One at a Time - Proximity Principle, Part 1

Are you one of those people starting to lose hope.

I mean all the negativity the corruption the evil shootings the political unrest. Are you finally getting to the point where you sing to God I can't take it anymore. If so stay with me because we can learn. There's hope, and how to get welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge shipping and the mission of these daily programs is to intentionally disciple Christians, the Bible teaching of children just a minute will continue sharing with you our new series, one at a time.by our guest speaker Kyle. I will these trying times living on the Kyle for a fresh perspective on the issues were all facing our mission for Christians to live like Christians remains the same whether it's through trips, teaching, or the occasional divorce for those who don't know Kyle's a best-selling author, speaker, lead pastor at Southeast Christian church in Louisville, Kentucky okay.

If you have a Bible turnouts of the gospel of John we join Kyle for his message proximity principle. If you're feeling like there's a lack of purpose you not really sure about this year or next year, three years from now, you're not fully contend you don't know why I just really encourage you to think about what were talking through in the series, one at a time, living we take the focus off yourself and you begin to think about okay. Who are the people that God is putting in my path each day that he wants me to influence and impact like this is why you're here.

If you're Christian. The reason why God didn't just save you and then take you to heaven is because he wants you to be on mission here. He has conversations connections. He wants you to make people that he wants you to influence as a church. It's our commitment to love people wanted time I think when we do that together is the opportunity to change this world is right in front of us, but really it's it's all motivated by this Jesus way of changing the world that we want to love people one at a time like this is how Jesus lived his life.

He challenges his disciples with this approach.

In John 13. So this is the same chapter where they have what we would talk about is the Last Supper and Jesus washes their feet, same chapter, same night in his life and a sense later. After all of that where he is talking to them about how he wants them to be known. And here's what he says to his disciples in John 13 verse 3435 a new command I give you love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, by loving people. The way that I love you, everyone will know that you are my followers, my disciples, if you love one another. So Jesus is getting ready to send them out to small group of followers really there to turn the world upside down. And Jesus wants them to not forget that the way they are to be known. What should drive their mission is their love for others like that should be what's makes them so distinctive and and this is what change the world through the early church is the way that they love people and I and I know some of you if you're like me you sometimes think of yourself as a follower, a disciple and you measure how you're growing, and that based on things like knowledge, why no more now than I used to know and learning is part of being a disciple, but for maybe think of theological understanding, or maybe think of church involvement the others.

These things that are of importance and in their ways to gauge growth but how you love other people tells the most about your maturity as a follower of Jesus. It is how you love, you can know all kinds of things. But if you don't love people the way that Jesus love people, then you're missing so Jesus says if a new command a new command I give you what makes the new new new.

Like they'd heard this love others is something I was talked about quite often.

So why is it new. Jesus says what's new is that you did love the way that I love you. Is this how the world will know your mind. He doesn't say guest is after the Last Supper got some for eons can pass these out Mason bracelets and very creative. Really, they just say WW JD on it.

I just want you go out what you wear these braces. I went to three new campaign around it and I want to hand out as many of these bracelets as possible and by this the world will know that for my followers because you wear these risk wrong for those bracelets somewhat. Jesus said would change the world. Jesus didn't say to them I guess. So here's the plan. World will know you're my followers by your strict interpretation of every word I've ever sent to his room to do I want to do is to separate the different groups will call each of them a denomination and you can argue and fight back and forth with one another and argue anything into significance. Whatever you do don't focus on what's most important to down to the granular make a big deal out of little things like your opinions and preferences.

Make that what just determines if someone gets to be part of the church and this is how the world will know you're my disciple. Like that's not how the conversation went.

He didn't say the world will know you're my disciples by your moral superiority in your self-righteous indignation by the world will know you're my followers. By the way you're angry and judgmental towards other people who are in my follower, so if you could just look disappointed in people all the time. I think I will win the world over and you can just habit us. I discussed that you profess and you use it at work when somebody went to a party when someone thought about something in public and walk away and again every time will just come running like that's that's not how the conversation he doesn't think the world will know you're my followers by your your political your political preferences. By this all men will know that your my followers by the politician that you you back by your by your yard signs. I will call meant something like this is not how it went. Love people wanted time it's it's not a by your your social media posts by your scrolling and trolling.

I will call all men to myself like that's that's not at its love the way that I have loved and the way Jesus loved was one at a time. The disciples knew that I was different. Like the other rabbis they didn't they didn't do things the way Jesus did the disciples had a hard time figuring it out. That's why when they would be in crowds of people. The disciples thought that part of their job was to keep the people at a distance to keep Jesus focus on the agenda for the day. You know he's teaching right now it's not a good time like that's how they approach Jesus while Jesus was constantly pushing paws on whatever the plans were and getting attention to one person at a time love people the way that Jesus as I have loved you, and maybe the disciples weren't exactly sure what he meant like once you mean by that, maybe, is there thinking about it.

They look down and then they notice their freshly washed feet. That's what he means love people one at a time is how Jesus loves how he lived, so he's called us to change the world. So there's a word that maybe doesn't usually get much attention that I think describes what made the ministry of Jesus. So impactful is the word proximity proximity is what ministry came from in his life. The people he happened to be around determines what he gave his attention to so ministry flowed out of proximity and so we see this from the beginning when he when he comes to earth we celebrate Christmas were celebrating the incarnation. Once the incarnation God with us. It's a celebration of proximity that Jesus didn't love us from a distance, he didn't just love us from far away. He loved us close up. He came in he dwelt among us. I love the way the message paraphrases that John chapter 114 the Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood that's proximity proximity proximity lets you know that you're really cared for Jesus did ministry that what he did life that way. He loves people within heat, with whom he was in close proximity with sometimes it felt more like happenstance annoyed planet and other times it felt very intentional and schedules but nothing communicates that you care like just being there.

So this week I came into the office on Monday was an okay day office was closed and not even get started on the sermon because that's so common and MLK understand so I was in the office were, sermon little bit and while I was by myself work on the message I just felt like I was just like there is this burden, something personal that I was struggling with in dealing with. I knew I needed to share it with someone I didn't want to share it with someone you never have anything like that because you know it's humbling and proud part of me just wants to say.

I got it. I know the Bible says that we should bear one another's burdens.

Galatians 62. I know that that's I'm supposed to do like doing it and so I felt I felt like God wanted me to share it with someone in or around that time was had a feeling that conviction, I get a text from a friend used to say Suzman to hear from very often hang this one to check on you today when you know if I can pray for.

It is important hijinks in a bag.

I said hey I'd love to tell you I'm doing great. I'm struggling with something in it. It would probably be good to share with someone. I said you think you might have some time this week, not be the end of it like okay got I that's close enough right.

He texted me back and he said what about now.

I said well I'm at the office about time you got here is probably you probably 30 minutes away. I'll swing by your house this week. He texted me back on my way when he came up to the office and he listened and we talked and prayed and there's something about just showing up that has tremendous power.

I remember when my dad's mother passed away. The funeral is taking place in the town I grew up in Joplin, Missouri. My parents lived in Evansville Indiana.

Probably seven hours away so they had made the trip for my grandmother's funeral I was there as well. Of course, and for the funeral started I saw.

I don't remember for five guys walk in the back stand in the back and I recognize and there for my dad's church part of his men's group in Evansville, Indiana Wednesday funeral is over. They left turn left back in the car go back to Evansville. They knew he had responsibilities family cousins you know siblings. And so they this game and then they left. Say proximity where you look up and somebody is there at just the right time's incredible power and that it took me a while to understand that appreciated as a pastor I remember as a young pastor I was still in seminary but serving at a church that when someone went through something tragic and unexpected loss of a loved one, I would. I would go over to their home in this field is anxiety because I wanted to say something to make things better and I was 19, 20, 21 years old. I didn't know what to say. I felt like I'd I'm supposed to know I supposed to know what to say to answer these deep questions and to put them at peace and I never knew what to say and then I remember listening to one of my professors in pastoral care class say that in those moments they don't remember what you say, they just remember that you showed up I think is right there something about proximity about being close. If there's ever a time where we need to be reminded of that. I suppose this is the time because we become more more comfortable with isolation and doing light from a distance more more uncomfortable with people being too close to us more more aware when someone gets into her personal space and yet there's something about us that we have been made to live life in close proximity with others. I was reading in Japan that they put a new government position in place, the minister of loneliness. The job is to help people find better connection with one another because they they have found just that suicide has become more more of an issue in and they said we we need each other and were missing and we can figure out some creative ways to make sure we live in proximity and then we see all kinds of examples in research that would indicate that with the rise of social media. We actually feel more isolated than ever like proximity is actually more difficult is not not easier. We struggle more with loneliness than we ever have before. It's had kind of the opposite effect than we might think I was reading a New York Times article that a guy named Howell who had 700 friends on social media can remember. If it is Facebook or Instagram but had like 700 friends and pretty proud of that you will be really cool dude for the stories. A writer be really cool to get all 700 friends together as we put on social media and invitation that there is can be this party and an area meet there after work needed to know how we people are common so they could attend or maybe attend or not attending 15 people said they would be there.

60 said they might be there. He was hoping for 20 not is not a lot yes 3%. The 29th 20 friends is a lot of connection. The rights and on the evening in question. I took a shower and shaved the new pants and favorite shirt brimming with optimism. I headed over to the neighborhood watering hole and waited and waited and waited and eventually one person showed up and one woman who showed up to meet Howell. He didn't know her. She was a friend of a friend.

They talked for a few moments. She laughed. He waited till midnight.

No one else came. He ordered a beer and salt and he concludes his article with these words. 700 friends, but I'm drinking alone that captures where a lot of people are at in our world. Is there something that's tremendously powerful when those of you who are followers of Jesus decide that you're going to intentionally put yourself in proximity with someone who may not have anyone when you intentionally show up for someone even though it's inconvenient you don't know what to say but the fact that you're there is what the remember there's no substitute for this I I was reading earlier this year were Elon musk, the world's richest human I think these networks select $280 billion was you selling all of his homes and he had the number of homes are selling all of his homes and he talked a bit about why that the material possessions were kind of a distraction from what he really wanted to focus on this, but then he did this interview where he talked a little bit more and and here's what he said. He said being in a huge empty house when there are no footsteps echoing through the hallways. How do you make yourself happy in a situation like that so I was a child.

There was one thing I said I said I never want to be alone and then he whispered to himself, and everyone be alone, so he lives. Elyse reported that he lives in this $50,000 prefab one-bedroom place where you can say focus on his work in that it hears someone is worth $280 billion but there's within him. This awareness that if you're living alone.

If you're missing out on proximity that is hard to find joy and so if you look at Jesus.

He seemed to know this. And sometimes it was someone who was wealthy like Zakia's Jesus just knew he needs to spend some time with me thanking us to go to your house today for lunch and sometimes it was someone who was more of an outcast, like the woman at the well.

Jesus is down has a conversation with her but ministry flowed from proximity listed as part of our guest teacher. Kyle's message proximity principle series, one at a time. She will join us here in studio with some additional thoughts about today's program just a minute. Have you ever considered the remarkable impact Jesus's head on the history will think about it. He lived over 2000 years ago and only had a small group of followers yet. Fast forward to today. Christianity is the leading world religion. So what was Jesus secret in the series Kyle idled and reveals the unexpected simple practice.

Jesus used to change our world. Don't miss how you and I can continue the work he started one interaction, one conversation, one life at a time to learn more about the series or Kyle's best-selling book go to LivingontheEdge.org the Chip Ingram up or call us at AAA to 333-6003 trips join me here in studio now and shipped by understanding how a really special email that you'd like to share with our listeners so one should take some time here and do that. Thanks so much Dave. I want to pause just for a minute and if you're a financial partner with Living on the Edge. I just want you to hear a message that we received from a lady named Kelly who listens every single day. She said thanks so much for your ministry and daily podcast I listen every day I'm a recovering addict of many things.

I grew up in a Christian family was saved at the age of 17. Shortly after that because of peer pressure in school started doing drugs.

I now have a few years of sobriety and God save my life and he is totally remove the physical urges use drugs and alcohol and cigarettes have now joined an awesome church that has small groups in Christ is blessed me in recovery meetings. Anyway, thanks so much for sharing your life with others. You made a positive difference in my life. You know Kelly is one of hundreds actually thousands of emails that we get it Living on the Edge. I just column life change spirit of God took the word of God and might've been on the podcast could been on the radio could've been in the small group could have even been a CD or a book, but God intervenes with their life and something happens that changes the course of their life and I just want to pause and thank you you know some of you write a check every month. Some of you have it taken out of your account every month. Some of you like once 1/4 of twice a year you give to Living on the Edge. I want to remind you what it actually does. It's not about giving money, it's about extending ministry and changing lives.

So thank you thank you thank you and if by chance you're listening you're thinking I've never given to Living on the Edge, but I'd like to get in on that will give you a very simple way of how you can join the team and really make a difference. Wolf's story inspired you and you'd like to become a part of our team, we'd love to have you join us. Your support helps us reach more and more people with biblical teaching. As we encourage Christians everywhere to really live like Christians to give a gift go to LivingontheEdge.org or the chipping remap or if it's easier you can text the word donate 741 41 that's donate to 741 41 and let me thank you in advance for doing whatever the Lord leads you to do no chip in this message. Kyle pointed out that Jesus was often on his way somewhere when he found himself in proximity to someone with a real need and what can we learn from his example and how can we apply it to our lives will Dave, I think those are two really super points, and often were asking God, old Lord, will you please use me, but then we have the blinders on and I get up and I've got a plan and you know I write my journal, actually use it to do list and this is what I'm going to do this is my task, and then there's all these people that get in the way kick the hook and often I don't realize oh that was on God's agenda.

It just wasn't on mine and what you see is Jesus is almost always on his way to do something when he intersects with someone up in the tree or a intersects with the a leper who's calling out his name or he intersects with a woman that falls at his feet and in his grabbing at his cloak, and I think what I've learned I don't have it down but what I've learned is make a good plan for your day and then really be open open because life change happens in proximity I pastored for about 12 years in a very very progressive town in California and the mayor was a homosexual. There's a very large homosexual population and we also had a crisis of runaway teens and the mayor was really concerned about runaway teens and is as a pastor and in a church that had really grown. We were concerned about runaway teens and even want to meet with some evangelical pastor and I wasn't too sure about meeting with the mayor who is LGBT and and yet what we both said TA in a week there something in common here, and as we talked it was just crazy. He has intellectual integrity.

He's very sincere. We disagree on morality theology.

He actually really cares about these teens like I do and I'll never forget both of us.

After that lunch looking at each other realizing you know the stereotypes we had about one another. They're just not true.

You're a person I didn't change my theology. But what I realized was I wanted to be this man's friend.

I wanted to care about him. I wanted to find out what made him tick. And you know we walked away with mutual respect. We held our differences and we teamed up around really helping runaway teens and I think our world would be a far better place.

And Jesus models for us. You meet people where they're at. Its proximity. There's no such thing as them. Whoever them are that you're critical of you got to meet him one person at a time.

We don't change our theology. We don't change the truth but this is how you share the truth in love bikes chip before we close. Did you know there's a really easy way to soak in more about truth chip was just talking about the chipping remap you'll find the series, and countless others to listen to anytime you want.

When you allow God's word to fill your heart and mind.

You'll be able to truly enjoy the freedom that only he can offer. So I hope you'll check out the chipping remap today until next time, this is Dave Drewry saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge