When Jesus preached in the synagogue in His home town, He announced what His ministry agenda would be. Based upon Luke 4:16-19 it's easy to see what His ministry agenda was:
- Preach to the poor
- Heal the brokenhearted
- Deliverance to the captives
- Recovering of sight to the blind (physical and spiritual)
- Set at liberty those who are bruised (or hurting)
- Preach the acceptable year of the Lord (liberation, not legalism or bondage to sin)
What do all those things have in common? Meeting the needs of people, healing their hurts and practical preaching.
Jesus never bogged anyone down with Hebrew rhetoric, Greek root-words, mysterious meanings, deeper-life elitism, or pious platitudes. He spoke in plain, simple language and simply began with people where they hurt, and with what their needs were (both physical & spiritual).
There was something about Him and His ministry that attracted people; and a Christ-like ministry today will do the same. You won't have to use games or gimmicks. Nor do you have to water it down and compromise the message. All you have to do is learn how to minister as He ministered. Whether it was a person with leprosy, a bent back, or a guilty conscience, Jesus ministered to that need.
That's why Pace Community Church exists. We are here to do the work of Christ, whatever that may be. We are not here to have a private country-club for spiritual fat-cats. We're a hospital for the poor... the brokenhearted... the captive.... the blind and the bruised.
Beginning today... go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in so that God's house may be full.