What practical steps can we take to actively seek Jesus in our community? Seeing the Example in John 11:56 “So they kept looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple courts, ‘What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?’” (John 11:56) Those worshipers carried an eager, public expectation. Their example helps shape our own pursuit of Christ in the places where neighbors gather. Cultivating Expectant Hearts • Expectation grows from certainty: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). • Expectation becomes action when we “draw near to God” (James 4:8). Practical Steps to Seek Jesus Together • Meet intentionally in familiar community spaces—homes, cafés, parks—inviting Jesus by name. “For where two or three gather together in My name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). • Read aloud from the Gospels in those gatherings; listen for what Jesus is doing now, just as He did then. • Share testimonies of Christ’s work during everyday conversations; keep them brief and real. • Walk your neighborhood while praying quietly for specific homes and storefronts, trusting the Lord who “came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). • Serve tangible needs—meals, yard work, childcare—so that people “see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). • Keep doors open for hospitality. The early church “continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house” (Acts 2:46-47). Letting Scripture Guide Our Outreach • Open every gathering with Scripture. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). • Memorize key promises together so the Word flows naturally into conversation. • Use the Psalms for public praise; sing them as simple choruses when appropriate. Living as Visible Witnesses • Maintain integrity in work and online presence, reflecting Christ’s character. • Be ready with gentle, respectful explanations of hope, following 1 Peter 3:15. • Celebrate answered prayer publicly, reinforcing that Jesus is active here and now. Encouragement to Persevere The temple crowd kept looking until they saw Him. Keep seeking with that same perseverance, confident that as we draw near, He makes Himself known in the heart of our community. |
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