Tag: evangelism
A Word that Must be Spoken

A Word that Must be Spoken

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We must proclaim the Good News as if lives depend on it. BECAUSE THEY DO!

A word not spoken or expressed in writing is not a word at all. It is only a thought. The words given to the church by Jesus, its founder, were intended to be spoken so His message could reach lost souls. “So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

There is Hope Where the Gospel is Proclaimed

“Son of man, can these bones live?” This question was posed to Ezekiel by the Spirit of the Lord. Ezekiel responded that only the Lord knew the answer to that question. He was commanded to speak the word of the Lord to the bones saying, “I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.”

The spiritual condition of the North American church in recent years has caused many to prophesy its downfall. Many wonder if there is hope for these dry bones. Hope resides in the same place it did for Israel in Ezekiel’s vision – ultimately an outpouring of the Spirit of the Lord. History teaches us that there must be a proclaimer of the Word of the Lord. Someone who will declare the hope that only comes from God’s life-giving Spirit.

A Burden for Evangelism is Needed

It wasn’t so long ago that the heart of the American church was alive with the desire to proclaim the Gospel. James S. Stewart began his Yale lecture in 1951, “Today as never before there has been laid upon the heart and conscience of the Church the burden for evangelism.”* Though that heart for evangelism is needed more than ever, the Church in America today does not reflect the passion of which Stewart spoke.

The need for believers who would be faithful in proclaiming the Good News is as old as the news itself. While looking over the distressed throngs of people Jesus proclaimed, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few.” The streets of every city are filled with people who need to hear the Gospel message. Disciples of Jesus must be “moved with compassion,” as He was in Matthew chapter nine, so they will enter the fields for the harvest.

The Clear Message Must be Proclaimed

The job is not a complicated one. Peter and John were clearly “uneducated and untrained men,” but they were greatly used by God to launch the church. They proclaimed a simple message. Jesus, who was crucified and raised from the dead, is the only “name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

Stewart proclaimed in the same lecture series, “The first axiom of effective evangelism is that the evangelist must be sure of his message. Any haziness or hesitation there is fatal.” Jesus must be the focus of any true Gospel presentation, because salvation cannot be found in any other name.

There are many plans for sharing the Gospel, but there is a great danger in over complicating the message. The best plan for telling others about Jesus is the simple one that you will use consistently.

The Apostle Paul gave us a simple formula for proclaiming the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.”

Speak the Words of Life

WORDS NOT SPOKEN WILL NEVER BE HEARD. There are many times we are better off not speaking. When it comes to the Good News WE MUST SPEAK. The dry bones need to hear a message of life. The Spirit of God can revive what looks dead. The promise of Jesus is true today. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

JESUS IS THE ONLY HOPE OF SALVATION. Our friends need to hear this crucial news from us.

* James S. Stewart, A Faith to Proclaim (NY: Scribner’s Sons, 1953).
Around the Charcoal Fire

Around the Charcoal Fire

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S'more
A Near Perfect S’more

Many precious memories have been made around a bed of glowing coals in the midst of family camping trips. As a young boy I remember stoking the fire on the banks of Lake Travis at a place dad called the “Narrows.” We’d swim and ski during the day. Then we’d run trotlines every five or six hours, even during the night. Of course, someone would make sure to keep the fire going while the boats were out on the lake

My love for camping and campfires has continued throughout life. I grew up toasting marshmallows, but it was Susan who introduced me to a delicacy called S’mores. Since then I’ve taken pride in becoming the best S’more toaster on the planet. Whether near the beaches of Florida, canyons of Utah, sequoias in California, mountains in Alaska, or near the geysers in Yellowstone, camping is just not the same without the glowing coals of a waning campfire. It is when the logs are burned down, and the coals are glowing bright orange and white that one finds the perfect heat for toasting marshmallows or cooking fish.

The Charcoal Fire in John’s Gospel

This kind of fire is mentioned twice in the Gospel of John. It is around the anthrakian (translated “charcoal fire” or “fire of coals”) that we find two important events in the life of Simon Peter. Events that Peter must have remembered the rest of his life.

Peter’s Denial

The first time we find Peter around the charcoal fire is in John 18:18. Jesus had just been arrested after a long night of prayer in the garden. Peter had promised to remain faithful only a few hours earlier. However, he had fallen asleep there in the garden. Things moved quickly in the dead of night. Judas betrayed. Powerful men came. Jesus surrendered. And now at the coldest part of the early morning, Jesus was being questioned while Peter warmed himself by the charcoal fire.

It was in those moments of exhaustion, confusion, and fear that Peter found himself at his weakest. Within earshot (and eyeshot) of Jesus, a young servant suggested that Peter was one of the Galilean’s friends. Peter denied it. Then another recognized him. He denied knowing Jesus again. Then a third said he’d seen them together. This time Peter denied with even more fervor.

Then it happened, just as Jesus said. A roster crowed at the dawning of the morning. Peter knew what he’d just done. He looked toward Jesus and Jesus was looking directly at him. His heart was broken. He’d done the very thing he promised he’d never do. He denied his teacher, his mentor, his friend when Jesus needed him most. Peter went away and wept.

Peter Returns to Fishing

Much had taken place in the intervening weeks. After watching Jesus beaten, nailed to the cross, and die, Peter had seen the empty tomb. Jesus even appeared to him and the others a couple times. But things still weren’t the same. Peter had found out just how weak he was. He had denied Jesus. His future was uncertain, and he wasn’t sure what to do next. He decided to do the one thing he knew well – go fishing with a few of the others.

After a full night on the water, they caught nothing. As the sun began to rise, a man standing on the shore began to chat with them. He told them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. When they did, their nets were full!

IMG_6356Jesus on the Shore

The memories began to rush in like a flood. John shouted it, but Peter already knew! The man on the shore was Jesus, the Lord! Peter couldn’t wait on the boats and fish. He just dove in the water and swam to Jesus. When they gathered around, they found that Jesus had prepared a perfect cooking fire, a charcoal fire, and served them a breakfast of fish and bread.

The boats were nearby on the shore. The nets were full of fish. And their bellies were full of fish. As they sat around charcoal fire, Jesus looked at Peter and asked him a probing question.  “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Peter’s replied, “Yes, Lord. You know I love you.” Jesus told him “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus asked a second time in a slightly different way. Again, Peter replied in the affirmative. Then a third time, Jesus asked “Do you love me?” Peter replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

Peter is Restored

It must have been then that Peter realized the depth of what was happening. Of course, Jesus knew that Peter loved Him, but did Peter know that he loved Jesus. He denied Jesus at such a crucial time. Certainly, Peter was a failure as a disciple. What he needed to know was that Jesus already knew and Jesus wasn’t finished with him.

Peter had given up on himself and gone back to fishing. Jesus wasn’t ready to leave Peter in that place. Peter was to be the leader of His church. He would feed Jesus’ lambs, shepherd His sheep, and feed them when Jesus was gone. Peter needed to be reminded that he had been called away from the boats and nets three years earlier. Now was no time to return to that life.

Jesus needed him to respond to the call to become a “fisher of men” now more than ever. He needed a reminded that he loved Jesus more than the boats and nets and late-night expeditions. He loved Jesus “more than these.” Jesus still had a job for him that bore eternal rewards.

The Warmth of a Charcoal Fire

The charcoal fire (anthrakian) only appears two times in all the New Testament. The first time Peter was huddled around it keeping warm as he denied Jesus and journeyed into a dark valley of despair. The next time Jesus had prepared the fire on the shore. As Peter sat around with his Lord, he was reminded of his love for Jesus and the purpose to which he had been called years earlier. Peter was restored to the mission for which he had been called. He was to be a fisher of men.

Here’s betting that Peter rarely sat around another fire without remembering his weakness and Jesus’ forgiveness. The charcoal fire did more than warm his hands, it warmed his heart.

The glowing bed of hot coals is a gentle reminder that Jesus has a purpose for me. Even when I fall and when I fail, He is able to restore me. In fact, He already knows and His plan remains.

Family Around the Fire
The Good News, Evangelism, and the Authority of God’s Word

The Good News, Evangelism, and the Authority of God’s Word

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The greatest news that anyone could ever hear is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Good News is the story of God’s intervention into history culminating in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Through His resurrection, all who believe in Christ, repent of their sin, and turn to follow Him as their Lord are granted eternal life. This is GOOD NEWS, but what if it’s not true?

Good News or Fake News

The Twenty-first Century world is filled with fake “news.” Social media has opened a “Pandora’s box” where anyone with a smart phone or a computer can instantly spread “news” around the world. In our modern world, the “news” is often skewed to present a particular agenda more favorably. Sometimes it is just out right false – a lie intended to deceive! “News” is only as reliable as its source and many modern sources are outright untrustworthy.

The key to getting things right is finding a trustworthy source. This is where one must turn to God’s Word. The Bible is the inspired word of God. Its message is absolutely trustworthy in all that it claims. Because it is true, Scripture will stand the test of time in the face of the onslaught of fake “news.” Scripture provides us a standard by which all other “news” can be tested.

Liberal Scholarship and God’s Word

In the past couple centuries, liberal theology has brought into question the truthfulness and authority of God’s Word. This liberal theology is dangerous in every way. When the reliability of God’s word is undermined, the Christian’s foundation is shaken.

James Draper summarized four areas that led to the compromise of biblical authority in his book Authority: The Critical Issue for Southern Baptist. These areas included: the historical-critical approach to Scripture; existential philosophy; naturalistic, uniformitarian science; and the study of comparative religions. He summarized that in each of these areas liberal critics have shifted their focus from revelation to reason. They no longer accept the revelation of God’s word as authoritative, but place man’s reasoning in a position over God’s Word.[1]

If Scripture is not reliable, its history becomes mythology, its commands become suggestions, hope is destroyed, and the future is uncertain. Draper wrote, “Without an authoritative divine revelation, worship degenerates into mere form and ritual, ministry concerns itself only with the temporal and the physical, and authority becomes the result of the mind of man rather than the mind of God.”[2]

The Message is Cloudy when Scripture is Undermined

Evangelism is one of the greatest casualties of liberal theology. Evangelism is a huge challenge for many believers at their very best. This is evidenced by the low percentage of Christians who actually share their faith on a regular basis. When doubts about the truthfulness of God’s Word arise, it becomes even easier to excuse the lack of zeal for sharing the good news of Jesus. If the Bible is not true then the evangelistic message is obscured, unnecessary, and may be an impediment to eternal life for millions.

When the truth of God’s revealed Word is brought into question, the message of the evangelist is impacted. If the Bible isn’t true in all areas, then it certainly can be questioned in the difficult areas. First, the message becomes obscured.  For instance, Jesus said, “No one comes to the father, but through me” (John 14:6). If his statement is not absolutely true, then one may suggest other ways to get to the Father – to gain eternal life. Once the door is cracked open, man may rationalize a multitude of paths regardless of the clear message in God’s Word.

If the Bible is not absolutely true, then its evangelistic message becomes unnecessary. The teachings of Jesus may be considered helpful and the epistles and Acts might be useful for understanding history. The message of the Good News of salvation is only necessary if God’s Word is true.

Liberal theology has led some to deny the revelation in God’s Word that all those who die without Jesus are lost. The question is asked, “What about those innocent people who have never heard of Jesus?” There is an assumption that certainly they would not be condemned. The reality is that God’s Word tells us there are no innocent people. “All have sinned” (Rom 3:23). If Romans 3-6 are not true and God provides some special dispensation for those who have not heard, our message becomes an impediment to their eternal life. The rational mind could argue that they are better off if we never tell them what Jesus did for them.

The Motivation is Weak when Scripture is Undermined

A liberal view of Scripture undermines the evangelist’s motivation. If there are other paths, hell is not real, everyone is okay in the end, or everyone’s fate is already sealed, then the motive to share the Gospel is eroded. The evangelist is left without any urgency to fulfill the Great Commission

Peter made clear to those gathered in Jerusalem that “there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The nature of this single pathway leading to eternal life is a strong motivation to share the Gospel of Jesus. When that claim is diminished, the motive to share is diminished as well.

The Biblical picture of eternal punishment is a horrible thing to imagine. When the Christian accepts the truth that there is a place of eternal death for all who are lost, compassion increases and the job of evangelism becomes urgent. Like the neighbor frantically trying to wake those sleeping in a burning house, the evangelist is highly motivated to declare his message.  If he is not convinced that the residents are in any danger, the herald will be less vocal and less urgent.

Likewise, the Universalist has no real motive to declare the Gospel. It is rare that one hears anything at the casket of an elderly grandmother except, “She is in heaven now.” However, Scripture is clear that all do not gain eternal life. In fact, Jesus made it clear that the road to the destruction is wide while the road to the Kingdom of heaven is narrow. If the Christian truly believes that not all are saved, then he is motivated to tell those who are on the wrong path.

Evangelism Flourishes when Scripture is Trusted

Holy_Book_1280x1024

Robert Coleman wrote, “The objective authority for the Gospel is the Bible. The Bible, which is infallible, immutable, and eternal, is the tangible court of appeal.”[3] The Good News must be based on some authority and that authority is the inerrant word of God. When the claims of Scripture are taken at face value, evangelism will flourish.

The message becomes clear when it is not mixed with human rationalizations. Jesus was more than a good teacher. He came to seek and to save the lost. He is the truth and the only way to eternal life.

When the Bible is trusted in its entirety, the motivation to share the Good News is powerful. Jesus is the only hope of a lost and dying world. Eternity with a loving God or eternal punishment awaits every person depending on their response to the Good News. Not everyone is going to heaven, even that precious grandmother who dies without Christ will spend eternity in a sinner’s hell if someone doesn’t share the Good News with her so she can repent and turn to Christ.

The Bible is trustworthy! When the believer accepts the clear teaching of Scripture without trying to rationalize away the parts he does not like, the urgency of evangelism becomes clear. When Christians humbly submit to the Bible as God’s authoritative Word, they are compelled to share the Good News as it commands.

Choosing to Trust the Bible

A turning point came in the life of a young evangelist in 1949 as he struggled with his confidence in God’s Word. Billy Graham later wrote about his struggles in an article in the inaugural issue of Christianity Today, entitled “Biblical Authority in Evangelism.” He began with the statement “I had many doubts about the Bible. Now I see Scripture as a flame that melts away unbelief.”[4]

He recalled in the article that having dealt for a time with doubts about the Bible’s integrity, he humbled himself before God in the mountains outside of Los Angeles, California. He knelt before the Bible and said, “I surrender my will to the living God revealed in Scripture. . . Here and now, by faith, I accept the Bible as thy word: I take it all. I take it without reservations. Where there are things I cannot understand, I will reserve judgement until I receive more light.”[5] In the coming years, he became known as the most influential evangelist of the twentieth century by preaching the simple Gospel message dependent on the inerrant Word of God.

[1] James T. Draper, Jr., Authority: The Critical Issue for Southern Baptist (Old Tappan, NJ: Revell, 1984).

[2] Ibid., 44.

[3] Robert E. Coleman, The Heart of the Gospel: The Theology Behind the Master Plan of Evangelism (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011), 40.

[4] Billy Graham, “Biblical Authority in Evangelism,” Christianity Today, October 15, 1956, Electronic edition accessed December 6, 2017. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1956/ october-15/billy-graham-biblical-authority-in-evangelism.html

[5] Ibid.

This article was originally submitted to Dr. Matthew Queen on December 6, 2017 at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was a required assignment in the PhD seminary “Theological Issues in Evangelism.”

My Thoughts On Halloween

My Thoughts On Halloween

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So today is Reformation Day. It is also the popular secular holiday called Halloween. What are Christians to do on this day? My mind is filled with thoughts – dissertation length thoughts, deep thoughts, and shallow thoughts – but I don’t have the time or energy to write them all down here. I won’t answer all your questions here, but I hope to provide some balance. If you don’t have time to read it all, READ the FINAL TWO PARAGRAPHS!

What I Won’t Do

I won’t turn off my lights and hide upstairs because this is “Satan’s day” and I am afraid of him. He doesn’t have a day unless we give it to him! The Psalmist cries out in Pslams 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” I believe the Lord created each day and blessed me with the breath to enjoy it.

Further, Jesus tells us that forces of hell take a defensive posture when His church marches forward and the gates of hell cannot prevail against His church (Matt. 16:18). Next, I will choose not to walk in fear of Satan’s schemes. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” In summary, the only way that Satan wins a day is if we allow it. I will not “give” Satan this day. I will choose to seek my Lord’s direction in how to press forward His kingdom agenda.

Heed the Warnings

Satan does want to drag you into His world – of course not just today, but every day. It would be absolute idiocy for a believer to attend a séance tonight. We ought to avoid the sacrificing of cats, drinking of blood, and all other means of directly worshiping the enemy. Ouija boards are out and so are pentagrams. I say this only partly jesting. I have seen Christians who unknowingly walked into Satan’s traps and became entangled in His web. The devil is real and real people really do worship him year round, but especially on this night. Stay out of that garbage.

I don’t believe that precludes a believer from every aspect Halloween. Susan and I plan to hand out candy and a special tract sharing the Gospel of Jesus to every neighbor kid who comes by our house. I hope to meet a few parents and open a few doors to share His kingdom. Maybe I end up shaking hands and fellowshipping with tax-gathers and sinners. Some Christians will take a different approach tonight. I’m not too worried about it, I just want to do my best to follow my Lord’s example and spread his message of Good News. Besides, what other day of the year will I have over 100 kiddos come to my door where I can put the message of Jesus in their hands along with a couple pieces of chocolate?

Don’t let this Day be a Stumbling Block

Some Christians have been given clear convictions that they are to stay clear of this day. OBEY the direction from your Lord Jesus. He knows you best. You may have one of those personalities that would take things too far if you got started. You may have people in your sphere of influence that need to see you completely abstaining from any hint a connection with this holiday. If so, abstain. If you have had any connection with the occult or witchcraft in the past, you may be one who needs to stay home and watch the World Series tonight! I would not encourage a recovering alcoholic to go evangelize in a bar. Likewise you probably need to stay completely away from the “bad” part of this night.

What We Can’t Do

First and foremost, we (the church) cannot let our differing opinions define us and distract from His kingdom work. On social media this week I have seen earnest evangelical Christians regularly post opposing viewpoints. This is okay! Thankfully I have seen very few inappropriate arguments. It’s okay to disagree, but we must be cautious. Jesus made it clear that the world would know that we are His disciples by our love for each other – not by our doctrine.

People are Our Priority!

We must maintain balance in our relentless pursuit of the “truth” and our willingness to offer “grace.” This is tough! Some of us are prophets and teachers by nature (or giftedness) and it is our gift to hammer home “thus saith the Lord.” Others of us are more gifted with the tender hearts of mercy and service. It is our nature to love and come along side of our hurting brothers. Only Jesus was the perfect picture of both “grace and truth” (John 1:14).

I lean more toward the “thus saith the Lord” crowd, but I and the kingdom need the mercy folks. Sometimes I think that they are wishy-washy, but that comes out of their God given desire to show compassion. Sometimes, they think I am too rigid and hard-hearted. I hope they see that comes from my God given nature to preach and speak truth. The bottom line is that because none of us can display all of the characteristics of Christ by ourselves, we need each other. Jesus was the only one who perfectly expressed grace and truth, mercy and justice, leadership and encouragement. If the lost world is to see Christ on earth it will only be when we serve together, putting all of His characteristics on display to form a unified “body of Christ.”

Let’s get Busy with Show and Tell

Let’s show the world what love looks like. And let’s tell them how much God loves them! I won’t be celebrating Halloween, but I will celebrate Jesus on this day. I hope to “redeem the day” by engaging the lost (and saved) who come to my door with a smile, a handshake, and a word from God.

Happy Reformation Day! No tricks, just treats!

A Fantastic Fish Tale

A Fantastic Fish Tale

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The story of Jonah usually evokes crazy images of a poor young man somehow surviving in the belly of a whale. Our minds immediately race through questions like: what did he eat, what did it smell like, or how in the world could he last three days in that place? We get so caught up in these questions that we miss the message of the story.

This is certainly a “Fantastic Fish Tale,” but it is much more than that. It is the story of many of our lives. The whale wasn’t Jonah’s punishment for disobeying God. The whale was his salvation. God rescued Jonah, and then used him to rescue a nation!

Jonah’s Deliverance Came at a Price

Jonah fled from God even though he knew exactly what he was supposed to do. He received incredible grace from God, delivered in an unimaginable way. The Lord sent the fish to rescue Jonah as he was sinking into the depths of the ocean. The Lord rescued Jonah, but his “deliverance” came with is own difficulty. When we run from God, we sometimes have to go through a few stinky days before we can get back on the right path.

Nineveh Repented, God Relented

Jonah eventually obeyed God walking through the streets of Nineveh preaching God’s message. God’s message was represented, Nineveh repented, and God relented (Jonah 3:10). Jonah still refused to rejoice in God’s grace. He never did learn to give God the gratitude that He deserves. Too often, even when God moves in a mighty way, we miss Him because we are too focused on having our personal pity parties.

Jonah’s Story and My Life

By finding our story in Jonah’s life, we can learn from his mistakes and avoid living a life that smells like stinking guts of a fish – a life of disobedience, grouchy attitude, reluctant obedience, and ingratitude. May the Lord use Jonah to remind us of His love and grace? May we be challenged to walking in obedience from the beginning so we don’t end up overboard, sinking into the abyss, only to face difficult days because of our disobedience?

 Rescued to Rescue Others

Perhaps, God has rescued you so that he can use you to rescue someone else! Many of us are too busy having our personal pity parties because we didn’t get life our way. If God has saved you from eternal punishment, He desires to use you to rescue someone else. Quit looking in and start looking out for who the Lord wants us to rescue with His message of grace!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. – Acts 1:8 CSB