SPIRITUAL METEOROLOGISTSSPIRITUAL METEOROLOGISTS

LUKE 12:54-56LUKE 12:54-56

12:54 Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A rainstorm is coming,’ and it does.

12:55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and there is.

12:56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how can you not know how to interpret the present time?

NET Bible® ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved. NET Bible® ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org All rights reserved.

Luke 12:54-56 (NET Bible)

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1)1) Analyzing the World Analyzing the World is as important as deciphering is as important as deciphering the Word.the Word.

2)2) Methods of evangelism Methods of evangelism which worked a few years which worked a few years ago are passé now.ago are passé now.

3)3) The portals to The portals to people groups people groups vary from location to vary from location to location. Do I understand this enough to be location. Do I understand this enough to be effective?effective?

4)4) It is all akin to It is all akin to ‘reading’ ‘reading’ the water and the water and ‘matching’ ‘matching’ the hatch.the hatch.

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How Have The Times Changed How You How Have The Times Changed How You Navigate Through Life?Navigate Through Life?

Communication: Printing press or cell Communication: Printing press or cell phone?phone?

Raising Kids?Raising Kids?

The place of churches in the community? The place of churches in the community? From ‘home team’ to ‘the visitors’From ‘home team’ to ‘the visitors’

The place of Christianity in the world The place of Christianity in the world From Golden Boy to the Ugly DucklingFrom Golden Boy to the Ugly Duckling

Do We Dive For Cover Or Test The WindDo We Dive For Cover Or Test The Wind…and Make Adjustments…and Make Adjustments

• Paul knew all about thisPaul knew all about this…and called it ‘All things to all men’ …and called it ‘All things to all men’ --First Corinthians 9:19-23--First Corinthians 9:19-23

• Our ‘Restoration’ forefathers loved those debatesOur ‘Restoration’ forefathers loved those debates…and so did the populace.…and so did the populace.

• Revivals worked well for a timeRevivals worked well for a time…what fire was in the air!…what fire was in the air!

We Swim In Muddy Water… We Swim In Muddy Water… So What’s A Guy To DoSo What’s A Guy To Do

• This isn’t clear water we swim in …This isn’t clear water we swim in …others have stirred up a others have stirred up a cloud of dirt.cloud of dirt.

• These aren’t un-churched folk all These aren’t un-churched folk all about us …many are about us …many are de-churched.de-churched.

• Some stuff just Some stuff just won’t hack it won’t hack it today today …so get used to it!…so get used to it!

• This isn’t Kansas.This isn’t Kansas.

So What Works? We’d Better Deal With ThisSo What Works? We’d Better Deal With This

• What always worked for JesusWhat always worked for Jesus……story-tellingstory-telling..

• What always worked for JesusWhat always worked for Jesus……genuine relationshipsgenuine relationships..

• What always worked for JesusWhat always worked for Jesus……meeting people where they aremeeting people where they are..

• What always worked for JesusWhat always worked for Jesus……identifying with our neighborsidentifying with our neighbors..

So What Works? We’d Better Deal With ThisSo What Works? We’d Better Deal With This

• What always worked for JesusWhat always worked for Jesus……finding ways to ‘tell the truth’.finding ways to ‘tell the truth’.

• What always worked for JesusWhat always worked for Jesus……sacrificial lovesacrificial love..

• What always worked for JesusWhat always worked for Jesus……give people time to come aroundgive people time to come around……soak timesoak time..

READING THE TIMES, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR READING THE TIMES, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FRIENDS. FRIENDS. SPIRITUAL METEOROLOGYSPIRITUAL METEOROLOGY

• ListeningListening to other’s stories to other’s stories…as Jesus did.…as Jesus did.

• EmpathyEmpathy more than sympathy more than sympathy

• Really seeing Really seeing the hurdles which others facethe hurdles which others face…without ‘over-coaching’…without ‘over-coaching’

• Taking the spiritual temperature Taking the spiritual temperature of our neighborsof our neighbors…’know when to hold ‘em’…’know when to hold ‘em’

READING THE TIMES, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR READING THE TIMES, OUR COMMUNITY, OUR FRIENDS. FRIENDS. SPIRITUAL METEOROLOGYSPIRITUAL METEOROLOGY

• Listening to other’s storiesListening to other’s stories…as Jesus did.…as Jesus did.

• Empathy more than sympathyEmpathy more than sympathy

• Really seeing the hurdles which others faceReally seeing the hurdles which others face…without ‘over-coaching’…without ‘over-coaching’

• Taking the spiritual temperature of our neighborsTaking the spiritual temperature of our neighbors…’know when to hold ‘em’…’know when to hold ‘em’

I believe that Jesus is I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Christ, the Son of the living God.the living God.

I trust him as my Lord I trust him as my Lord and Savior. and Savior. C

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1)1) Analyzing the World Analyzing the World is as important as deciphering is as important as deciphering the Word.the Word.

2)2) Methods of evangelism Methods of evangelism which worked a few years which worked a few years ago are passé now.ago are passé now.

3)3) The portals to The portals to people groups people groups vary from location to vary from location to location. Do I understand this enough to be location. Do I understand this enough to be effective?effective?

4)4) It is all akin to It is all akin to ‘reading’ ‘reading’ the water and the water and ‘matching’ ‘matching’ the hatch.the hatch.

Go and Be aGo and Be aSPIRITUAL METEOROLOGISTSPIRITUAL METEOROLOGIST