The Millennial Christian Generation might be sitting in toughest position in history to reach their very own generation for Christ. The shifts in technology, tolerance, post-modernism, etc. have made things tough for this generation to break through to their peers. I have gone to the advertising industry to see how they are attracting customers.  One company and icon that I can not get past is Progressive Insurance and Flo, their awkward and perky salesgirl. This series will take traits and qualities of Flo and relate them to the mission of engaging and reaching the Millennial Generation. This series is not claiming Progressive to be right or Christian but rather  pointing out traits and tools that are attractive and can help in reaching others for God’s Kingdom in these hard times. Enjoy the following series of: Lessons from Flo

Lesson 1: Joyful and in Love with  Identity and Purpose in Jesus

When engaging within your campus, community, etc., one thing everyone will notice whether you want them to or not: Do you truly love who you are and find true happiness in it? When you live your life, share your faith, or even hang out with your Christian and non-Christian friends, why would anyone want to live for what you live for if it seems like it is an obligation instead of true love.  Flo truly is happy and in love with selling insurance and connecting with people. Therefore, people, in and out of the commercials are drawn to her. Because of her attitude, people want what she has. In our case, if we show love and joy in our relationship with God, people will be more inclined to be interested in our Heavenly Father.

Philippians 3:1 “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16 “Be joyful always;”

The following passage serves as an anthem to the fact that we are not compelled out of obligation but rather out of our love for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:11-21 “¹¹Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. ¹²We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. ¹³If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. ¹⁵And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

 ¹⁶So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ¹⁸All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin^[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

How does this affect us on our campuses? One thing that will happen when we take this lesson of finding joy in our identity in Christ and being in love with our purpose of bringing glory to God is that we will gain confidence in our mission and lose our spirit of timidity.

Let’s take a humorous example from LL Cool J on how being timid ruins even the best opportunities to shine.

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.”

Take this first lesson from Flo and live with joy, love, and confidence as you engage with your generation on your campuses. Let your relationship and identity in Christ become contagious. Staying in Scripture and prayer is one way to start in redefining and resparking your love life.  Staying in the promises, commandments, and in conversation with the Love of our life, our Heavenly Father, should be something we do boldly and with much joy. Amen.

Psalm 16:5-11 : “⁵ LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
       you have made my lot secure.

  ⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
       surely I have a delightful inheritance.

 ⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
       even at night my heart instructs me.

 ⁸ I have set the LORD always before me.
       Because he is at my right hand,
       I will not be shaken.

 ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
       my body also will rest secure,

 ¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the grave, ^[a]
       nor will you let your Holy One ^[b] see decay.

 ¹¹ You have made ^[c] known to me the path of life;
       you will fill me with joy in your presence,
       with eternal pleasures at your right hand”