Ministries:
Adult | Teens | Children

Pastor's Pen's:
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Sermon Series:
Following Jesus
Earthly Cross
His Name Is
Apostles Creed
Dealing with Feelings
Jonah
Get Real
Promised Land Living

Grace Church
257 Kendall Street
Burlington, WI 53105

(262) 763-3021

Email:
Pastor Scott Carson

Secretary Patti Hall

PASTOR'S PENS 2003

Grace Church of Burlington February 23, 2003 "You will find, as you look back upon your life, that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love." Henry Drummond             Last week we began our new series, Dealing with Feelings, and considered how one can be liberated from the serious problem of loneliness (if you were not here, please feel free to request a tape of the message). Because of time constraints, we did not have the opportunity to discuss how you and I can help lonely people. So how can we minister to those suffering from loneliness?             In his book, Facing Loneliness, the late J. Oswald Sanders wrote of the sacrifice that it can be to minister to the lonely. He wrote: "Ministering to the lonely people who surround us is never an easy task, even when we have the highest motivation and the utmost goodwill. Friendly advances are not always easy to make to a person in the grip of loneliness, nor are they always well received. Sometimes one will meet with a rebuff. A positive response on a first approach is unusual. Even though the sufferer may be aching for friendship, paradoxically for one reason or another he or she is loath to respond. It is for those who are concerned, and who do not labor under such a handicap, to be on the lookout for such persons, make the first approach, and be prepared to accept an initial rebuff. In this way we can often break through the ice and open the way for further contact." Ministering to the lonely is not always going to be easy. It is a Kingdom investment and will probably require some sacrifice. The truth is that lonely people can sometimes be exasperating. Frequently, they are socially handicapped and it is tempting to become irritable, impatient and sharp with them. Instead, we must be kind sensitive and compassionate with them, just as the Good Shepherd is with us. Let me suggest Five Ways in which we can minister to the lonely.             a) Be transparent. All too often we put on a facade. We have a public image and we have a private image. It is easy to wear a veneer and hide who we really are. Ministering to people requires sincerity and it is impossible to be sincere if you are hiding who you really are.             b) Be positive and encouraging. A lonely person is often depressed. Gloomy words and attitudes only further spread melancholy. Cultivate a joyful, loving spirit and then share it.             c) Be available. It can be difficult to schedule ministering to people. It has to be priority or it will never happen. You will look very hard to find idleness in the life of Christ. While Jesus was continually busy, He was never too busy too minister to someone in need.             d) Be a bridge-builder. Most lonely folk need a larger circle of friends. They also need to experience the full community of the Body of Christ. Lonely people will often cling to one or two people who have shown an interest in them. They need to expand their world, learning to both be blessed and also to be a blessing. Look for others that you can introduce the lonely person too that have common interests. It’s great that you are their friend. It’s just as important that you assist them in learning to be friendly and in making other friends.             e) Be gentle. A lonely person is a hurting person. If someone has a broken leg, you handle him or her tenderly and gently, seeking to avoid jarring the broken limb. Too often gentleness is a lost art today. Most of us could work at being more gentle and sensitive to the needs and hurts of others. We want people to be gentle with us when we are hurting. Let’s seek to be gentle with them.             The Lord Jesus spent His life ministering to others. He went about doing good. As His followers we are to do the same. God in His love has reached out to each one of us. By His grace, let’s seek to reach out in love to those who are lonely around us!!