift happens in the hospitality realm, you move from practicing hospitality to being called hospitable.


Why not let that shift happen in the same realms? You don't have to bounce around to different places for that shift to happen.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at home.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at work place.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at your gym.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at your local school.
You can become more hospitable just by being intentional at your favorite restaurant.
Find the places you frequent most and start being intentional about practicing hospitality.




Next we will explore what it means for whole groups to practice hospitality (loving the stranger) and become more hospitable.

Want to do some Disaster Relief?

Are you looking for a way that you could serve with a group? You could spend a day or two doing disaster relief with IDES (International Disaster & Emergency Services) by visiting here.

Or, consider serving with Samaritan's Purse. We served with two different teams in Joplin last year in the wake of the devastating tornado damage. It was a great way to serve.

And of course, if you know somebody who was affected by the tornados in Joplin, then ask them if there is anything you and some friends could do to help.

Start making your plans today! Get outside!  As you do, please read this great article in Reject Apathy entitled "The Right and Wrong Ways to Help" by Linda Coroleuski.

BLESS YOU!

You may already serve in the community a lot. Do you help at a local school? Serve in a neighborhood association? Do you coach a team, serve with your work place, or sit on a community board?

You are already in place. It's just time to BLESS those around you. 

BLESS is an acronym that describes how we can love those around us. BLESS stands for:

B--Begin with prayer

L--Listen to the lives of those around you

E--Eat with them

S--Serve them in some way

S--Share the message of Christ when the time is appropriate

So, once you are in place, think intentionally how you can BLESS those around you. 

What is 12?

12 days this year... 3% of 2012... Serving those outside our church...

Could you serve for 12 days this year outside the walls of the church?
Perhaps your connection group decides to serve once a month.
Perhaps your family takes a weekend once a quarter to go serve together.
Perhaps you decide to go on a mission trip.
Perhaps you decide to make serving others a permanent part of your walk with Christ.

You won't drift into a lifestyle like this.
Something INTENTIONAL has to happen.

Start with 12...
let us know how you are spending your 12 days outside by emailing your story to john@southsidechristian.com