Last night, my wife and I had a wonderful time with the young adult small group that we lead. Mel and I have been leading through the book Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge. To me, it truly is a neat book where John takes the scriptures about Jesus and introduces them in light of the personality and character of Jesus. Though I do not necessarily agree with all of the inferences John has made into the personality of Jesus in certain stories, I have to admit that what John has tried to accomplish through this book is fascination and exciting.
I am really seeing our young adults begin to look at Jesus in a new light and perspective. Each week Jesus is becoming more real to them. I can see how the Lord is working in them to deepen and grow their walks. As I mentioned in my story, I have been in the church my whole life. I attended all the sunday schools lessons, the mission trips, retreats, and any other programs at the church. I have to admit that many times Jesus didn't feel real. Sometimes we do Him a great injustice by forgetting to convey His humanity. It can be so easy sometimes to miss how well He related to and attracted those around Him. He must've been a very interesting guy, not just because He was God, but also because of His personality, words, and actions.
Last night, we covered the chapter called Disruptive Honesty. John brought to light Jesus' ability to tell it like it is, exactly the way it needed to be told. Sometimes Jesus spoke truth very harshly to people like when calling down the Pharisees. Other times it was gently and carefully, understanding the delicate nature of the situation. John pointed out throughout the gospels that you could always count on Jesus to shoot straight with you. John went on to lament that many of us struggle with living in this kind of honesty today and I fully agree with Him.
Some of us are too truthful in cutting and hurting ways. Some of us are to afraid of being truthful, fearing that someone might be hurt by your words. Others of us don't care enough about the people around us to be truthful. Then there are those few who are truthful, even to the point of hurting sometimes, and yet truthful in a way of only delivering the truth in the best way for the situation. Those people are rare! Maybe you know someone like that and depending on how well you take truth you may either love them or hate them. I personally desire people like that around me. I respect them. I am so thankful for them.
After we finished our lesson, I decided to do something out of the ordinary with our group. My wife and I took them out on a multi course dinner at multiple fast food restaurants. We had a great time getting cheesy breadsticks at Pizza Hut, $2 meal deals at Taco Bell, and frosty's at Wendy's. It was so wonderful to hang out and truly spend time getting to know our young adults. My wife and I had so much fun talking about their interests, dreams, and lives. I learned that my guys like paint ball, adventure weekends in the woods, and rc vehicles of all types. I learned that my whole group loves amusement parks and learned about their favorite rides and why. We talked about music, parenting, food, hobbies, our christian walks, and so much more. It truly was a wonderful time and I feel like I learned more about our young adults last night than all the time we have spent with them in the last year.
Last night taught me about the importance of regular fellowship, not to take away from discipleship and teaching the Bible, but to help me understand each person I am teaching so I can better taylor my own lessons to what speaks to the situations and interests of their lives. I am so thankful for the many blessing the Lord has placed in my life. I am thankful for how much He is teaching and growing me each day. Yesterday truly was wonderful and I hope to be able to share in many more days like it as the Lord continues to develop me into the man I am to be.
Blessings,
Greg
My wife and I feel an intense calling on our lives for missions and full-time ministry. We have created a fundraiser to help us overcome one hurtle to us being able to go to the mission field. I pray that you will take a moment and check out this link. I thank you for your consideration and ask that you seek the Lord's guidance in considering contributing to this fundraiser. Thank you.
http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=3437&url=roadtofreedomforproclaimingchrist
. I am only five chapters into the book but I enjoying the new perspectives of scripture I have read many times. It is such a comfort to me to know that Jesus truly does understand me. He has lived like me. He has experienced joy, anger, pain, love, friendship, struggles, and life.