Looking In or Looking Out

Relevant, Missional, Emergent - all the latest buzz words. We keep talking but maybe it's time we start listening.

Maybe everyone needs to stop and ask a few questions such as:

- As a church are we looking in (to grow our local body) or are we looking out (to serve)?
- How much time and energy do we spend internally vs. externally?
- Should we be using our resources to make people comfortable or uncomfortable?
- Am I as an individual acting as a consumer of the church or am I providing for others?

I understand we all need to grow, to learn about following Jesus, and to feel safe. But, we also need to be challenged. Everywhere in the Bible I see Jesus saying come to me but once you get it - GO! You can go because I am in you.

So where do we draw the line? How do we educate and build the local body and still have the energy, resources, and heartfelt desire for those out in the world who need to know Jesus and need to be cared for - the hungry, the thirsty, the lonely, the cold, and those in prison?