There I said it! Evangelism Stinks! And most of us Stink at Evangelism! You have seen every gimmick, slogan, method, strategy known to the church and all statistics show that both the believer and the unbeliever is left with a bad taste in our mouths when it comes to giving out the most important, life-giving message in the world.
And the truth be known, most of us are sick and tired of the guilt and frustration of trying to give the Gospel to people who seem to not want it or seem to have no need of it. Understand this, we all believe it's important, biblical, even an awesome privilege and responsibility but something few of us have done often and with little success.
Regardless of this-those of us who are believers love Jesus and we really want our friends and family to find him too. We really believe He is the life that is truly life, as we have seen in Matthew 5:3-9.
This week we will begin looking at what it means to be salt and light to our world. It is my prayer that we will experience encouragement and release to live a life-giving lifestyle that will intentionally change who you are all day long. A lifestyle that will allow you to pray and watch and to see your circumstances, vocation, people in your life differently and through Jesus' life giving purpose.
I believe all of us want to live life on purpose and for a purpose. A life full of Jesus that we are experiencing and then giving it away to all who need to hear it's life changing message. And truthfully I believe this is the life Jesus wants for all of us.
One more guilt relieving statement I will share with you this weekend. You can't save a soul!(now you are off the hook!) I know you love Jesus and desire to use you life for His Kingdom. I believe you can be fruitful in this desire right now! No new clinics, methods, seminars or even more courage or verses memorized. I believe each of us can know and see how God is using us for His kingdom purposes.
I hope you will prioritize being together this weekend. It's so important to worship Jesus together and be encouraged in His Word.
See you this weekend!
God BLess
Pastor Randy
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ReplyDeletePastor Randy,
ReplyDeleteThis is Susie Brooks using my work profile: I agree with you on this and would like to add that a huge part of our fear of evangelism is our culture. Because of my involvement with Navigators, I learned early the importance of evangelism. But I learnt this in a country (Kenya) that is more accepting of this. It is not uncommon for someone to stop you on the street and ask if you are saved. In fact, it is also very common during fellowship and gathering for people to introduce themselves and add "...and I am saved". This makes it so much easier to share the gospel and to challenge people on matters relating to eternity. I notice that I have a much harder time even discussing spiritual matters. As a doctoral student at Hamline University, I find it even harder to be honest about my opinions on certain issues because I am aware it is very unpopular to be a Christian, and even worse, that I am a republican. I am looking forwarding to being challenged through your messages and learn how to be bold as I think about the great commission in Matthew 28:18-20. I can just feel the excuses already! Incidentally, our son has already led two kids to Christ in his young faith and he is not afraid to ask kids if they know Jesus. Unfortunately, Steve and I found ourselves telling him to be careful when talking to our neighbors kids because we weren't sure how they would take it. Isn't this sad that instead of encouraging him to continue the good work, we revert to the "self-protection, need to maintain friendships" mode?
Salt--Light
ReplyDeleteWe (Christians) are declared salt of the earth by Christ. As pure salt, we will be effectivly used by the Holy Spirit to advance the Kingdom Of God. Salt is valuable in solid form, granuals or even as a liquid, but not when polluted. Polluted salt has no value. We become less salty if we are compromised (polluted) by the "world". We could even become useless. All Christians are well aware we are in, but not of, the world.
We are also to be reflectors of the Light, again most effective and usable when we are kept clean by repeated "washing".
As we are pure and clean, in contact with our Lord, the "world", those we come in contact with, will consider us "legitimate" and dependable, even a trusted magnet the Holy Spirit can use to access the person we are evangelizing. It that Grace, or what?
God bless you this weekend.
Ken Peterson
I was talking with my father recently and while casually talking about the normal "chatty" topics (weather, health, family, etc.)he mentioned that he walks everyday a route in a nearby neighborhood. A while ago he noticed one house always had it's garage door open and the owner was in the garage doing things. Every time dad passed by the garage he would wave or say "hi!". Well, one day the owner waved my father up to the garage and they started talking. The man is in his late forties and works in the commercial refrigeration field. Anyway as the weeks passed, they would say hi to each other and occasionaly the man would wave my father up to the garage to talk. Recently, the man started to give my father things. A rack of pork ribs, steaks, corn, brats, etc. Being very gracious and grateful, my father would accept his gifts. One day my father said to the man, "I have nothing to give back to you like the things you have given me, but what I can give you is this." He handed the man the 4 Spiritual Laws. A evangelistic tract my father always has available. Some weeks passed and my dad was walking and saw the man again. The man waved him up to the garage. Dad asked if he had read what he had given to him. He said, "Yes!, it was very interesting and I really appreciate it!" There you go, real evangelism is about being real. Just be kind, friendly, and available, the Holy Spirit will do the rest.
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