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Bulletin Article Archives:
Evangelism Click on the title to move to the selected article and then on my name at the conclusion of the article to return to this directory. Everybody in the region had heard about the strange man who lived outside of the town. Rumors had circulated for years, and many had seen with their own eyes, the wild rage of Legion. Without clothes and home he lived in the tombs of the dead. The demons, which gained control of his body, were extremely powerful. Attempts to bind the man with chains proved futile. Driven into the wilderness, Legion was found separated from his fellow man who questioned what power could subdue the wild man of Gadarene. One day a quiet man from Nazareth met this wild man of the tombs (Luke 8:26-39). The events that followed not only enraged those of that region but also changed their lives. The demons, named Legion because they were many, were commanded to leave their abode and were permitted to enter a herd of swine. As the people saw the swine destroyed in the lake they fled for fear. Upon returning they saw Jesus with the once tormented man. No longer was he bound by Legion. Now he was clothed and sitting on the ground as a normal man. The men of Gadarene begged for Jesus to leave. He did. Someone else begged Jesus on this occasion, the man freed from the demons. He begged that he might go with Jesus. Surely great love burned in his soul for his deliverer. However, Jesus had a great mission for this now free man: "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you." He did. At the point of his release, Legion's future was determined. He went to his people to share with them a message. There is another story to be told. This one has a different cast of characters: US! As Christians we were once bound by sin. Upon being freed by our Deliverer our future was determined. We can still send Jesus away as the Gadarenes. We can still go with a message of deliverance. How will this story end? August 21.1988 The flames of persecution surrounded the young church as they fled into the world, not to hide from the blind fury of Saul, but to spread the illuminating love of their Savior. “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). It is difficult to distinguish if they found motivation in the threat of the Pharisee from Tarsus or from the obligation accepted upon embracing Christianity. That debate may continue for generation but it is beyond dispute that the church possesses a vision of evangelism. Such a vision seems uncommon to modern man. Our vision would begin with a cast of character and ourselves in the audience. We expect progress to be slow and difficult. Then they saw themselves as active workers and they turned the world upside-down. The good news spread through Jerusalem like a fire, raging through Samaria and Judea it streamed across Asia (Acts 19:10) and continued so that Paul could later write that a region could not be found where the name of Jesus had not been heard (Col. 1:23). Our modern world may not be so far off. We are influenced to believe that man cannot life a full and meaningful life without television. The early church would tend to agree, “You can not live a full and meaningful life without “tell-a-vision.” Can you see yourself as as soul-winner? The church today needs vision for our future and especially for evangelism. When Paul wrote to Philemon he gave simple instruction for any believer to kindle a vision of becoming evangelistic. All that is required is to first – tell what Jesus has done for you, and second – to continue learning what he is doing for you today so you can tell it tomorrow. The effects of television are often questioned, and justly so. But the results of the early church’s “tell-a-vision” cannot be ignored. September 1, 1991 Preparation. Each had been provided with the highest of education from the moment their Lord breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Jesus opened the floodgates of mortal minds to grasp the mind of God, understanding the Truth of the Old Testament cleared the way for the free flow of inspiration for the New. They were prepared with the knowledge to proclaim repentance and baptism and to teach all things that they had been commanded. Together they marched into the world with the Good News. Motivation. Beyond the knowledge possessed, these pioneers of Christianity held a reason to believe. They had spoken to the risen Lord. With hearts burning as He instructed them from the Law, they beheld with their own eyes and touched with their unbelieving hands the resurrected life. Firsthand these men learned the powerlessness of the grave. They watched in amazement as Jesus ascended out of their sight but not out of their lives. The clouds concealed Him as He was embraced into the bosom of God. Seeing death defeated, they marched into the world bearing a message of hope. Confidence. These same individuals were charged with being drunk on Pentecost. Daily they faced the scorn of the Sadducees in the Temple. They were beaten before Gamaliel and humiliated at the hands of Saul. In confidence they continued to march forward. Believers, armed with knowledge of the truth and motivated by the reality of eternal life, were disgraced before the world. If left alone with their preparation and motivation they no doubt would have failed. The winning edge was found in their confidence, and their confidence rested in the assurance that they were not marching alone! October 20, 1991 Among one of the most popular parables told by Jesus is surely that of the sower (Matthew 13). In those verbal strokes the familiar portrait dominated the minds of those listening. They saw birds congregating near the path to fill their stomachs with the seed hopelessly struggling to penetrate the soil hardened by a year of heavy traffic. A few feet away were feeble sprouts poking up between rocks, with scorched leaves melting beneath the noontime sun. Thorn bushes stand nearby with their tight grip around the immature stalks of fruitless plants struggling for nourishment. All of this took place in the shadow of a green field of well-watered crops boasting the best harvest in years. The disciples eagerly sought to understand the hidden meaning of this parable. Leaving behind the crowds they listened as Jesus explained the spiritual insights of the gospel as it is broadcast into human hearts. While the modern church is instructed by revisiting the fields of Palestine through the power of inspiration, and even rejuvenated in expectation of the great harvest awaiting the culmination of the sowing season, it is also humbled while reflecting upon a tragedy not even mentioned by the Master in any of His parables. The crucial concern of today's Christian was beyond the imagination of the believers found in Act and the Epistles. The modern church must face the reality of the seeds unsown, still in the storehouses, overflowing from the sower's pouch. Here today's believers struggle with the most basic element of that famous parable, only to realize an inseparable unity with the central figure: "The sower went forth to sow." Into our hands rest the unplanted seed. January 12, 1992 "Here am I," said the frightened, barefoot would-be deliverer turned shepherd as he bowed before the presence of God in the burning bush (Exodus 3:4). With undivided attention he listened as God's amazing plan was presented to him. The Lord would deliver Israel from Egypt, lead them to a Promised Land, embarrass the false gods of Pharaoh and bestow the wealth of their captor's spoils to the newly freed nation of slaves. God would do all this, and more, through Moses. Remembering his younger days Moses swallowed hard as the strategy of God permeated his consciousness. The thoughts of past failure paralyzed him. He was not eloquent, others would be skeptical of his message and pure fear welled up in this eighty-year-old heart. Moses pleaded with God on the mountainside to please send someone else (4:13). Through the patience of God Moses would come to realize that he could be the answer to the urgent prayers of an oppressed people. As the Hebrew nation came forth from bondage under the leadership of an apprehensive shepherd, God was glorified by the decision to no longer point to others to fulfill his responsibility but to go himself. July 19, 1992 Jesus stood with his remaining disciples on the Galilean mountainside to which they had often resorted. The breathtaking view escapes notice, all eyes fix upon the risen splendor of their glorified Master. The lesson that day was simple, yet the effects profound. These eleven men, and all yet to believe, would realize the power of this commission. Here Jesus gave the marching orders of the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 28:18-20). Today we call these words "The Great Commission." It is great because of the authority empowering it (verse 18), the scope it embraces ("all nations" of verse 19) and the promise of the One who gave it (verse 20). This passage also could be called "The Wonderful Commission" because of the salvation and the eternal hope attained in obeying it (Mark 16:16). Or it could be referred to as "The Timeless Commission" since each generation finds a fresh harvest for the Gospel of Christ to encounter. It is "The Personal Commission" given not just to eleven first century men but, through inspiration, to all who believe on Jesus. Whatever word we choose to characterize this challenge uttered by Christ on a remote hill in Palestine, the one that always fits is "The Unfulfilled Commission." The only way it can be fulfilled is through teachers. In the eternal spectrum that offers Heaven and Hell, teachers truly make a world of difference. April 25, 1993 One of the great questions arising from a study of Acts might be, "Why did Paul preach in Athens?" He arrived in this city following a long string of disappointments. After being called to Europe by a vision, he and Silas faced unjust torture and imprisonment. First, some unbelieving Jews forced them out of Thessalonica, and then Berea (the one place it seemed they would meet with success). Then they found Athens appearing quite content with their idolatrous lifestyle. The missionaries were met with a curious, yet cold reception of people who did not really care about the gospel. Paul's monumental sermon from the top of Mars' Hill had little effect on the stubborn audience. Luke tells us that, although many were moved to laughter, only a few were moved to belief (Acts 17:34). It seemed that nobody cared. The message often went unheeded. Often the only response was one of anger and violence. Yet Paul, knowing this, still went to Athens. Then Corinth. Then Ephesus. Then Jerusalem. Finally to Rome. Why should we go when so few seem to care? Because we care! Because Jesus cares! Please remember that the Great Commission is not empowered by the concern of the lost for the message of salvation but by the love of the saved that demands they go. If we care, then, we must go. January 16, 1994 Philemon's position of wealth and stature in the Colossian community is matched by his influence in the Christian community. Thanks to the Holy Spirit, that influence has been preserved between Paul's instructive letter to Titus and the anonymous sermon to the Hebrews. As a student of the New Testament one is naturally caught up in sympathy for Onesimus, a reluctant prisoner in the harsh world of Roman slavery. One forgets Philemon and the high regard Paul felt for his spiritual brother. Being a Christian, Philemon is freed from his first century world to embrace an eternal hope bound by no single generation. Before that the cords of responsibility anchored him firmly to this world. He built his financial empire the old fashioned way ... he earned it. Then someone changed all that by introducing Philemon to the risen Lord. Paul loved Philemon. Now he held in his hands a letter from his dear friend Paul, telling him someone else needed Philemon's love. Paul suggested it be Onesimus, a slave made brother, and reminded Philemon of all he owed Paul for pointing him to Christ (Phile. 19). Now it was Philemon's turn to help a new brother grow. Philemon met and exceeded Paul's every expectation. Someone you know is lost and needs your love. Someone needs you to introduce them to Jesus. July 10, 1994 The maiden gazed through the flickering flames, staring into the familiar face of Peter. She had seen him often, always with Jesus of Nazareth. She asked if her inkling was right and he denied ever knowing Jesus. Peter always knew what to say, but now he couldn't bring himself to admit his love for Jesus. Just hours before his master had predicted this would happen. As if practicing, Peter denied it ever could. Now his words hung in the air mocking his empty boasts. As the years passed Peter underwent an amazing transformation. He learned to withstand the blows of the persecutor. He learned to give himself wholly to the Lord. He tried to seize every opportunity possible to prove God's Word to be dependable and true. In the end he had learned the value of knowing the Bible and humbly sharing it with confidence (1 Pet. 3:15). Through careful study of God's word, both privately and in the regular assemblies and educational program of the local church, every Christian ought to be progressing toward the goal of knowing how to properly answer the unbeliever in a manner that brings not only glory and honor to Christ, but also all lost and searching souls. September 10, 1995 J. M. McCaleb holds an honored role in the history of the church. In the 1890's mission work was conducted under the umbrella of a Missionary Society, but McCaleb realized the possibility of churches doing the work of the church as the New Testament taught. That meant informing elderships of his mission plans and raising the needed funds from local churches rather than from a centrally located body or society. The leaders of the Society looked on his efforts as irresponsible. McCaleb set out to prove them wrong. He succeeded. Through the help of men like W. K. Azbill, McCaleb began to learn the culture of his adopted country. With the aid of David Lipscomb he honed his message of Jesus. On April 12, 1892 J. M. and Della McCaleb, Azbill, two single women and a single man landed in Yokohama, Japan. Their mission was to take the story of the risen Son to those living in the "Land of the Rising Sun." The American missionaries refused to reside in the international housing, choosing instead to live among the Japanese. By 1930 McCaleb reported over twenty congregations in Japan with more than 2,000 baptisms, but many of these had become unfaithful. To help cover expenses and dwindling support McCaleb taught English for a nickel an hour. He was forced to leave the country in 1941, just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Back in America McCaleb began teaching at Pepperdine University and continued to work with Japanese students. John Moody McCaleb died in 1953. The Japanese Government has declared his home in Tokyo a national historic monument. A more appropriate monument is one left by brother McCaleb himself, our hymn "The Gospel is For All." a fitting tribute to his life's work. October 1, 1995 Peter's voice carried the profound message of God's Son, the savior of the world, crucified at the hands of those he came to save. They eagerly anticipated his coming then failed to recognize his arrival. You could see the hopelessness on their faces (Acts 2:37). Through Jesus Peter offered hope (verse 38). Since that Pentecost countless souls have made, with these 3,000, the journey to salvation. We have borne their shame, felt their condemnation and rejected the great love of God. We have seen the redemption they saw and have grasped the grace extended them in baptism. We have stood lost on one side of baptism and forgiven on the other. But what comes next? For them fellowship came next. Their new-found love surged through a spiritual family. They bore one another's burden becoming partners in the world's greatest movement. For them worship came next. They met together for prayer. They gathered around a table to remember their Lord as he had directed. In their worship God was raised and they were strengthened. With a renewed zeal they turned to help those still lost. They were saved in baptism (1 Peter 3:21), but that was just the beginning. For the church to become a dynamic kingdom they had to devote themselves to what came next. November 12, 1995 Progress is defined throughout the Bible as helping God's kingdom to grow. Whatever covenant is being considered the same standard for progress is used: "does one possess the desire to change for the better?" In the Old Testament God called Israel to reach out to unbelievers. Provisions were made to accept them into the covenant nation. In the New Testament church this concept came into its own right. When Jesus gave us our marching orders He demanded that we reach out to unbelievers (Mat. 28:18-20). Although the word "evangelism" is not found in any major English translation of the New Testament, it is an integral part of God's work and God's people. We are called to seek and save the lost (Lk. 19:10). So, who was the man who is found hiding from God in the bottom of a huge ship? Who was the man who begged God to save him after he was swallowed by a great sea creature? Who was heard complaining to God about a worm? The answer in all three instances is Jonah - a man reluctantly obedient, all the way fighting progress. He must have been out of his gourd. January 7, 1996 As darkness became firmly entrenched in the mountainside garden, a lone figure could be faintly seen. His silhouette revealed a man deep in earnest prayer. The beautiful landscape belied the torment in his soul. This was a man preparing to die. His was no ordinary death. Long before his birth he had been destined to the most unbearable of fates, the cross. After an exemplary life he was about to be betrayed, denied, forsaken, abused, mocked and tortured. Emerging from the ashes of his apparent defeat would be victory: freedom from sin; life eternal. Listen to his prayer. His is praying for you. “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:20-21). Jesus knew the world would demand proof of Christianity's claims. What proof can we offer? A life carefully following the teaching of Christ will prove to a skeptical world that Christ's message of love and hope works. We must become Jesus' living proof if the world is to believe that God sent him. June 9, 1996 Paul's Strategy For Church Growth In the area of church growth, the apostle Paul was a pioneer. His time and energy was dedicated to planting churches and encouraging them to grow. His success was phenomenal. From Corinth he wrote to the Christians in Rome, preparing them for his first visit. In his closing remarks a glimpse at his strategy is revealed (Romans 15:22-28). The secret of his success was the ability to set and achieve goals. On his apostolic "To Do" list was: 1. Preach in Macedonia and Achaia (Romans 15:23). 2. Take a contribution for the needy in Jerusalem (15:25). 3. Head to Rome to preach (15:24). 4. Preach the good news in Spain (15:28). Church growth is never accidental. Paul realized the value of setting goals, making sure each goal was compatible with a greater plan. Then he diligently worked towards those goals. He rejoiced with each completed task marked off his list. The church grew with each deletion. The Master's goal, Paul's greater plan, was being fulfilled (Mark 16:15). July 28, 1996 "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" These were the first recorded words of Jesus (Luke 2:49). His last recorded words before ascending to heaven are also enlightening: “Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:46-49). Every word Jesus spoke in between seems intentionally directed towards explanation of or preparation for carrying out the business of God. What was his "Father's business"? In Jesus' own words it was "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10). Our Father's business is evangelism, the Great Commission. Today the Father's business is left to the church, the body of Christ. It is up to us to carry out the vital work of evangelism. Without evangelism our children will be lost. Without evangelism the church will die. Without evangelism the Father's business will cease. This church needs to realize the importance of the work we have been called to do. We need to be about "our Father's business." February 2, 1997 Pop quiz! Before you read any further, name the three most prominent disciples of Christ. 1) 2) 3) Is Andrew on your list? Less is known about those disciples outside of the "inner circle" closest to Jesus. Little is known about Andrew. But what we do know about him is encouraging. He seemed to have caught on quicker than all the others combined to the responsibility assumed in becoming a disciple. Upon meeting Jesus (John 1:40-41) his first reaction was to share his discovery with his brother, Peter. While Philip debated the potential of feeding 5,000 in the middle of nowhere, Andrew brought a young boy with his sack lunch to Jesus as a possible solution (Jn. 6:8-9). Near the end of Jesus' ministry it was Andrew, along with Philip, who brought some Greek travelers to meet Jesus (Jn. 12:20-22). Convinced that Jesus was the Christ, Andrew was constantly looking for others with whom he could share his faith in Jesus. His example is preserved for us to follow. April 6, 1997 Monday's mail contained an offer too good to be true. Smitten by skepticism, I read the letter that accompanied a cassette tape promising to be the answer to my dreams. Here, along with a "rags to riches" testimonial, was something so important it was guaranteed to make a difference in my life. My only obligation was to listen to the cassette and call the representative sitting patiently by the phone waiting to hear from me. I listened to the tape. The product, no doubt, had its merits but it did not have the same appeal as it did to the person who thought of me at the post office. They deeply believed in the virtues of the product they pushed. Persuaded of its potential they were willing to spread the news to others. They had become a disciple of something and, I am convinced, they were not merely looking for a sale but to make another disciple. What would happen if we were that dedicated as disciples of Christ? What if our enthusiasm matched that of others whose belief is much less important? Could we, without obsessing or offending, care so much about the work of our Master that we sought any and every opportunity to "make a sale" and extend every effort to make a disciple? Then we would make a real difference. March 9, 1997 As a child, I was amazed at my father's toolbox. It seemed huge with drawers and compartments filled with various tools, many of which I could not identify even to this day. But to him, each piece had its place, function and special care. With expertise he seemed drawn to the appropriate tool for the job at hand. With precision the task was completed and the tool neatly returned, ready for its next call to duty. I'm not sure what he would say was his most useful tool. But as a child I was probably most impressed with a tool not kept in that box: a bar of soap. After the completed chore he would make his way to the sink to remove the stains of his labor. The tools in personal evangelism are many. Our brethren have produced multitudes of good helps over the past years. Hopefully the future will see this trend continue. But what keeps us from sharing our faith? Have we forgotten the most important tool God has placed at our disposal? Paul indicated to Philemon that it is the simple desire to share with others from the Bible what Christ has done for you in your life (Philemon 6). The most important tool is a heart that has been cleansed by the blood of Christ and is not ashamed to share the good news with others. October 17, 1999 Nathanael was skeptical. His friend, Philip, brought him news too good to be true. "We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph" (John 1:45). It is amazing how a wondrous insight of eternal magnitude can be overshadowed by the most insignificant detail. Nathanael almost missed meeting Jesus because of his unfavorable opinion of Nazareth. Don't you know as he looked back on the most precious memory of the day he met Jesus how thankful he must have been that someone had been there encouraging him to reach past his insecurities and consider what Jesus has to offer? Philip's simple admonition, "Come and see," opened a world of unimaginable blessing in finding the Son of God, the King of Israel (Jn. 1:49). It was King Solomon who wrote, "He who wins souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30). Nathanael was thankful for Philip, the wise person who brought him to Christ. November 7, 1999 Even the church, bearing the most important message of time and eternity, can fall victim to the fatal error of losing its focus. In the last seventy years of the first Christian century, inspired writers set out to keep the fires burning strong. The resulting documents, our New Testament scriptures, continue to serve the same purpose even today. When the church of Christ is in need of revival it need simply return to its roots, the New Testament (1 Peter 1:22-25). While the apostle Paul appears to have contributed considerably to the growth of the Ephesian church (Acts 19:10), it was through John that Jesus sounded the call of revival (Revelation 2:4-5). They were not alone. Paul nursed the new Christians in Thessalonica, while stoking the flames of the well established Philippians, to keep their faith revived and active. Modern Christians need not be surprised that our congregations are in need of occasional revival. What is surprising are the methods sometimes suggested. True spiritual revival can never be accomplished through gimmicks, empty emotional appeals, or programs based on the latest trends. Hear the revival: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." September 30, 2001 When life hurts, everyone needs a friend. Their steady hand of friendship in moments of confusion offers more than stability, it offers the security of knowing you are not alone. It is that very concept that one of the major insurance companies has effectively built around the slogan, "Like a good neighbor." Did you catch yourself completing the jingle in your mind? You're not alone. The images of reassurance during life's most difficult times, powerfully built through 30-second spots, places that company and its employees in the position of proving the ad's claim true in daily life. How can the mission of Christ's church be concisely summarized? The church sings of "Seeking the Lost," of "Throw[ing] Out the Lifeline," as we plead with the Lord that He "Lead Me to Some Soul Today." Rather than looking at the songbook where we read those words, shouldn't we also think of the faces of those who daily live and work within arms reach of us who do not know Jesus as their Lord, who may one day ask of us why, "You Never Mentioned Him to Me?" Shouldn't we carefully look at our hands and realize the great confidence Christ has placed in us? These are the hands through which His love can be revealed, for "Into Our Hands" the gospel is given. August 11, 2002 Nathanael was skeptical of the "too good to be true" news Philip brought to him. "We have found him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth" (John 1:45). The "good news" shrank behind the dark shadow of Nathanael's prejudice. It is amazing how quickly truth is obscured by the most insignificant detail. Nathanael nearly missed becoming an apostle because of his unfavorable opinion of Nazareth. Undoubtedly Nathanael would look back on that day with special fondness. Perhaps no other day would be more significant to him as this, the day he met Jesus, the Son of God (v. 49). And it all began with a simple invitation. Despite active recruiting among the nation's biggest and best colleges, Jerry Rice, the well-known NFL quarterback, did not play football with any of them. Rice attended the obscure Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, MS. When asked why someone with his talent would choose to attend a relatively unknown school, Rice replied, "Out of all the big-time schools to recruit me, MVSU was the only school to come to my house and give me a personal visit" (via KneEmail). Is it then a great revelation to observe that evangelism, properly done, is always "personal?" From Philip's simple admonition, "Come and see," a world of unimaginable blessings opened up for Nathanael. February 9, 2003 |
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