Comments on: Are You Listening for Persons of Peace? http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/2009/10/14/are-you-listening-for-persons-of-peace/ An Initiative of CityTeam Ministries Thu, 12 May 2011 13:18:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Mark Acuna http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/2009/10/14/are-you-listening-for-persons-of-peace/#comment-1378 Mark Acuna Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:39:39 +0000 http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/?p=598#comment-1378 I like to think of it this way - God is at work in every community and neighborhood. His work does not begin with us church planters, but it includes us. I pray that God would open my eyes to see what He has been doing in the community; what people He has focused on, and what He has been doing in their lives. When I begin to see these things, I ask God to show me how to partner with Him in continuing the divine dialog in this person's life. I must be totally spontaneous, because the person of peace could cross my path at any moment in my daily activities. When God taps me on my shoulder and says, " Do you notice that person?" I must spring into action or the moment may be lost. I don't worry what I'm to say or do - that's the purpose of being Spirit-led and being a sheep that hears His voice. The person of peace will have been prepared by God to stop long enough that God will tap them on the shoulder and say, "Listen to this guy." Amazing. I like to think of it this way – God is at work in every community and neighborhood. His work does not begin with us church planters, but it includes us. I pray that God would open my eyes to see what He has been doing in the community; what people He has focused on, and what He has been doing in their lives. When I begin to see these things, I ask God to show me how to partner with Him in continuing the divine dialog in this person’s life. I must be totally spontaneous, because the person of peace could cross my path at any moment in my daily activities. When God taps me on my shoulder and says, ” Do you notice that person?” I must spring into action or the moment may be lost. I don’t worry what I’m to say or do – that’s the purpose of being Spirit-led and being a sheep that hears His voice. The person of peace will have been prepared by God to stop long enough that God will tap them on the shoulder and say, “Listen to this guy.” Amazing.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Are You Listening for Persons of Peace? -- Topsy.com http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/2009/10/14/are-you-listening-for-persons-of-peace/#comment-1115 Tweets that mention Are You Listening for Persons of Peace? -- Topsy.com Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:29:28 +0000 http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/?p=598#comment-1115 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Paul Watson, Angela Zimmerman and Richard M., Rob Ross. Rob Ross said: Are You Listening for Persons of Peace? by Paul There is a need to be open to spiritual things. http://tinyurl.com/yjf6exh [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Paul Watson, Angela Zimmerman and Richard M., Rob Ross. Rob Ross said: Are You Listening for Persons of Peace? by Paul There is a need to be open to spiritual things. http://tinyurl.com/yjf6exh [...]

]]> By: Bob http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/2009/10/14/are-you-listening-for-persons-of-peace/#comment-1114 Bob Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:43:00 +0000 http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/?p=598#comment-1114 I think the people looking to identify a checklist are using a part of their personality I relied upon for decades, but there is a better way. Achievers want to be right, check off the list and also accomplish something. They do NOT want to experience the grief of being in a bad relationship and "wasting time." I suggest that the Holy Spirit picks the hinges to the door of community. Look at Cornelius. God picked him. Jesus picked the woman at the well. He also picked the Gerasene demoniac. That man asked to come with Jesus. Jesus said, "No, stay here and tell your story." He did. The next visit saw the entire region believe! I would not pick a man with so many "issues" but Jesus did, and he does. If we can learn to walk in the Spirit to this level, we will see these communities open up through the people God chooses as the door. They might not have half the "best traits" but only need one-His choice. You stimulated that whole line of thought. Thank you. It was a pleasure reading and processing this blog. I think the people looking to identify a checklist are using a part of their personality I relied upon for decades, but there is a better way. Achievers want to be right, check off the list and also accomplish something. They do NOT want to experience the grief of being in a bad relationship and "wasting time."

I suggest that the Holy Spirit picks the hinges to the door of community. Look at Cornelius. God picked him. Jesus picked the woman at the well. He also picked the Gerasene demoniac. That man asked to come with Jesus. Jesus said, "No, stay here and tell your story." He did. The next visit saw the entire region believe!

I would not pick a man with so many "issues" but Jesus did, and he does. If we can learn to walk in the Spirit to this level, we will see these communities open up through the people God chooses as the door. They might not have half the "best traits" but only need one-His choice.

You stimulated that whole line of thought. Thank you. It was a pleasure reading and processing this blog.

]]> By: pauldwatson http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/2009/10/14/are-you-listening-for-persons-of-peace/#comment-1111 pauldwatson Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:00:48 +0000 http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/?p=598#comment-1111 Finding Persons of Peace is difficult. I will talk a bit about this. Finding Persons of Peace is difficult. I will talk a bit about this.

]]> By: pauldwatson http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/2009/10/14/are-you-listening-for-persons-of-peace/#comment-1110 pauldwatson Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:59:43 +0000 http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/?p=598#comment-1110 Hey Laura! Thanks for catching they typo! It should be 'five.' I'll correct it! I know many Christians use the term Person of Peace pretty loosely. Consequently, we find Believers looking for Persons of Peace among Christians and starting groups with Christians rather than using the Person of Peace approach to engage the lost. We make a distinction so that when we challenge people we train to 'find Persons of Peace' that they understand that we mean 'among the lost.' I also feel this definition is closer to what Jesus meant in Luke 10 and we see by example in Acts. We use 'Persons of Good Will' apply to non-Christians who never receive Christ but welcome you to work in their area. Thanks for the encouragement! Hey Laura! Thanks for catching they typo! It should be 'five.' I'll correct it! I know many Christians use the term Person of Peace pretty loosely. Consequently, we find Believers looking for Persons of Peace among Christians and starting groups with Christians rather than using the Person of Peace approach to engage the lost. We make a distinction so that when we challenge people we train to 'find Persons of Peace' that they understand that we mean 'among the lost.' I also feel this definition is closer to what Jesus meant in Luke 10 and we see by example in Acts.

We use 'Persons of Good Will' apply to non-Christians who never receive Christ but welcome you to work in their area.

Thanks for the encouragement!

]]> By: Laura http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/2009/10/14/are-you-listening-for-persons-of-peace/#comment-1109 Laura Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:46:37 +0000 http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/?p=598#comment-1109 Paul, Funny story about your youth minister. I like it.... Couple things that you may want to look at. 1) At the top you say the verse raises 4 questions, but then you've listed out 5 questions. Thinking it's just a typo. 2) I've heard the term "person of peace" (POP) being used for christians as well as non-christians, so I'm thinking that a little bit of expansion on why in your definition you've stated they should be non-believers. For example, I've heard the term used towards folks who hold bible study group in their house, but aren't part of a formal church. A church planter who wanted to expand on that group and plant a church with them, refered to them as a POP. Hope that helps....looks like you're off to a great start with some good ideas! Keep up the good work! Paul,
Funny story about your youth minister. I like it….
Couple things that you may want to look at. 1) At the top you say the verse raises 4 questions, but then you've listed out 5 questions. Thinking it's just a typo.
2) I've heard the term "person of peace" (POP) being used for christians as well as non-christians, so I'm thinking that a little bit of expansion on why in your definition you've stated they should be non-believers. For example, I've heard the term used towards folks who hold bible study group in their house, but aren't part of a formal church. A church planter who wanted to expand on that group and plant a church with them, refered to them as a POP.
Hope that helps….looks like you're off to a great start with some good ideas!
Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Puschendorf http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/2009/10/14/are-you-listening-for-persons-of-peace/#comment-1108 Puschendorf Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:43:17 +0000 http://www.reachingtheonlinegeneration.com/?p=598#comment-1108 our problem is, to get in touch with the PoP´s ... so I would like to know more about the next (following) chapter . :-) Hope you will blog something ... our problem is, to get in touch with the PoP´s … so I would like to know more about the next (following) chapter . :-) Hope you will blog something …

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