Monday, January 12, 2009
Session 72: Evangelism
What's your excuse? It seems when you begin to talk about evangelism, "Christians" seem to come up with an excuse as to why they can't share their faith. "I don't know enough scripture" Is that kind of like telling on yourself for not reading your Bible? "I'm just not that good at talking to people" Yet we have no problem telling a waitress what we would like to order off of a menu. "I really don't know any lost people" Oh really, how do you know that the cashier at Wal-Mart is saved? That's right, whatever excuse you give me I can probably come up with a solution. I think the problem is much deeper than just a lame excuse. Some "Christians" can not share their faith because they simply have nothing to talk about. They really don't have a relationship with Christ. Think of it like this: we have no problem at all with telling people when we get a new car. We want them to take "the grand tour" and we go on and on at how great our new car is. Yet... we become extremely quiet when we have an opportunity to share our faith. The writer has three points in this weeks lesson. First, Christ commands us to share our faith. When we fail to obey a command, there are consequences. Secondly, the spirit empowers us to share our faith. We cannot do it on our own. It must be Christ through us. Bro. Brad spoke of how quiet he was in school in a sermon last week. But, when he speaks for Christ, he gets excited and don't want to hush! Amen? ha ha !! We are to share in Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the Earth. Finally, love compels us to share our faith. Has God done anything good in your life? You have a testimony to share and it should be evident in your life that you are a Christian. Not sharing...not loving? If we have love for others we should not want them to die without a relationship with Christ. Here's the deal: I challenge each and every one of you to go out and evangelize at least one person before Sunday. How can we teach our youth to do this if we are not willing to do it ourselves? I want you to report back on the blog with a report of your conversation. I am EXPECTING to hear from EVERY youth Sunday School teacher or substitute on this challenge. You can go ahead and blog like normal and then report back again later in the week with the evangelism challenge. I ask that each of you to let's bathe this in prayer and let's see what God will do. Remember, have spiritual eyes and ears and you will find more than one person to witness to this week. God bless, Billy!
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6 comments:
Joyce says.....
If you were to describe your life as a light, which might you choose and why? A lighthouse? A floodlight? 100 watt light bulb? A flashlight? A flashlight with dead batteries? A penlight? A bonfire? A campfire? A candle? A spark?
Where do you place (your) light?? Are you placing your light in the darkness?? Do you light your lamp and put it under a basket? (Matthew 5:15) Is your life a light on the hill?? Do you live a life that causes others to glorify God? How might you shine brighter for God?? Our light in an area that is already well lit (church, Christian friends, with those that are already saved) does not shine as bright and is not as noticeable as when it is allowed to shine in darkness. Make sure that you take your light out into the darkness of the world, don’t just allow it to shine when you are around those that have the light already.
If you were to describe your life as a fragrance to the world, what would it be? Boy’s locker room? A rose? Incense? Fish market? Fresh baked bread? Cinnamon & spice? Sewer? Freshly picked peach? Durian (aka King of fruits)? Socks? Potpourri? Roasted meat? Cigarette smoke?
The taste of durian has been described as “A rich butter-like custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but intermingled with it comes wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, brown sherry, and other incongruities." It sounds disgusting to me but it is said that anyone who loves Durian likes the smell. Their mouth may water at merely the smell. Many others can't get past the smell to even try to taste it, and may even describe it as smelling “like something has died.” Paul compares Christians to a fragrance much like that of Durian.
We must remember the purpose of the fragrance. It is like your reputation in that it precedes you. You shouldn’t need a letter of recommendation as our lifestyle should be our letter. But the letter by itself isn't enough. The fragrance by itself is not enough. It is merely to open the door so we can share the Gospel, share the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
I pray that I stand to the challenge that Billy has given and that I shine brightly with the light of God and be fragrant with the love of God to the one that He places in my path. The man on the combustion part of the video made a point that stood out to me. He said that “the story of salvation “belongs to everyone” and we all have the responsibility to share it”. Now it’s not that I didn’t already know that it was my responsibility to share what God has done for me and what he can do for others, but the fact that “the story belongs to everyone”. I knew that salvation was open to everyone but I guess maybe I had not given that “ownership to others” in my own mind. I pray that, as he said in the video, the Holy Spirit will take over and the words of God will flow from my lips. Please God give me spiritual eyes and ears to share your word and be the witness you would have me to be, this day and every day.
Joyce that was good.
Evangelism became a lot easier for me 2 years ago this spring. Not that I still don't get nervous, I do. It's just when I learned how to share the Gospel the way Jesus did, it took a weight off my shoulders.
I never felt comfortable the way I use to do it; "Jesus will fix your marriage, he will make your life better, He will make you happy, just try Him" Everyone I know has it made. Nice house, 2 cars, nice family. If someone comes to Jesus for any other reason than the fact that they need a Saviour, they will be a false convert. And what is this saving from? You got it! The Wrath of God. A person has to realize they are sick before they will go to the Doctor. Its called the Law and then the Gospel, the way the Master did it.
As you share the Gospel this week, please keep in mind that saying a prayer has sent as many people to hell as Christian hypocrisy has.
Billy I heard your challenge, I will report back later.Heather
Crystal Gill said ......
I took Billy’s challenge this week and went on a mission to speak to evangelize to at least one person but God seemed to think one was not enough. I sat down and numbered a list from 1 to 5 of people who have been on my heart. I wrote down three names and told God to put 2 more in my path. I was kind of scared of that one. Last time I prayed for God to put someone in my path, the next morning three people were in my office by nine debating was there a God and Heaven. That situation worked out find and one of those people has made a drastic change for the better since then.
So the first two people on my list were family members and even though those should be the easiest ones to talk to that isn’t always the case. God opened the door for me. My sister, who keeps Ella, came to the car Wednesday evening talking about a visitor she had earlier from the church we used to attend years ago. We had really great conservation about being saved and attending church. I love my sister dearly and she is such a wonderful person that I know she will be a blessing to which church she attends. I won’t give up on her. I know God is going to work in the life of her and her family.
Number 2 on my list was my Dad. Growing up my mom drug me and my two sisters to church, the only times my Dad attended was at weddings or funerals. About two months ago, one of my close friends mother passed away with a blood clot. She had no signs of illness just woke up one night and could not breath –she passed away before she made it to the hospital. As I sat at the funeral home that night with Sharon sopping over her mother, I thought how things we be different if that was my Dad. You see Sharon knows that her mom is in heaven. I would not have that peace. After I left the viewing I went to my parents and talked to my Dad in a way I never have before. I told him that he had to get things right with God, he was getting older and God could easily take his life and I did not want to spend the rest of my life thinking about where he would be. I was crying and I think maybe I was getting to him. The few weeks after that my dad attended church for the first time in over 50 years. That was in December and he has been a few times since then. He has had the flu and has been very sick the last couple of weeks. I talked to him yesterday about going back to church and how important it is. We promised he would when he got over this illness.
Number 3 on my list works with me –I am working on that one today.
Number 4 and 5 – I am still waiting for. But I know God will show me where to shine my light.
Joyce says......
WOW…..how quickly God answers prayers!!! Well, it was Friday afternoon and Billy posed a challenge for the week that I had not met. Man, I was feeling pretty disappointed in myself, but kinda tried to justify it with similar excuses to the ones Billy mentioned (i.e. I work at a Baptist association, most of the people I come in contact with are already Christians and I usually use the self-checkout at Wal-Mart). I shamefully admit that as John and I walked into Wal-Mart I considered that I may have to admit that I had failed. Now does God “need” me to do this, absolutely not; I would have been the one missing out on a tremendous blessing. As we walked into the door and got a buggy (around 4PM) I prayed and ask God to please put someone in my path and give me the spiritual eyes and ears to recognize and share with them the gift I had been given.
About 8:45, a family member called with something burdening her heart and mind. She has been struggling for a long time with many things and it just seems that (through her eyes) one more has been added. I understand many of her struggles and many I don’t. I see that we have different lifestyles, but most importantly I have a regular fellowship with God and she doesn’t. Now, I have spoken with her about salvation on many occasions but she assures me that she is saved and I cannot see into her heart so I will refrain from making a judgment call on that. With saying that, I do know that she does not fellowship with God on a regular basis, but I do see signs that she is searching and feel that she wants something more in her life than what she has at this point. During our conversation we also discussed her husband, to which she voiced concern for his salvation. She talked with me about his safety during upcoming travel into a war torn country and her concerns for him being gone for extended periods of time. I explained to her that he does not have to travel to that country, that he could get into his vehicle and leave home tomorrow morning and enter into an eternity of hell. I explained to her that God can make a change in their lives before he ever leaves. I also explained to her that just because you become a Christian you shouldn’t expect everything to be a bed of roses, but to know that when those trials come your way that you have someone to turn to with answers, hope, peace, comfort, that will always be there for you and will NEVER forsake you. I also explained to her that the most unhappy person in the world is a saved person not doing what God wants them to do. I was on the phone with her but still took the opportunity to pray with her, yes it was a little strange in a room alone praying over the phone……but God never put restraints on the time or place or I don’t think even the method that we use to pray with someone. There was much more discussed in our conversation that lasted over 45 minutes.
Do I think it was strange that she called me?………absolutely not…….Even more……Do I think it was strange that she called John the day before?......nope…..Like I said, I think she’s searching. Now she is scheduled to work this Sunday (I invited her to church), but did I stop with that…..nope….I ask her about the next Sunday…..She and her husband have both promised to come (they actually live in Brunswick). I even promised to call to remind her the day before and she said she wants me too. I ask each of you to please pray with me for them and for God to work in their lives. The change would not just affect a woman and man; there are also 3 children involved. Two of them are teenagers and we know how important it is that we reach them because statistics show that the chance slims as they age. Thank you God for one more blessing you have bestowed upon me!!!!
I must confess, I’m not nearly the evangelist God has called me to be. Although, God may have gifted some of us with evangelism, He has called each of us. I pray that God would give me the same concern and love for those that are lost, and perishing, as He has. In John 3:16, we read that God so loved the world. The question is …….who do we love? Some other questions to ponder might be……Did I have a part in leading someone to Christ this past year? Did I share with anyone how to be saved according to the bible? Did I confess Jesus as my Saviour before the lost? Did I pray for opportunities to share the Gospel?
I think many times we get discouraged with witnessing, because we don’t always see the results. Some of us (including me) may try to do too much. What we must do to avoid this disappointment, is to define our responsibilities regarding evangelism. Number one, we can’t save anyone. Number two, we can’t forgive sin. Number three, we can’t give life to the dead. Number four, we can’t give sight to the blind. Number five, we can’t heal the sick, the downtrodden, the desperate, the disenchanted, the dejected, the defeated, the discouraged, the depressed, the doubtful, the disarrayed, the disoriented, the disconnected, the downcast, the deceived or ….well …..you get the idea. WE CAN’T DO ANY OF THESE THINGS! Does that mean we should just sit around and do nothing? No, there is something we can, and must do, and are commanded to do. We can faithfully point them to the Saviour, the Forgiver, the Life Giver, the Sight Giver, the Great Physician. This is what a witness does. A witness is one who points to the Savior. John the Baptist was one who pointed to the Savior. Was John the Light or did he point to the Light? God wants us to be the sign post that points others in His direction.
Now, as for the challenge Billy gave us, I took an opportunity to ask an employee about involving God in a problem he was dealing with. It was a rather shallow conversation we had, but it allowed me to tell him how I would approach his situation, and hopefully, give me a chance to follow up. Feeling like I had failed, or at least fell short of the challenge, I prayed for another opportunity. God brought my sister to mind. I failed to contact her for a coupled of days, and then the phone rang. It was her. After a few minutes of small talk, I asked her how her life was going, I went on to tell her how I had changed since salvation, and how God was working in my life. I told her I was praying for her, and that I wish she would find a good church to attend. She was fairly receptive. I think she recognizes a need in her life. I pray that I can point her to Jesus. The story resumed later in the week, and is continued in Joyce’s blog. Thank God for allowing us to be part of His work.
P.S. Ever noticed that “angel” is in the word evangelize?
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