“Engaging the Community”Pastor Tim

Ahlman

Resources• “the table”

www.tablebethlehem.org–Pastor Tim Ahlman – tahlman@bethluth.net

• “When Helping Hurts” by Steve Corbett, Brian Fikkert

• Job Preparedness Program – “Jobs for Life” – www.jobsforlife.org

2 Timothy 1:5-7• 5I am reminded of your sincere faith,

a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Matthew 5:3-5

(Jesus says) 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

5"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Our Story

Humble Caveat

•I only give you principals and suggestions…

•You must exegete your own community…

What’s foundational?• A heart for the hurting, poor, lost and

broken! • A faith community that is willing to risk

for the extension of God’s kingdom!• A “just do it,” “no fear” attitude to

impact the community for Christ!• Pray and ask God to open up doors to

clearly show you how you can engage your community in a practical way with the love of Christ.

5 P’s Process

• Pray• Colossians 2:2-4

• 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3At the

same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare

the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4that I may make it clear,

which is how I ought to speak.

5 P’s Process

• Partner• Philippans 1:3-6

• 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4always in every prayer of mine for

you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel

from the first day until now. 6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in

you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

5 P’s Process

•Passion

PASSIONPhilippians 3:7-10 - 7But whatever gain I had, I

counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

PASSION

• II Timothy 1:6-7 - 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

• NO FEAR• FALL FORWARD

• CONFESS FAILURES…RISK AGAIN

5 P’s Process

• Provide• James 2:14-17

• “14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of

you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for

the body, what good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

5 P’s Process

•Prolong• Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that

He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the Day of Jesus

Christ. “

SUMMARY of 5 P’s

• PRAY•PARTNER•PASSION•PROVIDE•PROLONG

Questions??