I (Sal) asked this question to many "older" believers-"What makes you continue to serve God?"-They reply, my growing loving personal relationship with Jesus Christ! Do you have a personal relationship with God or is it just a religion-where you can put God in a "box" and use it when you need Him?
First, God commanded us to with the "Great Commission" in Matthew 28:18-20. However, the greatest commandment is to love God and love your neighbor (our "Christ-like" lifestyle 24/7 is our full-time evangelism)
, which should be every Christians motivation to share the Gospel-Good News. There is a song called, "People Needs the Lord", which touches my heart as I see so much "hurt" in the world. Personally, I get riddled up when I see the "news media", where I mostly see "bad news"
College Outreach
As a former college student that came to know Christ my first year, I was "gung-ho" to try to "save" everybody and tell them about Jesus. I "offended" many people as I did it selfishly and without love.
I was at my home church in St. Paul last month (11/29/03), and the pastor share this story:
Greg (pastor) was at sometype of Christian conference in Colorado. A college student came up to him with a sad face as she shared how not many of her peers have the heart to share the "Good News". She was very dissapointed of the christian groups she participated in as they didn't have her "vision" to reach their campus. Greg challenged her to "first" start with her roommate and pray for her each day; instead of trying to reach the "whole campus" (it become overwhelming).
Don't get overwhelmed with trying to save the world, because God has already done that through Jesus Christ dying on the cross 2,000 + years ago. What we can do is make a difference one person at a time that God has put in your daily life (school, work, home, family, friends, neighbors, community, etc...). Below are some links of a very popular story how one Christian can make a differnece one person at a time that effects the whole world:
I was meeting with the Outreach Coordinator for IVCF in the middle of this month (February 2004) and he was interested on the different evangelism outreaches I used to help with when I was a part of ths committee (97'-98'). I decided to come up with this...Evangelism Archive
Today (Friday, July 3rd of 2009), I decided to journal the "open doors" I've had in sharing the "Good News" in the "marketplace" or "workplace". I've been "motivated" through prayer to seek God for these opportunities more lately. Another "door opened" last night when a co-worker started sharing her "family problems". She ended up saying, "I don't know what to do". I've had similar conversations (e.g. Heavenly Father's love) with her and gave her "Bible tracts" about God before, so I was praying in "Spirit" too. In just less than a minute, she then answered herself- "I've been asking the Lord, what should I do?". I encouraged her to keep asking Him on this. I then started to "open-up" about my past struggles and some of them that I've overcome with the Lord's help. I shared a little of my own "personal testimony" on how and why I came to Christ and want to be more like Him. The "Spirit" led me to talk about "repentance and asking God for forgiveness", which I looked into her and saw she was "really" thinking about this or felt convicted. After over an unexpected hour of our conversation, I asked her if we could pray together about these situations. She ended up adding on to our prayer and did most of the asking!! I'm praying for follow-up on this and praying for "divine appointments" of other members of the family of Christ to "plant seeds" of faith and encouragement to her, family, and the people around this particular "challenging" circumstance. I feel what has helped set this "open door" has been my recent morning daily devotions (seeking a current "special" friendship), fasting this past Tuesday, and other "God-focus" personal relationship growing factors. Halleluah...Praise the Lord!!!
Be a Light First!
It's hard to witness to people if many are tired of Christians and the church being hypocrites (no one is perfect). We need to make sure we "practice what we preach" and that our "actions speak louder than words" through our daily lifestyle.
I was driving down I-94 from Sauk Centre to the Cities and saw this billboard...
"What if I swore less...
That reminded me of the many "if's" in life on how we- not they have to make a difference in our own lives first before we start pointing our fingers of other people's sins/mistakes!
We can be a "light" for Him anywhere, not just in the church of the 4 walls. God called us to "full-time" ministry, which we need to shine 24/7-home, school, job, community, etc...
"Divine Appointments"
-People Around You: Marketplace
God puts certain people (family, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, friends/peers, etc...) in your life for a reason. Instead of trying to "find" people to "witness" too, just ask God about the people around you already (e.g. headlight analogy).
-Strangers
God also puts people in your path when you leas expect whereever you go. For example, this past weekend-Saturday, Janurary 31st (Ice Place 04' visit)-that I was so anxious to write about! My friends and I were "set-up" to talk to this security guard, who look very bored at City Hall in downtown St. Paul. We went from a "secular" topic to a "spiritual" topic (after much prayer) and shared about if "you are going to heaven?". We had to "run" because we were almost there for an hour already in order to see the Ice Place and ice sculptures. However, I didn't want to leave him "hanging", so I happend to have a tract and left my contact info. My friend and I prayed after we met him, so God's seed of faith will grow....more (Hmong: Roots from the Middle East)!
Called to Warn the World: Watchmen and Watch Women
*see GoodnewsEverybody Issues: Sinful, Rebellion, Wrong, Guilt, etc...
" 4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.”
10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. 11 Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen."....
Ezekiel’s Task as Watchman
"16 At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for[b] their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
20 “Again, when a righteous person turns from their righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before them, they will die. Since you did not warn them, they will die for their sin. The righteous things that person did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous person not to sin and they do not sin, they will surely live because they took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”
22 The hand of the LORD was on me there, and he said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you.” 23 So I got up and went out to the plain. And the glory of the LORD was standing there, like the glory I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown.
24 Then the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet. He spoke to me and said: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes; you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people. 26 I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you will be silent and unable to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious people. 27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ Whoever will listen let them listen, and whoever will refuse let them refuse; for they are a rebellious people.
Family
Your closest love ones seem to be the hardest to share the �Good News� with�why is that? My personal answer is that they have seen your past mistakes from growing up in the same household. They already have a judgmental �label� on you through their personal experience with you that others haven�t seen. How can we �witness� to them? There is no �right� or �wrong� formula/way to do this; however, this is what I�ve done and working on so far:
You need to be �right with God� first by asking God to forgive you of all the �wrongs� you did and what your family members have done to you-no matter what they�ve done (abuse, etc..). In order to be a �light�, we need to be able to shine though our �way of life�. Has our life changed since we came to a �personal relationship� with Christ that the �fruit� of it can be seen by our �love ones� through our actions?
Related Tips:
*Note: Did you know that Jesus had a half brother? His name was James, and he didn�t (John 7:5) believe that Jesus was the �Messiah� until His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7). James joined the many (Acts 1:14) �believers� that spread the �Good News� after Jesus left as he was used effectively (Acts 15:3)
Don�t give up on your family! Till then, why don�t you �reach out� to the people God puts in your life (roommate/housemate, workplace, etc..) as they probably have family/relatives that are Christians that are praying for their �salvation� too! Let�s all work together as the Family in Christ in building His Kindom!
This morning at church I shared one of several stories within this past week of �open doors� God gave me to share the Good News, which is a rare opportunity that has never happened ever that I can remember as a Christian. I thank God for these stories, which I�m about to share to encourage the Body of Christ in the �Great Commission�. My good friend/brother-in-Christ, Mark, shared an announcement of the annual �Send Me� retreat that he is helping organize, which he quoted from of my favorite �evangelism� verses-Romans 10:14-16: �How can they hear, if no one shares the Good News with them�?...
Speaker: Stu Schulz
Saturday, February 8, 2004
Message: �Contending for you Family Members
Stu shared the �Importance of Covenant� pertaining to relationships with your immediate family. Our family may not be perfect, but we were put together and we can�t change that. We may be hurt by a particular family member or more, we still need to forgive and �reach out� to them for Christ! He shared the verse from Isaiah 61:1 on being used by the Lord to �heal the brokenhearted�. His personal saying is, �through obedience, it�ll last�. Some examples he shared on covenants in the Bible were:
God and Man
Nations or Tribes
Between God and�
Noah-�there will be no flood�
Abraham-descendents as numerous as the stars
Israel-become a holy nation
Aaron-family of priesthood
David-Messiah (Jesus) will come from his lineage
The new covenant is our salvation through forgiveness of our sins (Luke 22). Why is the covenant so important? We live in a �Contract (Consumer) Society�, where we �selfishly� want what we want! If one doesn�t meet our needs, we immediately run to another option. For example, church goers go from one church congregation to another if they �don�t like it�. Stu encourage church goers to �stick� to one church and not leave until God says they can �go� if God first �sent� them there in the first place! We need a covenant mindset, which he gave a list of reasons why it�s important:
�We are called to be salt�
*Did you know that Michelangelo�s painting of the �Last Supper� has a scene of Judas Iscariot knocking over the salt shaker, which was symbol of Judas breaking that �bond� (as salt is known to hold together as the disciples of Jesus were supposed to) of the 12 disciples!
�You are empowered�
He then shared his heart touching �very personal� testimony of how God opened a door to share the salvation message with a �hard to reach� family member and the overall importance to do so-as it�s a matter of heaven or hell for their eternal soul!
Recommended Book: Fulton Street Revival (story of Jeremy Lanphier)
Be A Light in the Community!
I remember one Sunday at my local church, I shared about a verse that I heard from the t.v. that morning (one of those Sunday early morning church services on television). It was in fact Robert Shuller, who shared about "city on a hill". Well, I ended up echoing that verse during the Sunday share (open mic) time. As I reflect on that share 9-10 years ago, I feel that verse still needs to be constantly shared. Just recently, our city got a electric powered windmill. It stands high on a hill overlooking our city on the east side. One can see it miles for miles far from a distance coming from all sides out of town. It's difficult to see it when you are in certain areas of town because of buildings blocking. Well, I feel this windmill is like that lamp (e.g. lighthouse for ships off the coast) describes in Matthew 5. As Christians, we need to keep shinning "Jesus' light" (through our words and actions 24/7) all week (workplace, school, home, community, neighborhood, etc...) to the people God puts in front of us throughout the day/week.
People ask me how I'm able to do what I do. I tell them my daily (I try, but this doesn't always happen) personal time with God-especially getting fueled-up in the morning before I get "too busy". Here are some tips=> (daily devotions)
More than doing laundry at the Laundromat
Prior to doing laundry (January of 2005), I went to do my weekly lap swims at the P.E. Center (RFC). While I was swimming, I decided to just start praying and asking God for an opportunity to share the Good News when I do my laundry. Well, I went to do my laundry and totally forgot about my prayer request earlier. Then I started to remember during an expectant conversation with an older woman doing her laundry. I was about to head out, but our conversation went from more than just a small talk of the "nice Minnesota weather". I shared earlier how I played in my church softball team with her 2 sons, who were very good. Then she started to ask what church I go to, which has been a common question from people I start to meet whenever I mope around the community. Then she started to share how she has been reading materials that was given to her from some Jehovahs Witness. In my spirit, I decided I need to share her about the Truth-Jesus. I then told her I have been visited by those folks in the past. She then shared how all religions lead to God, which I've heard too many times and haven't really been boldly to refute it. I felt I need to do so, which I shared her that I believe a personal relationship with God is very important. There is only one way, truth, and life" .John 14:16. Instead of refuting with theology and facts that Jesus is the way, truth, and life. I felt in my heart to share my personal story on how God has helped me. Due to 'crunch time', I wasn't able to stay longer and share more than I wish I could. I ended up getting out a Bible tract that I try to remember to carry with me all times for these "expectant" opportunities (?-make your conversations). I wrote down my church name and my own name, so she can refer to me when the time comes for her. I invited her to my local church and she can watch it on the local city channel two times a week. She seem to be very open to what I shared with her as she would ask me questions that showed she was "spiritually hungry" for the Truth. I can tell she was searching and grieving as she remarked how "people are so greedy". As I look back at this, I wished I could've prayed with her or even gave her the salvation invitation. I pray now that the seed of the Gospel will be planted and will see the fruit some day in His time.
Apologetic Ministry
Today (Friday, July 1st 2011) I write to share an on-going "witnessing" story of a friend that used to attend church and has turned away from the "faith" due to many factors (e.g. Astro Theology teachings). He stopped "hanging-out" a couple months ago and because of recent life challenges (e.g. deaths of close people), he has "softened" up and accepted an invitation to "hangout" last week for the first time in a couple of months. I feel this is just a testimony of "not giving-up" (see persevere! ) on people with prayer. The particular individual is into philosophy as he's a thinker, so it has challenged me to "explore" and "search" for answers of the many deep thought questions he has raised up. Thus, I've been building links and sources to various sites on topics he has raised up. I wanted to share this after a recent sermon-message at my local church to "Be Ready to Share About your Faith"...
I was sharing this story with a lady from my local church and found out someone in her family had a similar "issue" with one of the topics this individual had been questioning about. This shows how it's important for the family of Christ to share with one another (like how I'm doing this site story) to "team together". I"m hoping to update you all on this as prayer opens up more on this individual. Just three days ago, this individual and I "hung-out" with similar friends. I emailed him more Christian sites to back-up some questions he's had, which this time he didn't respond with "argument".
Debate on the Existence of God (1/14)
2 Question Test "Are you Going to Heaven?
Below is a recent (Friday, August 15th of 2008) report I sent to my local church pastor...
"Hi Pat,
Just wanted to say that I 'm glad I did the Heaven Booth last night. As any type of evangelism outreach, prayer is needed. I felt the "oppression" days before as I "try" to fast everytime I do these outreaches. I decided to fast from eating from breakfast 3 days prior and saw God move already. A couple of clients (one of them was a young adult male-"brain damaged" client that was involved in a car accident years ago. He had me pray with him for healing just less than a week in the "bathroom". ) asked if I was going to the "Stevens County Fair" on Tuesday and I told them I was going to be part of a booth for my local church. They then asked what was I going to do. In a short story, I ended up giving them the Salvation Message and the Gospel "seed" was planted.
The next day (Wednesday) at work (I don't want to go in details due to "confidential" stuff) , I would just say I had a "more challenging" day than usual at the DAC. I kept in praying in my spirit to just get through the end of the work-day.
Then prior to setting up yesterday-we met obstacles! I borrowed K's pick-up truck (felt small driving it; reminded me of my dad's BIG Suburban truck growing-up) and had trouble leaving the "old-church building" after T___ boys (Dan and John) helped loaded the booth (wow-it's heavy! first time setting it up!). We had trouble starting the truck. I would start the truck and it would die-did this several times to get it start going. While loading and putting up the truck, there was a down pour. While John and I was putting the pieces together, Dan ran outside to get the box of tracts (got wet). Unfortunately, he forgot to close the windows. When I came back to bring the truck (wet inside), the truck stalled (cars waiting behind me while trying to enter Atlantic Avenue) several times in the pouring rain just going back to K__s' house. I shared this with K__ and S__, they told me they never had this problem before! When going back (in my car) to the Lee Community Center, I was stuck in traffic on Atlantic Avenue by DQ as the train was slowly moving on the tracks.
Here is the good report from all this:
-Gave 6 bracelets after presenting them the "meaning of colors" to a co-worker (Christian already, but didn't know the meaning of colors) and family
-3 young folks took the test with Dan
-Dan T___ used what he learned from the recent Mexico trip to team up together in giving the bracelets to several "Mexicans" (explaining the symbol of colors in Spanish)
*after he goes, "I wanted to do the salvation invitation, but forgot"
-Just 5 minutes later, 6 "Spanish-Speaking" (5 of them "Mexican" 1-Salvadoreno) adult males walk by and this time-Dan was able to do the "salvation invitation", which they accepted and prayed with him (in Spanish). I was looking at them and they appeared more "amazed" by a "White-guy" speaking their language!
*Note: I used some of my Spanish to small talk with them and gave them Spanish tracts. Dan then came to do the final Gospel presentation. GREAT TEAMWORK!
-many "puppet" balloons made (made my first one after breaking the fear of popping them)
I feel the church should continue be in prayer throughout this whole weekend outreach! Also, to help fill those open shifts, which should be e-mailed to the body to let the church know the needed open shifts.-
Sal:)
Fishing for "People"
Something is "Fishy"? This is the the topic I plan to share a message on this afternoon at Special Touch Ministries (Saturday, May 1st of 2010). How can we "fish" for people, which Jesus told "we" (Christians, Believers, etc..) will be doing?..
The Calling of the First Disciples (Mark 1)
*see GoodnewsEverybody.comMentoring-Discipling, Disciples, Mentoring, Mentors, Big-Little Friend, Role-Modeling, etc...
"14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18At once they left their nets and followed him.
19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Why do we have to fish for "people"? To share the "Good News" with them, right? What is the "Good News" (see above)? That we may have "life abundantly" and "eternally", right?...
The Parable of the Net (Matthew 13)
" 47"Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51"Have you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they replied.
52He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
Related Verses:
Matthew 15
Mark 8:7-"7They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9About four thousand men were present. And having sent them away, 10he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. ..
Luke 9:10-17-".. They answered, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd." 14(About five thousand men were there.)
But he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15The disciples did so, and everybody sat down. 16Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. 17They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over..."
John 6-"..14After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself...
*see John 21
Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
" 1Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias.[a] It happened this way: 2Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. 3"I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
"No," they answered.
6He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. 8The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.[b] 9When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
11Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Holidays: The Passion,Passover, Crucification, Easter, Resurrection-He is Risen!, etc..
Final Verse: Romans 10:14-6 "Bless the feet that brings "Good News"
5 Senses of God
(Sunday, June 28th of 2009)
After reading 2 Corinthians 2:13, I realize we (children of God) can be God's ambassadors through these 5 senses:
SOUND
SMELL
TOUCH
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Ministry: Healing
Articles
"Law to the Proud, Grace to the humble", by Christopher Geiser (guest author)"
Saturday, December 13, 2008 2:25 PM
*first met him at Morris' Pizza Ranch on November of 2008
"OK, This is my view on how to Biblically witness to people who are not saved, the way Jesus did. First I seriously believe this is the only way to convert non-Christians without creating backsliders or false converts. Some people go up to people and say that "Jesus died for your sins," that method is not right because you are telling the person that they are a sinner when they don't think they are, as far as they are concerned there are people far worse than them. I have used that method down in Mexico, and there were a lot of people who responded, I do believe that God can work through any method of evangelism, I myself was not converted with the method I use today. I am saying however that when you do get people to repent and trust in Jesus with the method I have learned, they will never fall away from the faith and they will not become goats among the sheep. This is an analogy I have learned that will shine some light on the point I am trying to make, so read carefully, or even read it outloud.
OK, say some one comes up to you and they say, "Hey I have a cure for you, it is for a disease called czechlervitz disease, it leads to death if you don't take this cure, you have this disease and my medical book says all of mankind has this disease." You would probably say,"OK thanks....Good Bye"
What you have done there is you told a guy he has a disease when he doesn't think he has it, he doesn't know how to recognize symptoms and doesn't see any on himself or on anyone else either, so he will not have a desire to share the cure with anyone else. But since he was told that the cure cures czechlervitz disease and that the disease is deadly, he tries it anyway to see if the claims are true. So he tries it eventhough he doesn't know why he is taking it. He also notices that the cure tastes quite bitter and he has to take a large quantity of the medicine everyday. He has the medicine on his counter and it is a big container, so when he has friends and family come over, they all notice the container on the counter and they ask the guy what it is for, but the guy just grabs it and says "it isn't anyhing really" and hides it in the cupboard. Then after they leave he takes the container and throws it in the garbage because he is afraid they will ask again or that they will make fun of him if he tells them he has a disease, that he has never heard of, and doesn't think he has it. He also thinks he never needed the cure anyway and is quite angry and bitter at the person who gave it to him, because he was in danger of being made fun of. So one day he dies by surprise because he did indeed have czechlervitz disease, so his friends and family realize the medicine he had on the counter was probably the cure for it, and assumed he took it as prescribed, but he ended up dying anyway.
The right way to handle the situation is for you to come up to a person with the disease and say, "you have a deadly disease, I can see ten clear symptoms on your flesh," then you go through text books and tell him about the disease, you have him go through an X-ray an MRI, you also show him pictures and diagrams, you go through all of this for a while, the whole time the guy will be very concerned. Then you would ask the guy if he is concerned about what is happening to him and he would say that he is very concerned, Then you would say to him,"Well, I have some very good news, we have the cure" The guy would take the cure without question, because his mind is consumed about what would happen to him if he didn't take the cure. He will not throw the cure away and won't be afraid of being made fun of for having the disease in the first place. Also he will be able to recognize symptoms of the same disease on other people and will have the desire to share the cure with others.
I have learned that the tragedy of modern evangelism, is that we have preached the cure without convincing people of the disease. No one will come to Jesus with a pure motive if they aren't convinced they are damned without him, not just merely told they are.
Biblical evangelism is always, without a doubt, the Law to the Proud and Grace to the humble.
The Law breaks the proud heart and Grace heals the broken heart.
What must be done is we must use God' Moral Law as a schoolmaster to lead people to Christ. Go through the Ten Commandments and ask them if they have lied, stolen, lusted, blasphemed, commited idolatry, dishonored their parents. Ask them whether or not if they will be found guilty on Judgment Day when God uses the Ten Commandments as a standard to judge them by. They would have to say they are guilty. Then tell them they have to be punished for there crime of violating God's Law. Tell them that God's punishment is Hell for eternity because they will never be able to pay for the fine, so they must remain their forever, never to leave. Then ask them if they believe or understand anything you have told them and ask them if they are concerned that if they were to die right now, they would go to Hell. Most people say yes, then give them the Good News which I am sure all Christians know. The preaching of the cross will not be foolishness to the person, but they will take it with heartfelt gratitude.
All christians who have a desire for the lost, or at least have a desire to have a desire for the lost, must go to
www.thewayofthemaster.com or www.livingwaters.com and listen to "Hell's Best Kept Secret" it teaches the principle that I revealed to you in a more detailed way.
"Hell's Best Kept Secret" is on www.livingwaters.com and is under the heading "Listen Now"
God Bless
Christopher"
This is Chris' first of many articles (see Atheism Testimony, Healing Testimony, etc....) and other contributions (e.g. Men's Retreat) in this web ministry site. I had the privilege of meeting him on Saturday, November 22nd of 2008 at a small "UMM Alumni Reunion" get-together through a UMM Alumn friend (Erin A.) at Pizza Ranch (1st)=>Common Cup. Ironically, he got "saved" during an evangelistic outreach (see Luis Palau 04' in St. Paul) I was praying at -while enjoying the music! Just today (Friday, January 2nd of 2008), I just got an e-mail of his new http://john1135jesuswept.blogspot.com site!
Saturday, December 13, 2008 2:25 PM
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 2:42 PM
From:
"christopher g
To:
"Hey I figured out something really cool.
It is that, if there were only 3 million people in the whole world who were actual born again Christians.(3 million people is only 0.05% of all the people on Earth out of 6 Billion that is 5 hundredths of one percent of the world's people) who would save one person through God's word...then teach the person that got saved how to reach the lost and that person does the same thing, we could reach 6 billion people in less than 100 years. That is if the first 3 million would reach out to one person each, in one month, and have the next 3 million do the same the next month. So in total it would take only about 2000 months or a little less than 100 years.
So in reality if you obeyed God just once, by having God use you to save someone, you have discharged your duty as an evangelist. So when the Bible says that Heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents...it means that heaven sees one person being saved, as if the whole world is saved, because the person is worth that much to God and it also means that the person could potentially start a spark that would light a fire that would spread the Good news everywhere.
But we still should preach to reach people , and teach people how to preach to reach people.
This is great news to me...it really is.
In Christ. Christopher
Salvation Message
Friendship Fest (3rd Annual music festival) w/Spencer (testimony down below) at Glenwood Minnesota
"message at youth outreach event called Friendship Fest in Glenwood Minnesota. on June 12th of 2000"
Message: "Foundations"
1 Corinthians , Matthew 7: (sermon on the mount) "put in practice", Matthew 8-"calm storm"; What sins are in your life?, Is Jesus Christ in your boat?
Friendship Fest w/Spencer at Glenwood Minnesota Part II
"as far at the east is from the west", cross,etc..
*Are you Going to Heaven?
Training
-Alcohol
Bridget Shares a Personal Story Part 3 of 3
"Growing up in a reservation in Canada and getting out to sharing the Good News. This is the last of three parts of her amazing story from drunkeness to sharing the goodness of what God can do to deliver others from this addiction. She shared this personal "miracle" testimony at Morris Community Church in Morris, Minnesota on Sunday, March 9th of 2008..."
"Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor: He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised"
Classifieds
Books
The Lamb - A child's perspective - Ministry Videos
"Children describe what they think of The Lamb. Tags: evangelism, children, child, God, Bible, Bible study, outreach, Christianity, church, GoodSeed, Christian, book, The Lamb, kids"
How to teach children to share Jesus with others? First, have child "try" to learn about the invididual (e.g. family, hobbies, interest, etc..) they plan to share Jesus with. Children love talking about themselves, so have them share their "own personal story" on how Jesus has helped them?
Clothing
Evangelism Ideas
-Business Cards
Evangelist
Follow-Up
*tips on following up a new "believer" in Christ
-Youth
Internet Focus
Hell's Best Kept Secret - Part 4 of 4
"Hell's Best Kept Secret - Part 4 of 4 www.wayofthemaster.com"
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Issues-Accuser, Satan, Hell, etc...
Media
Special Related-Youth Feature
Seedless Christians
When Chris came home from a youth rally on Saturday night, he was surprised to see that his mother had waited up for him.
�How�d it go?� She asked as he flopped his growing body down on the sofa.
�It was great! There was this really cool youth band playing music almost all the time. We had pizza, played some volleyball and then had a watermelon eating contest. It was pretty neat, too. They even had seedless watermelon.� said Chris thoughtfully. �I suppose that was to prevent us from spitting seeds at one another.�
�Could be,� Mom smiled. �But what about the speaker... did he have anything interesting to say.�
�Not really,� Chris replied. �All he talked about was wittnessing. And he was really preachy about it. He even suggested we witness at school.�
�Sounds like a pretty good idea to me.�
�But Mom!� Chris argued. �You don�t understand. None of the Christains I know talk about God at school. It�s just not the place. Not unless we want to be laughed at anyway.�
�It seems to me like the Christains you go to school with have a lot in common with the watermelon you ate tonight.�
�What?� asked Chris with a look of confusion on his face.
�They�re seedless.� came Mom�s reply. �They may have the seeds of God�s word in their own heart, but as long as they refuse to scatter them they� re no more help to the unsaved than if they weren�t Christains.�
�I guess you�re right Mom.� Chris admitted. �I�ll try to look for opportunities to reach out more. I sure don�t want to be a seedless Christain.�
by Patty Patterson
(2 Tim 4:2 KJV) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
This newsletter is sponsored by ChristHome.com. The next generation of Christian search engine directories. http://www.gcnhome.com/asp/nl_redir.asp?nl_sponsor_id=20&newsletter_id=856
Publication by Patty Patterson, for more information go to http://www.gcnhome.com or email patty@gcnhome.com
Media
Ray Comfort on the street
Kirk Cameron witnessing on the street
Ministries
Miscellaneous
The Christian Matrix - You do what you Believe
"The majority of people in the U.S. say they are "Christian" but actions speak louder than words... so what is the real truth? Check out the video and see..."
Museum
Music
Does Anybody Hear Her- Casting Crowns
Prayer
Eric Ludy - The Gospel
"www.ellerslie.com - May we be unashamed of the Gospel - Romans 1:16"
Television Shows
Oprah Denies Christ
"Our first clue that something was amiss. Oprah's new online class covering Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth is exposed. They conducted the first mass trance. Over 2 Million participated in this new age class, a new book Don't Drink the Kool-Aid uncovers shocking truths that must be shared"
Testimonies
Tracts
Children
ASIA
-Korea
Children's evangelism - Ministry Videos
"Handing out gospel tracts in front of an elementary school in Seoul, Korea Good News Community "
Conferences
Military
-Terrorism
Music
-Worship
Tell The World That - Hillsong united
'this is tell the world that its one of my favourite songs and like what i said in the other video (one way) gonna make more!"
Social Issues
Spencer, a head evangelist (e.g. former atheist) in my local church, played a big part in my continuous evangelism life. His continuous evanglism involvement gave me the passion to do the same in and out of the church walls. He first encouraged me to share my personal testimony to as many people I can when he asked me to share to our "then" youth group. Since then (2nd year in college), I've helped with him do numerous outreaches: Glacier State Park in Starbuck during the summer of SIMT School, Heaven Booth Outreaches around West-Central Area Minnesota, and counseling/follow-up after crusades/concerts.
Spencer is currently head of Living Waters Ministries, which they do various community outreaches. Thanks Spencer for being used mightily by God for His glory!