Shaping For Mission Neighbours horrified by elderly skeleton

Shaping For Mission

Neighbours horrified by elderly skeleton find • Neighbours say they are horrified to learn an elderly woman's death went unnoticed in inner Sydney for up to eight years. • The woman's Centrelink payments had not been touched, her electricity had been disconnected and she was estranged from her only living relative after a family feud.

• Katherine Mc. Quire says she has never seen anyone at the house in the more than 20 years she has lived on the street. • "To know that there was an old person who was living in that house who I could have done something for to help, I'm just absolutely horrified I didn't know, " she said.

Do you know your neighbours? Michael Koziol SMH June 2015 Reports on a Survey conducted by Jigsaw Research on behalf of Nabo - a social network for neighbourhoods and communities

We spend 70% of our waking life in front of digital media.

Just 18 per cent of Australians were Facebook friends with the folks next door

Only 50 per cent of Australians say they would recognise their neighbour in the street.

52 per cent would have a neighbour over to their home.

We need to realise that uur greatest mission field are those who live around us everyday…Our friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues, those who drive/walk by your church…

So How Can We Reach Them?

Matthew 5: 13 - 15 • 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ” Matt 5: 13 - 15

Ekklesia

It’s time to leave the salt shaker and bowl behind!

PRAY for Opportunities

A great work is to be done, and this work has been entrusted to those who know the truth. They should make mighty intercession with God for help now. Ellen White Testimonies, v. 5, p. 454

LOOK for Opportunities

Create Daily Habits - Be Missional • Buy Petrol at the same venue – Caltex Servo • Woolworths Supermarket – Check in at the check out! • Walk around neighbourhood – “G’day” • Frequent Coffee Shop – “Where will I meet you? ” TIP – Be intentional

You may give out Veges, biscuits, Kit Kats, Time Out Bars, cards, books, toys, seeds, Tim Tams, Mugs, Bottles of water, Bottles of Fronti… Tip: Think what will be useful!

…Thousands of hearts can be reached in the most simple way… the true, honest work of a son or a daughter of God in words, or in a service of little things, done in natural simplicity, will unbolt the door, which has long been locked, to many souls. Review and Herald, May 9, 1899. p 144 – 145

Mark 10: 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. ”

Be Present

Make Friends Visits/Catch-ups, Social activities, BBQS, Street Parties, Street vans Tips – Get out, Be normal, Be real BE PRESENT

SHARE Your story

INVITE.

Samll Groups and Sabbath School Groups STUDY the Word together WORSHIP together FELLOWSHIP together, play together PRAY together SERVE together SHARE together TIP: Make groups a part of everyday life not

Acts 2: 42 - 47

Christ’s Method Alone… Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me. ”—The Ministry of Healing P 143

Follow Me!

There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed,

the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit. Ministry of Healing Page 143 - 145

Insert Video Clip: “Boys Rescued”