Discover JesusExemplo

Week 3 - Day 4

Feeling Like An Outsider | Read

When Jesus is teaching his disciples about the culture of leadership that matches His Kingdom, he challenges them to become generous, sincere, humble, and caring. He wants them to build a safe space: a space where hurting people can encounter him. Jesus often explained leadership using a metaphor of a shepherd feeding and protecting their sheep. In fact, that’s what the word pastor literally means - ‘shepherd’. Churches are meant to provide a safe environment where vulnerable people are loved and encouraged.

If you feel like an outsider, for whatever reason - if your journey makes you feel like you wouldn’t be accepted by Jesus - YOU’RE WRONG!!! Jesus never excluded anyone who genuinely wanted to follow Him. Sadly, at times, Christians have done a really poor job of reflecting Jesus’ attitude, and if you’ve experienced rejection or judgment from Christians, we’re so sorry. Our hope is that you would discover the love and acceptance of Jesus- in a safe community of Jesus followers. A community where you can truly belong.

Questions | Reflect & Respond

What are the relationships that I feel safe in?

Who are the people that make me feel like I belong?

Facing Our Fears | Pray

Fear can so easily rob us of the opportunity to belong and to move forward in our relationships. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of embarrassment or humiliation. When we don’t acknowledge our fears, we end up trying to manufacture an identity that others will like and accept. We try to control what people think of us and we get exhausted trying to sustain this projection of who we want to be.

Fear makes us avoid vulnerability and honesty, and it costs us the chance to be truly known and loved. Ask God to help you be aware of the fears that can so easily make us superficial and unable to be real with people. Ask God to help you find some safe relationships where you can discover more of the acceptance and love of Jesus.