Jesus himself was a master at that. He called his 12 closest friends to be with him on a mountain in Matthew chapter 5, but by the end of that talk, he had a huge crowd (look at the end of chapter 7). He was speaking the deepest and most intimate truths to his 12 closest friends in the midst of the crowds.
I find that I, too often, want to change my message. Nuance it differently for different audiences. Sometimes this may be appropriate. But what if I could be the same man everywhere? Have the same message with anyone? What if I was – like Jesus – a man who lives these thoughts:
*Bring and live life
*Encouragement not condemnation
*Relationships matter
*Religion isn’t the answer
*Love the poor, serve the hurting
*The towel (of foot washing fame) is greater than the sword
*God invites people in
*God’s parties are for all. Only the religious keep people out
I think all of us need that. The smallest group of our closest friends as well as the crowds we don’t know. This is the message of Jesus’ Kingdom.
About Me
- Carl Medearis
- Carl Medearis and his family lived in Beirut, Lebanon for 12 years. Through his unique and strategic approach around the Arab world, he has taught many Muslim university students, business professionals and political leaders to live their lives by the principles of Jesus in order to change their nations. Today Carl spends much of his time working with leaders both in the West and in the Arab world with the goal of seeing a total transformation of the Arab Middle East through the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
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