I ONCE WAS LOST: SOMEONE YOU CAN TRUST
Mark 4:26–29; Matthew 9:9–13
Pastor Calvary deJong
June 15, 2025
Introduction: A Date to Remember
Recently, while attending the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) national conference, I sat at a table with a group of doctors and medical students from across the country, and a missionary doctor who had served in Africa. Over dinner, one of our student-leaders from Saskatchewan leaned over and showed everyone at the table a necklace she had custom-made just for her. It had a date engraved on it—2019—the year she became a Christian. “That’s the day everything changed,” she said. She hadn’t grown up in church. No memories of Sunday School or family devotions. Her journey to Jesus was different. Full of questions, but deeply transformative, as she had come to the place as a young adult where she had decided that yes, she was ready to follow Jesus.
As I listened, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own story. I haven’t always been a Christian. But I came to faith as a young boy through the influence of my parents. I remember being just four or five years old, knowing I had done something wrong—breaking a toy I was supposed to share with my sister—and realizing I needed forgiveness not just for the wrong I had done, but because I had lied about it too! That’s when Jesus became real to me. And I know I’m not alone. Many in our congregation share a similar story: raised in a Christian home, deciding to follow Jesus as a child or teen. Each one of those stories is something to celebrate. But it’s not universal. Increasingly, the people around us—our neighbours—are starting from a very different place, not being raised in the Christian faith. So, how does someone go from skepticism to faith? What does the journey to faith in Jesus look like for someone coming from a different starting point?
- The Kingdom of God Grows in Mysterious Ways - Mark 4:26–29
In one of His parables, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a farmer scattering seed: “Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows—though he does not know how.” That’s the point—he does not know how. The farmer plants, but the growth happens mysteriously. Quietly. Gradually. Often beyond our understanding. That’s how God works in the hearts of people.
Coming to faith is a spiritual journey, not a mechanical formula. Just as seeds need time, soil, and seasons to grow, so do people. The book I Once Was Lost: What Postmodern Skeptics Taught Us about Their Path To Jesus by Don Everts and Doug Schaupp describes five thresholds people often pass through as they move toward Christ. The very first threshold? Moving from distrust to trust. And that can take time. Not everyone is ready to believe immediately. And that’s okay. Our role is not to force growth, but to be present and patient, while sowing seeds of faith—trusting that God is already at work.
- Jesus Practiced Trust-Building Through Relationship and Presence - Matthew 9:9–13
When Jesus called Matthew, a tax collector, He didn’t just say, “Follow me,” and move on. He went to Matthew’s house. He shared a meal with him, and with a room full of people, religious leaders avoided. The Pharisees were shocked: “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus answered with His why: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” Jesus didn’t lead with pressure. He led with presence. He didn’t wait for people to clean up before coming close. He sat with them. He listened. He loved. And through that presence, trust was built, and lives were changed.
- Application: Becoming Someone Others Can Trust
You may not think of yourself as an evangelist. But you can be someone who reflects Jesus in a way that builds trust. That’s where faith journeys often begin. Here are three ways anyone can practice presence and become trustworthy witnesses:
- Pray – Ask God to soften your heart toward people who are far from Him. Pray for those in your life—your family, friends, and neighbours. Pray for people who don’t yet know they’re lost.
- Practice Openness – Be curious. Ask questions. Listen deeply. When someone shares a bad experience with faith, don’t argue—listen. You may be the first Christian who helps them feel safe.
- Practice Hospitality – Create space for connection. It could be sharing a drink at the garden, inviting someone for a walk, or offering a simple meal. These small acts of kindness can become sacred ground.
A few weeks ago, at my boys’ judo class, I started chatting with one of the other parents. Eventually, she asked me what I do for work. I told her I’m a pastor at First Mennonite Church. She smiled and said, “Oh, I go to that church.” I was caught off guard—she’s not in our directory, and I’ve never seen her at a Sunday service. But then she explained that when her kids were younger, she started to bring them to the City Park Toy Library, hosted right here in our building. She might not be ready for a worship service, but from her perspective, this is her church. Why? Because we opened our doors to serve our community beyond the four walls—and to plant seeds of trust, even before faith has fully formed.
Reflection & Questions
- Who are the people in your life who don’t know Jesus yet and need someone they can trust?
- Where might God be inviting you to slow down, listen, and be present?
- How can we, as a church, continue to be a community that practices hospitality and builds relationships with the community outside our church building?
Gospel Invitation: From Presence to Transformation
Jesus didn’t wait for us to get everything right. He came close. He broke bread. He died for us. And He rose to give us new life. Our calling is to reflect that kind of love—to place our trust in Jesus and be transformed by Him, so that we can become trustworthy people in a world that is often suspicious of faith. For many, the journey to Jesus begins with a single relationship with a Christian who is living a life worthy of the calling they have received—with someone they can trust.
Prayer of Response
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for coming near to us when we were far away.
Make us people of patience, compassion, and courage.
Help us plant seeds of trust.
And may our presence in others’ lives point them toward You.
Amen.