Have you ever observed an AFL footy match? There are 45,000 people desperately in need of exercise watching 36 people desperately in need of a rest.
It is easy to watch others do all the work.
Nicky Gumbel of Alpha tells of a man who wrote to his pastor:
“Dear Pastor, There are 566 people in our church. 100 of them are frail and elderly. That leaves 466 to do all the work. But 80 are young people at school or college, so that leaves 386 to do all the work. 150 of these are tired business people, so that leaves 236 to do all the work. Of these 150 are busy with young children so that leaves 86. 15 live too far away to come to church regularly so that leaves 71. 69 have already done their turn in the church so that leaves you and me. But I am exhausted so good luck to you!”
While we may laugh, there is a interesting side to this. And I’m not talking about the work at church but the work of the church.
I love how Paul didn’t just leave the work of the church confined to a building (e.g. synagogue) but he also ‘reasoned’ in the marketplace.
So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.
Acts 17:17
The marketplace. That’s where people worked and interacted daily. Paul took the ‘Good News’ into the marketplace.
Have you ever considered to take the ‘Good News’ into the marketplace?
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Mark 16:15
Consider this: if, over one year, everyone at Church lead just one other person to Christ in their marketplace, the Church would double in one year and four times it’s size in two years! If just one person began today, within 23 years the 21 million population of Australia – that’s every man woman and child – would be a Christian. But we have more than one Christian in Australia and we could do it in less than 5 years if everyone participated.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
Matthew 24:14
I hear the “But how?” The simplistic answer is by faith and being intentional about sharing that faith with others. Ask God for opportunities and they will present themselves.
Tonight, ask, “Did I get an opportunity today?”
And if you are not a Bible-believing, born again Christian (or don’t know what that really means – it’s okay, I didn’t at first either), and have read this far, you may want to consider this opportunity.
And if you are actively and intentionally sharing the ‘Good News’ in your marketplace, then you will know that it is more enjoyable being in the game than sitting on the sidelines. “Well done! Keep up the good work!”