One at a Time - Intersections, Part 2

Have you ever stopped to consider what is the draws people to God will today were to learn, for reasons that people seek out God and how you and I can point them in the right direction and how to do, stay with me. That's today.

Thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge with shipping Living on the Edges of international discipleship ministry focused on helping Christians what Christians as most of you know chips are regular Bible teacher programs for the series is passed the mic over to his good friend Kyle is the lead pastor at Southeast church the popular author and speaker today Kyle will wrap up the series, one at a time, with the remainder of his talk from Matthew chapter 13, but before he does. If you've been encouraged or motivated by the series. You take a minute after this message in shirt with a friend that you can do that finger map or by sending them the free MP3 that you find it Living on the Edge.okay here for the last time was our guest teacher Kyle Heideman with two of his message intersections so terrible that I want to look at Matthew 13. You have your Bibles can turn their Matthew 13 I say a parable release to parables with 32 sentences long and very brief parables in this passage here were Jesus is telling a lot of parables. A lot of stories that I pack a punch and unlock some deeper spiritual truth.

And in this particular section. He is giving us some different pictures of what the kingdom of heaven is like concise is the kingdom of heaven is like this, like this, like this for each parable begins with the kingdom of heaven is like the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field when a man found it he hit it again and then in his joy he went and sold all he had bought the field he stumbles across it didn't plan on it wasn't looking for it just happened. Does an ordinary day is an ordinary field and the funds is extraordinary treasure that changes his life and accidental, but changes everything from and he goes and sells everything yes and people are talking to my presence doing selling this house own socks and selling its own everything he owns to you by this field. I don't understand it. He knows what he's doing. He knows this is a good exchange. And then Jesus tells a second parable. So here's what I want to do is or listen to this, try to identify how these two little parables are different. First one that we read man is working in the field presumably defines it, he hides it again sells everything has buys at verse 44, 45, 46, again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls when he discovered a pearl of great price. He sold everything he owned and bought. What's different about those two develop on a treasure about sell everything you have what's different about the first one he stumbles onto it accidental just happens.

Second one he's looking for searching he seeking as he looks for.

He finds it. What I would argue is that most of people who find themselves intersections. It is one of those two things. One of those two scenarios. Either it's accidental.

They stumbled into it. Something happened to them that they didn't plan on life went sideways on them and and in the midst of this challenging time.

They stumble upon a treasure that they never really were seeking ahead of time.

That's the story for some of you like you spiritually, you were not interested in you told yourself. You're never gonna do what you're doing right now.

He said I'm not certain if I go to church on special I want about church and tenure here like what happens while chances are something in your life kinda turned unexpectedly and it might've been something difficult. It might've been something bad that led to something beautiful you found in the midst of that treasure for others of you. You have been seeking. He been looking a long time or you've got someone in your life like this are always asking questions and there there always tend to push renin and look and you to see the discontentment you can hear it when they talk by their they're looking for the pearl of great price that they need somebody to come within us that it's right here. It's right here that what you're looking for is right here.

I found that you can find it to, but that tends to be the type of intersections that were invited into for people.

I asked some of my friends to just give me some examples of what this looks like for them.

A buddy of mine.

He he he told me that when he was in college girlfriend broke his heart was kind of this lonely is a lonely intersection for him. Come intersections middle to ghost town and he felt very alone and was not plugged into any kind of church are you and I wasn't part of his story, but in that moment somebody invited to church got involved in a Bible study men's group now is leading a men's group something happens, something happened in that moment that intersection. He was that somebody met them there and change the trajectory of his life. A woman told me that when she was eight years old. Her parents divorced and she was she was scared a lot of uncertainty in her world. Her neighbor noticed it paid attention that a child about her age start inviting her to go to church with them first time in her life. She starts coming to church is safe felt safer her. She felt seen and loved and cared for totally change your life because a neighbor noticed that an eight-year-old was at an intersection all by yourself. One man told me that when he was in high school, he got into some trouble. His girlfriend was pregnant. He didn't really know who to turn to her what to do and that he wasn't a part of church wasn't connected that way, but he had a basketball coach that was kind like a mentor actually assisted us will coach is like a mentor to him, but that NASCO codes and never really share Jesus or invite him to church, but only when talk to the basketball coach about the situation.

He resents the best will coach they want to want to sit down and I want a few things as when talk to you about and share the gospel with them.

They want to start come to church with me when certain that together change the direction of this man's life and inmate told me that on the day he was sentenced he went back to his cell and he was in the cell he came out the sentence with them back to the cell in total despair. One of his cellmates that he got to know came over and met that time share his testimony and said to this man hate this may feel like the end of your life. I remember what that was like, but with Jesus it can be the beginning. The guy was certain stories that you know a day earlier.

I don't know that I would've listened to him, but in that moment I listens him is like him. The man in that cell. With him was waiting I know I know what it's like to hit this intersection when he hits this intersection is come be my time when he comes to this place and he's forced to slow down and stop and look in both directions and consider where he's going and how things are going to end up that that's it. That's the moment I'm gonna lean in and say something that moment comes, he steps in me tell you my story.

My story is a lot like yours is the difference that Jesus made made all the difference in this man's life because of who met him at that intersection.

And so that's the challenge for us is to just prayerfully look for intersections around us. You can have those opportunities. This week I want to give you forward on when needed for roads that have come together to create a a spiritual intersection okay for roads to come together to create this intersection. Number one is his interest in this goes both ways when someone is asking any kind of spiritual question. Are there if they're sharing something that's a little bit vulnerable with you. There's a tendency especially with us guys of seven other guys benefited to try to help them not be vulnerable by changing the subject, so they can get the courage to say something and were like work or not. When I go in there and we we think were helping them by not leaning into it, but by kinda saving them from that moment you're not helping them, and said you lean into that moment a little bit more you show interest by asking questions is a something really powerful about not coming with information and answers but coming with questions.

The more you show interest in someone, the more you're earning an opportunity to be there for them at an intersection.

If you come in and you've got nothing that answers and solutions in your your bill is the opportunity to be there for them at an intersection, but if you show interest in you asked questions makes all the difference.

Second road is the road intercession. Intercession is when you pray specifically for people. Our tendency is to intercede on behalf of ourselves or I like to do prayer inventory is ask yourself who my praying for my name is one at a time people in your life and it can be your kids. I can be your grandkids. I had a grandmother tell me after service that her one at a time. Person is her granddaughter and I left that any pray for them by name and any pay attention to what's happening in their life as you do that you will learn to lean indifferently as apparent as I have one of three who are out of the house. I have a 17-year-old is a junior high school this year. But the one things I've learned is that I will notice the intersections in their life much more effectively if I'm praying for them specifically like if I'm taking time to pray for them every day. I'm much more aware of the intersections that I need to step into town today. Sometimes there's intersections cometh like inconvenient times especially. I remember when they were younger. The girls I had no say good night to them would say prayers and I get ready to leave the room as I'm tired and exhausted and I'm ready go to bed too and I'm walking another room and in the darkness right as I move it almost made it to the door here this hey dad, and for some reason that's when they wanted to talk, and there's a part of me that would want to. In those moments that take no not tonight. Try not tonight will talk tomorrow but not too quickly rose to quickly, but you may be invited in that moment into a sacred intersection and she just laid down next to them. Listen and ask some questions that impact you could have been that moment because that's that's where they're at and then is much more significant than what you can have driving home from school the next day so you pray for people by name and then when you do that you're going to notice. Notice intersections third thing I would say third Road here would be interruptions you pay attention to interruptions when someone's life is unexpectedly interrupted.

It has the potential to change things for them dramatically and maybe it's something good and positive are often times is something difficult and challenging. But notice when someone's life gets interrupted. I often have people at church will say to me have got this person in my life that I need to encourage or help.

I'm worried about their salvation. I want to share GL and witness to them, but I don't know what to say. I don't know when to say it.

Well usually say is like pray about this build a relationship and then just weights like not because you're afraid, but wait for the moment, like wait for the intersection to show up because if you're praying for them by name. And if you're building a relationship with them. Then you walk with them and at some point they're going to find themselves at an intersection and Juergen have an opportunity to share and scummy a lot more to them if you catch them at the intersection right cousin intersection is where you you slow down in intersections where you stop makes all the difference. If you can find them there. So pay attention for interruptions.

Lastly is involvement. Involvement means that you do something that you say something involvement is often times inconvenient involvement is oftentimes messy but sometimes you are the person who is best positioned to step in and say something. Sometimes you are the answer to prayer just so happens like that this tends to be what I might call a major intersection. This room and I have loved over the years getting to the witness that in one of things I can tell you is that the intersections are often sound the same as someone will calm and they'll say hey I never thought I would be here. There is I was be going to church with fear. Something that happened in my life and in here they find themselves at an intersection in a really need some grace and they really need some hope in any forgiveness and I need a second chance that they need a new direction they need a purpose and and they come here to find it and this is this sacred privilege and joy to be able to catch someone at that intersection in their lives. I remember number years ago is preaching on a Saturday night after the sermon. There is a man who was ready to make a decision. I talked to him he was pretty emotional and told me that he and his wife separated and he just took responsibility for it talks about some sins in his life and failures and mistakes he invented church since he was a kid, but he desperately new in this moment, he needed God's help and did know how to pray, but knew that God was the only one who could save him, and he was here believing that okay this is one last thought that maybe I'm too far gone in and night I said to him you know you you are not here by accident.

Resident of sanity. Some of you you're not here by accident like God has brought you here at this intersection your life or purpose and we prayed and he can Festus send and talks about in his prayer is need for Jesus as his Savior and I got them connected to a decision guide to help him with next steps and and then Sunday morning, the priest same sermon. These two ladies came to make a decision then one of the armor on the other end, one of whom was just as emotional and and I talked to her for moment as the time what's going on. How can I pray for you and she's why I am into churches as a little girl but my husband I separated I feel like I just give up on my marriage is to just give up on him, but I'd I don't want to give up before I just ask God for help and I don't even know how to do that. But I'm here and she shared her story with me.

I started to get you know, goosebumps, and I say you didn't mention your husband and tell me your husband's name and she said his name and like you may not believe this but your husband came to church last night gave his life to Jesus is not.

He is starting down a different path and she's like no you have the wrong guy.

I know I like I was I was there I talked to him and I just can't quite explain the joy of launching two people find the treasure. At the same time I love I love that I want to invite you to spend your life at other people's spiritual intersections. I would invite you to make that your mission no matter what you do for living. No matter what neighborhood you live in or where you go to school no matter who your friends are or are not on social media.

I want to invite you to spend your life at other people's intersections.

It is so beautiful and I know that there some of you right now like this is that moment for you.

This is a sacred intersection for you.

You are struggling you got questions and doubts. You are are dealing with some anxiety and depression and it feels crippling to you.

You got some guilt and shame in your life because there these secrets that nobody knows about and you don't know what to do about it and you feel like your life is kind of spun out of control and you're here and is not an accident that you are. It is our privilege to meet you at these intersections. We love you. We've all been types of intersections you're out you're not alone. Jesus wants to meet you right there unless you call, I'll just say it's not an accident that you're listening to his voice or mind today you're at an intersection, spiritual intersection, and God wants you to know that you are listening to my voice right now because he loves you keys for you.

He understands everything going on in your life. Every relationship, every struggle, every frustration in these calling you to himself, he saying to you right where you are today come unto me all of you that are weary and burdened, and frustrated, and under pressure and I will give you rest. And then Jesus said, take my yoke upon you and learn from me, it's it's coming under the submission it saying join me I'm gentle and humble of heart, knowing Jesus is about following a set of rules or becoming religious tomorrow or trying to earn God's favor.

It is a gift of God it's the Lord Jesus telling you that at the core of all the worlds issues. My issues your issues is a thing called sin, we all fall short. We've all blown it. We've all made mistakes and there's consequences and is this consequences happened and we struggle in their shame and their skills and people that we've heard and we feel like there's nowhere to go.

He says come to me and so right now I would like to offer you on behalf of Jesus, eternal life in his name right now wherever you're at, he would say to you, behold, I stand at the door and knock at your heart if you open the door, I will come into you and dine with you live with you and you with me the Scripture says as many as received him, Jesus, to them he gives the right of the power to become children of God, even to those who believe in his name. So right now in your own words. You can even do it, as you're driving your car, but maybe need to pull over but just tell God I'm sorry. I know I've blown it. I'm not the man I'm not the woman that I know I need to be.

I've made mistakes I've sinned against a holy God. And right now I'm asking you to forgive me.

Based on your death on the cross in your resurrection, proving it's true and right now, come into my life, Lord Jesus, I'm turning from my way to you come into my life make me your son make me your daughter and you notes.

Not exactly the words that you say it's far more the condition and the attitude of your hard of turning from your past and receiving by faith. The free gift of eternal life, and if you just prayed with me can I encourage you to text or call of the best Christian that you know and tell him you know, I'm not sure what it's all about but I just prayed ask Christ to come into my life and I knew it's a new day and I need help which you help me then this week find yourself in a Bible teaching church and and then finally go on a website right now.

Got some information for you that will help you understand this commitment that you've made and some resources absolutely free to help you begin to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ and from all of our team and for me I just want to say welcome to the family. If you prayed with Chip, we'd love to put a resource in your hands, called starting out right and it's absolutely free.

This tool will help you gain a clear biblical understanding of what it means to put your faith in Jesus and that's our whole mission here at Living on the Edge helping Christians really live like Christians. So let us help you get started in your faith journey. You can request this resource by calling us at AAA 333-6003 or by visiting LivingontheEdge.org and clicking on the new believers button that's LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA 83336003 will chip still with me in studio and chip in this series.

Kyles taught us how to connect and build relationships with people, especially those were far from God, a take a minute if you would and unpack for us why that's such a struggle for 21st century Christians will Dave, I think there's a number of reasons and and one circumstantial one is this pandemic that occurred in people wearing masks. Can we not been rubbing up against one another. I think the other thing is is that this the longer a person is a Christian. Statistically, the fewer and fewer non-Christian friends they have. I mean it's crazy after two years the average Christian has zero non-Christian friends less than 2% of most Christians of ever let another person to Christ and part of this is the lies that you need to be able to answer every question then sorta be biblical, encyclopedia, etc. etc. I think what Kyle has done for us is teaching us how one person at a time in our sphere of influence. Just being who we are. We can build a connection taken interest not start a debate. But love people in a way that allows us to connect so that Jesus can share with them what he shared with us the forgiveness and the salvation of our souls, and a brand-new life. I just cannot encourage people enough to get this book one at a time is had a huge impact on me and I think it of a huge impact on those who get it and read it.

Thanks, Chip will to order your copy of one of the time by Kyle Adelman go to LivingontheEdge.org or call us at AAA 333-6003. Our prayer is that this tool will help you find simple ways to share the profound hope we have in Jesus with those who so desperately need to hear it again to get your hands on this book from Kyle visit LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA to 333-6003 hapless nurse Special offers will just before we close.

I would think each of you who's making this program possible through your generous giving 100% of your gifts are going directly to the ministry to help Christians really live like Christians. If you found this teaching helpful which are not yet on the team. Would you consider doing that today to send a gift go to LivingontheEdge.org or text the word donate to 741 41. It's that easy text. Donate 741 41 or visit LivingontheEdge.org hapless nurse just tap donate and let me thank you in advance for doing whatever the Lord leads you to do well for everyone here. This is Dave Drewry thanking you for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge