“Engaging the
Community”
Pastor Tim Ahlman
Resources
• “the table” www.tablebethlehem.org
– Pastor Tim Ahlman –
tahlman@bethluth.net
• “When Helping Hurts” by Steve
Corbett, Brian Fikkert
• Job Preparedness Program – “Jobs for Life”
– www.jobsforlife.org
2 Timothy 1:5-7
• 5I am reminded of your sincere faith, a
faith that dwelt first in your grandmother
Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I
am sure, dwells in you as well. 6For this
reason I remind you to fan into flame the
gift of God, which is in you through the
laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a
spirit not of fear but of power and love
and self-control.
Matthew 5:3-5
(Jesus says) 3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4"Blessed are those who mourn, for they
shall be comforted.
5"Blessed are the meek, for they shall
inherit the earth.
Our Story
Humble Caveat
• I only give you principals and
suggestions…
• You must exegete your own
community…
What’s foundational?
• A heart for the hurting, poor, lost and
broken!
• A faith community that is willing to risk
for the extension of God’s kingdom!
• A “just do it,” “no fear” attitude to
impact the community for Christ!
• Pray and ask God to open up doors to
clearly show you how you can engage
your community in a practical way with
the love of Christ.
5 P’s Process
•Pray
• Colossians 2:2-4
• 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being
watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3At the same
time, pray also for us, that God may open to
us a door for the word, to declare the mystery
of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—
4that I may make it clear, which is how I ought
to speak.
5 P’s Process
•Partner
• Philippans 1:3-6
• 3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of
you, 4always in every prayer of mine for you all
making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day
until now. 6And I am sure of this, that he who
began a good work in you will bring it to
completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
5 P’s Process
•Passion
PASSION
Philippians 3:7-10 - 7But whatever gain I had, I
counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count
everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered
the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in
order that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not
having a righteousness of my own that comes from the
law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the
righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection,
and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death, 11that by any means possible I may attain the
resurrection from the dead.
PASSION
• II Timothy 1:6-7 - 6For this reason I remind you
to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you
through the laying on of my hands, 7for God gave us a
spirit not of fear but of power and love and selfcontrol.
• NO FEAR
• FALL FORWARD
• CONFESS FAILURES…RISK AGAIN
5 P’s Process
•Provide
• James 2:14-17
• “14What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he
has faith but does not have works? Can that faith
save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed
and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to
them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without
giving them the things needed for the body, what
good is that? 17So also faith by itself, if it does not
have works, is dead.”
5 P’s Process
•Prolong
• Philippians 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that He who
began a good work in you will bring it to completion
at the Day of Jesus Christ. “
SUMMARY of 5 P’s
• PRAY
• PARTNER
• PASSION
• PROVIDE
• PROLONG
Questions??