The Christian Woo -- FPC sermon excerpt
The rock-star Bono knows how to woo.
Back in 2000, he paid a visit to archconservative Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina. Bono was lobbying for debt relief for Africa, and he entered the meeting prepared to throw a lot of facts and figures at the senator. But on the spot he switched to a completely different language, and began to talk religion with Jesse Helms. He focused on Jesus Christ’s deep concern for the sick and the poor. The conversation was incredibly fruitful, leading to an appropriation of 435 million dollars for debt relief.
It’s all about the woo.
Business professors Richard Shell and Mario Moussa have written a book called The Art of Woo. But what is woo? It’s a relationship art — the ability to win people over without coercion. Think invitation, or courtship. Charles Lindbergh needed woo in order to attract backers for his transatlantic flight. Nelson Mandela used it to lead a peaceful revolution in South Africa. Business leaders need to practice woo every day.
For Christians, evangelism involves the art of woo. Now evangelism is a scary word for many of us, but woo is something we can all learn how to do. The session at FPC has made a commitment to church growth this year, so we all need to learn how to woo our neighbors, and invite them to be part of this community of faith. Fortunately, Jesus gives us excellent guidance in today’s passage from Acts. He urges his apostles to woo when he says, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus is about to be lifted out of their sight in the Ascension, and he tells them “you will be my witnesses” — you will tell others what you have heard me say, and what you have seen me do. The Risen Jesus wants his followers to evangelize and win people over … without coercion.
Back in 2000, he paid a visit to archconservative Senator Jesse Helms of North Carolina. Bono was lobbying for debt relief for Africa, and he entered the meeting prepared to throw a lot of facts and figures at the senator. But on the spot he switched to a completely different language, and began to talk religion with Jesse Helms. He focused on Jesus Christ’s deep concern for the sick and the poor. The conversation was incredibly fruitful, leading to an appropriation of 435 million dollars for debt relief.
It’s all about the woo.
Business professors Richard Shell and Mario Moussa have written a book called The Art of Woo. But what is woo? It’s a relationship art — the ability to win people over without coercion. Think invitation, or courtship. Charles Lindbergh needed woo in order to attract backers for his transatlantic flight. Nelson Mandela used it to lead a peaceful revolution in South Africa. Business leaders need to practice woo every day.
For Christians, evangelism involves the art of woo. Now evangelism is a scary word for many of us, but woo is something we can all learn how to do. The session at FPC has made a commitment to church growth this year, so we all need to learn how to woo our neighbors, and invite them to be part of this community of faith. Fortunately, Jesus gives us excellent guidance in today’s passage from Acts. He urges his apostles to woo when he says, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus is about to be lifted out of their sight in the Ascension, and he tells them “you will be my witnesses” — you will tell others what you have heard me say, and what you have seen me do. The Risen Jesus wants his followers to evangelize and win people over … without coercion.
posted by Henry Brinton | 7:46 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home