Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!

"To much strategy early on could have been very disruptive and overwhelming, potentially robbing some people of faith."

Jesus began the process of communicating about the future in a very low key and indirect way. He used a question about why the disciples did not fast to open up the idea that he would be taken from them “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them and they will fast." (Matt 9:15). On another occasion he answered a request to perform a miraculous sign by talking about Jonah who spent three days in the belly of a huge fish. He went on to open up the intriguing concept that “…the son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matt 12:40).

Getting people used to change without an all inclusive and directive statement can be a very good way to begin. I am sure the disciples had no clue as to what Jesus was on about. If they did, they would have commented and reacted strongly to his statements, as proved to be the case later on.

Three years ago when we were only a handful of people with a very local identity on the east side of Manchester, we began to mention in prayer meetings and passing conversation the idea of linking the east with the city. With very little information I found people were able to talk and even pray about the city without getting bogged down in the detail. To much strategy early on could have been very disruptive and overwhelming, potentially robbing some people of faith. Today we are developing a multi-location church and are planting a congregation into the city.

Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!

Jesus began the process of communicating about the future in a very low key and indirect way. He used a question about why the disciples did not fast to open up the idea that he would be taken from them “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them and they will fast." (Matt 9:15). On another occasion he answered a request to perform a miraculous sign by talking about Jonah who spent three days in the belly of a huge fish. He went on to open up the intriguing concept that “…the son of man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matt 12:40).