Sermon Illustrations on Personal Evangelism

How Moody Treated the Committees

Devoting oneself fully to soul-winning leads to greater effectiveness in ministry.

I remember when I was in Chicago before the fire, I was on some ten or twelve committees. My hands were full. If a man came to me to talk about his soul I would say I haven't time; got a committee to attend to. But now I have turned my back on everything--turned my attention to saving souls, and God has blessed me and made me an instrument to save more souls during the last four or five years than during all my previous life. And so if a minister will devote himself to this undivided work, God will bless him. Take that motto of Paul's: "One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Fourscore and Five

An 85-year-old woman’s bold evangelism touched diverse people and opened hearts to Christ.

When we went to London there was an old woman eighty-five years old, who came to the meetings and said she wanted a hand in that work. She was appointed to a district, and called on all classes of people. She went to places where we would probably have been put out, and told the people of Christ. There were none that could resist her. When the old woman, eighty-five years old, came to them and offered to pray for them, they all received her kindly--Catholics, Jews, Gentiles--all. That is enthusiasm. That is what we want.

What a Woman Did

A woman’s serious conversation led her family from mockery to conversion.

One place we were in, in England, I recollect a Quakeress came in. The meeting was held in a Methodist Church, and the Spirit of God was there--souls were being saved: multitudes were pressing into the kingdom. She had a brother who was a drinker and a nephew who had just come to the city, and he was in a critical state, too. They came to the meeting with her. Everything appeared strange to her, and when she went home she did not know really what to say. She and her brother and nephew went up stairs, and coming down she thought, it may be that the destiny of their souls depends on what I say now. When she entered the parlor she found them laughing and joking about the meeting. She put on a serious face and said, "I don't think we should laugh at it. Suppose Mr. Moody had come to you and asked you if you were converted, what would you have told him?" "I would have told him to mind his own business," replied one of them. "I think it is a very important question, and a question a Christian ought to put to any one; Mr. Moody, as a Christian, has a right to ask any one." She talked with them, and when that brother went to bed, he began thinking and thinking. He had tickets for the theater next night, but when next night came he said he would go to the meeting with his sister, and, to make a long story short, he came and was converted. He came to me--he was a mechanic--and asked me to talk to the laborers and have them come to the meetings. He had got such a blessing himself that he wanted them to share it.

That man brought me a list of the names of the mechanics about half as long as this room, and we got up a meeting in the theater, and we had that theater packed. That was the first meeting of working men I ever had, and the work of grace broke out among them. This was but the result of the woman taking her stand. She went into the inquiry-room and became an earnest worker. I get letters from her frequently now, and I do not believe there is a happier woman in all England. If she had taken another course she might have been the means of ruining these young men. There is one thing that Christians ought to ask themselves. Ask your heart, "Is this the work of the devil?" That is the plain question. If it's the work of the devil turn your back against it. I would if I thought it was. If it is the work of God, be careful what you do. My friends, it is a terrible thing to fight against God. If it is the Lord's wish, come out and take your stand, and let there be one united column of people coming up to heaven. Let every man, woman and child, be not afraid to confess the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Family that Hooted at Moody

Persistent kindness and prayer led a mocking family to Christ.

I remember a family in Chicago that used to hoot at me and my scholars as we passed their house sometimes. One day one of the boys came into the Sunday-school and made light of it. As he went away, I told him I was glad to see him there and hoped he would come again. He came and still made a noise, but I urged him to come the next time, and finally one day he said: "I wish you would pray for me, boys." That boy came to Christ. He went home and confessed his faith, and it wasn't long before that whole family had found the way into the Kingdom of God.

Mr. Moody's First Impulse in Converting Souls

A young man’s illness and fear of judgment inspired Moody’s focus on personal soul-winning.

I want to tell you how I got the first impulse to work solely for the conversion of men. For a long time after my conversion I didn't accomplish anything. I hadn't got into my right place; that was it. I hadn't thought enough of this personal work. I'd get up in prayer meeting, and I'd pray with the others, but just to go up to a man and take hold of his coat and get him down on his knees, I hadn't yet got round to that. It was in 1860 the change came. In the Sunday school I had a pale, delicate young man as one of the teachers. I knew his burning piety, and assigned him to the worst class in the school. They were all girls, and it was an awful class. They kept gadding around in the school-room, and were laughing and carrying on all the while. And this young man had better success than anyone else. One Sunday he was absent, and I tried myself to teach the class, but couldn't do anything with them; they seemed farther off than ever from any concern about their souls. Well, the day after his absence, early Monday morning, the young man came into the store where I worked, and, tottering and bloodless, threw himself down on some boxes. "What's the matter?" I asked, "I have been bleeding at the lungs, and they have given me up to die," he said. "But you are not afraid to die?" I questioned, "No," said he, "I am not afraid to die, but I have got to stand before God and give an account of my stewardship, and not one of my Sabbath-school scholars has been brought to Jesus. I have failed to bring one, and haven't any strength to do it now."

He was so weighed down that I got a carriage and took that dying man in it, and we called at the homes of everyone of his scholars, and to each one he said, as best his faint voice would let him, "I have come to just ask you to come to the Saviour," and then he prayed as I never heard before. And for ten days he labored in that way, sometimes walking to the nearest houses. And at the end of that ten days everyone of that large class had yielded to the Saviour. Full well I remember the night before he went away (for the doctors said he must hurry to the South), how we held a true love-feast. It was the very gate of heaven, that meeting. He prayed, and they prayed; he didn't ask them, he didn't think they could pray; and then we sung, "Blest be the tie that binds." It was a beautiful night in June that he left on the Michigan Southern, and I was down to the train to help him off. And those girls everyone gathered there again, all unknown to each other; and the depot seemed a second gate to heaven, in the joyful, yet tearful, communion and farewells between these newly redeemed souls and him whose crown of rejoicing it will be that he led them to Jesus. At last the gong sounded, and, supported on the platform, the dying man shook hands with each one, and whispered, "I will meet you yonder."

Moody and the Judge

Personal evangelism can lead hardened sinners to Christ.

A number of years ago as I was coming out of a daily prayer meeting in one of our Western cities, a lady came up to me and said: "I want to have you see my husband and ask him to come to Christ." She says, "I want to have you go and see him." She told me his name, and it was a man

I had heard of before. "Why," said I, "I can't go and see your husband

Persistent prayer and personal witness led an infidel judge to conversion.

He is a booked infidel. I can't argue with him. He is a good deal older than I am, and it would be out of place. Then I am not much for infidel argument." "Well, Mr. Moody," she says, "that ain't what he wants. He's got enough of that. Just ask him to come to the Saviour." She urged me so hard and so strong, that I consented to go. I went to the office where the judge was doing business, and told him what I had come for. He laughed at me. "You are very foolish," he said, and began to argue with me. I said, "I don't think it will be profitable for me to hold an argument with you. I have just one favor I want to ask of you, and that is, that when you are converted you will let me know." "Yes," said he, "I will do that. When I am converted I will let you know"--with a good deal of sarcasm.

I went off, and requests for prayer were sent here and to Fulton street, New York, and I thought the prayers there and of that wife would be answered if mine were not. A year and a half after, I was in that city, and a servant came to the door and said: "There is a man in the front parlor who wishes to see you." I found the Judge there; he said: "I promised I would let you know when I was converted." "Well," said I, "tell me all about it." I had heard it from other lips, but I wanted to hear it from his own. He said his wife had gone out to a meeting one night and he was home alone, and while he was sitting there by the fire he thought: "Supposing my wife is right, and my children are right; suppose there is a heaven and a hell, and I shall be separated from them." His first thought was, "I don't believe a word of it." The second thought came, "You believe in the God that created you, and that the God that created you is able to teach you. You believe that God can give you life." "Yes, the God that created me can give me life. I was too proud to get down on my knees by the fire, and said, 'O God, teach me.' And as I prayed, I don't understand it, but it began to get very dark, and my heart got very heavy. I was afraid to tell my wife, and I pretended to be asleep. She kneeled down beside that bed, and I knew she was praying for me. I kept crying, 'O God, teach me.' I had to change my prayer, 'O God save me; O God, take away this burden.' But it grew darker and darker, and the load grew heavier and heavier. All the way to my office I kept crying, 'O God, take away this load of guilt; I gave my clerks a holiday, and just closed my office and locked the door. I fell down on my face; I cried in agony to my Lord, 'O Lord, for Christ's sake take away this guilt.' I don't know how it was, but it began to grow very light. I said, I wonder if this isn't what they call conversion. I think I will go and ask the minister if I am not converted. I met my wife at the door and said, 'My dear, I've been converted.' She looked in amazement. 'Oh it's a fact; I've been converted! We went into that drawing-room and knelt down by the sofa and prayed to God to bless us." The old Judge said to me, the tears trickling down his cheeks, "Mr. Moody, I've enjoyed life more in the last three months than in all the years of my life put together." If there is an infidel here--if there is a skeptical one here, ask God to give you wisdom to come now. Let us reason together, and if you become acquainted with God the day will not go before you receive light from Him.

The Clucking Hen

True believers joyfully invite others to share in God's grace.

"As a hen when she hath found a worm, or a barleycorn, clucks for her chickens, that they may come and partake of it with her; so a man acquainted with Christ, who hath tasted that the Lord is gracious, he cannot hold, he will be calling upon his friends and relations to come and share with him of the same grace." ’Tis so much an instinct with real Christians to do this, that those who do not so may well question their own sincerity. Common humanity leads a man to inform his fellow of that which will benefit him, and how can he be a gracious man who is not even commonly humane? In certain crafts and trades there are selfish reasons for keeping their knowledge a secret, but nothing of this kind can appertain to the profession of godliness. Having found this honey, so abundant and so free to all comers, nature itself bids us call our brethren to see our treasure, and urge them to partake in its sweetness. Hasten, reader, to call in thy friends and neighbours to rejoice with thee if thou hast indeed found the Lord Jesus.

Experience, Telling

A new believer risks all to share the gospel with her family despite dangers.

A New-Zealand girl went to England to be educated. She became a true Christian; and, when about to return, some of her playmates, said, "Why go back to New Zealand? you are accustomed to England now; you love its shady lanes and clover-fields; it suits your health; besides, you may be shipwrecked on the ocean; you may be killed and eaten up by your own people: everybody will have forgotten you."—"What!" said she, "do you think that I could keep the 'good news' to myself? Do you think I could be content with having got pardon and peace and eternal life for myself, and not go and tell my dear father and mother how they may get it too? I would go if I had to swim there."

Personal Effort, Result of

A poor woman's faithful witness led to the conversion of an entire ship's crew.

The following was related by the leader of the noon prayer-meeting in Chicago. "A few months ago, a poor woman brought with her to meeting one sabbath a Swede woman, who found Christ precious to her soul. Her husband was cook on board a vessel which runs upon our lakes; and, as often as she could, she would have him attend church with her. It was not long before he, too, found peace in believing. Being a man of strong mind, of an earnest and zealous disposition, he went to work at once in his Master's vineyard; and, ere long, every man on board the vessel, except the first mate, was hopefully converted, and all of them members of the church. Of course, the case of the first mate excited no little interest among his shipmates. Prayer was made for him continually in the church and in the noon-meeting. Every time the vessel came into port, he was brought to the house of God by his companions. And now," says the speaker, "I have just learned that this man has found Christ, and is rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God. Every man on board the vessel is now converted, and all through the humble instrumentality of the poor woman who brought her Swede neighbor with her to the church."

Relating A Sermon

A woman shares a sermon that leads her neighbor to repentance and salvation.

During a revival in M—, says a correspondent of the New-York Evangelist, a minister, who was a stranger to the people, came into the place, and preached on the first Sabbath that he spent there, from the text, "Why will ye die?" Mrs. A—, one of the mothers in Israel, was deeply interested in the subject of the discourse. When she returned home, she still thought of the awful condition of impenitent sinners. She had a near neighbor, the brother of her husband, who was so negligent of the things of religion, that he was seldom seen within the walls of the sanctuary. She felt for this friend. In the evening she called to see him, gave him a relation of the meeting she had attended, told him the text, and as much of the sermon as she could recollect. An arrow of conviction was fixed in his heart, he immediately began to attend the religious meetings, and soon was brought to rejoice in the God of his salvation.

How much good might be accomplished if Christians generally felt as this pious female felt, and like her were faithful to warn sinners, to invite them to Jesus, and entreat them to flee from the wrath to come. and spent the evening with him at Northampton, in company with Dr. Doddridge, and two pious, ingenious clergymen of the Church of England, both of them known to the learned world by their valuable writings; and surely I never spent a more delightful evening, or saw one that seemed to make nearer approaches to the felicity of heaven. A gentleman of great worth and rank in the town, invited us to his house, and gave us an elegant treat; but how mean was his provision, how coarse his delicacies, compared with the fruit of my friend's lips!—they dropped as the honey-comb, and were a well of life."

# 3. WITH THE IMPENITENT.

"How Do You Treat My Master?"

Dr. Payson's question about treating Christ leads to a household's conversion.

Dr. Payson was once going to one of the towns in Maine for the purpose of attending a ministers' meeting, accompanied by a friend, when they had occasion to call at a house on the journey, where Dr. Payson was unknown. The family had just sat down to tea, and the lady of the house, in the spirit of genuine hospitality, invited the strangers to partake of the social repast. Dr. Payson at first declined, but being strenuously urged, he consented. As he took his seat, he inquired if a blessing had been asked; and being answered in the negative, requested the privilege, which was readily granted, of invoking the benediction of Heaven. This was done with so much fervor, solemnity, and simplicity, that it had the happiest effect. The old lady treated the company with the utmost attention, and as Dr. Payson was about to leave, he said to her, "Madam, you have treated me with much hospitality and kindness, for which I thank you sincerely; but allow me to ask, how do you treat my Master? That is of infinitely greater consequence than how you treat me." He continued in a strain of appropriate exhortation, and having done his duty in the circumstances, proceeded on his journey. This visit was sanctified to the conversion of the lady and her household. The revival continued in the neighborhood, and in a short time a church was built, and the regular ordinances of religion established.

Lady Ii. And The Laborer

A workman is converted by overhearing a conversation about salvation.

Lady II. once spoke to a workman who was repairing a garden wall, and pressed him to take some thought concerning eternity and the state of his soul. Some years afterward she was speaking to another on the same subject, and said to him, "Thomas, I fear you never pray, nor look to Christ for salvation." "Your ladyship is mistaken," answered the man. "I heard what passed between you and James at such a time, and the word you designed for him took effect on me." "How did you hear it?" "I heard it on the other side of the garden, through a hole in the wall, and shall never forget the impression I received."

Meeting The Impeni

Personal, one-on-one conversations can lead to effective conversion without peer resistance.

TENT ALONE.—Several young ladies, of a proud, gay and fashionable character, lived together in a fashionable family. Two men were strongly desirous to get the subject of religion before them, but were at a loss how to accomplish it for fear they would all combine, and counteract or resist every serious impression. At length they took this course. They called and sent up their card to one of the young ladies by name. She came down and they conversed with her on the subject of her salvation, and as she was alone, she not only treated them politely, but seemed to receive the truth in seriousness. A day or two after, they called in like manner on another, and then another, and so on till they had conversed with every one separately. In a little time they were all, I believe, every one, hopefully converted. This was as it should be, for then they could not keep each other in countenance. And then the impression made on one was followed up with the others, so that one was not left to exert a bad influence over the rest.

Twenty

Converting individuals privately avoids group ridicule and leads to multiple conversions.

ONE YOUNG MEN CONVERTED.—There was a pious woman who kept a boarding house for young gentlemen; she had twenty-one or two of them in her family, and at length she became very anxious for their salvation: she made it a subject of prayer, but saw no seriousness among them. At length she saw that there must be something done besides praying, and yet she did not know what to do. One morning after breakfast, as they were retiring she asked one of them to stop a few minutes. She conversed with him tenderly on the subject of religion, and prayed with him. She followed up the impression made, and pretty soon he was hopefully converted. Then there were two, and they addressed another, and prayed with him, and soon he was prepared to join them. Then another, and so on, taking one at a time and letting none of the rest know who was going on, so as not to alarm them, till every one of these young men were converted to God. Now if she had brought the subject before the whole of them together, very likely they would have turned it all into ridicule, or perhaps they would have been offended and left the house, and then she could have had no further influence over them. But taking one alone, and treating him respectfully and kindly, he had no such obstacle as arises out of the presence of others.

# 109. Happy Results Unexpectedly Developed

"Did You Ever Drink At That Great Fountain?"

A brief, bold question about salvation can deeply impact and lead to someone's conversion.

A friend of mine, Deacon E., in 1839, was on a visit to Saratoga Springs. One morning, taking a draught at Congress Spring, a lady came to take her usual glass at the same time. The deacon turned to her and asked her, "Have you ever drank at that Great Fountain?" She colored, and looked surprised; but turned away without a word of reply. The next winter Deacon E. was in Rochester, and one evening attended a conference and prayer meeting in the Baptist church. A gentleman invited him to go home with him and see his wife who was very sick. As he entered the room she looked up and smiled, and said, "Don't you know me?" "No," said he. "Don't you remember asking a woman at Congress Spring, 'Have you ever drank at that Great Fountain?'" "Yes," says he. "Well," said she, "I am the person; I thought at first you were very rude; but your words kept ringing in my ears. They followed me to my chamber, to my pillow. I found no rest till I found it in Christ. I expect to die pretty soon, and go to heaven, and you, under God, are the means of my salvation! Be as faithful to others as you have been to me. Never be afraid to talk to strangers on the subject of religion."

Farewell Advice

A solemn farewell warning about the soul's fate can leave a lasting spiritual impression.

Many years ago, a gentleman lived in intimate association with some literary friends, who met together once a week. In the freedom of this social intercourse, he had ample opportunities of ascertaining their peculiar habits of mind, and remarked, with deep regret, a general alienation from the sentiments and principles of real religion. One of them, in particular, to whom he was on many accounts most attached, scorned the restraints of religion, and abandoned himself to the pleasures of the world. Circumstances at length led the gentleman to leave that place, and on parting with his acquaintance at the corner of the street, he summoned up his moral courage to pronounce the following words:— "We now part, probably to meet no more on earth. We have sometimes discussed, and you have always refused to regard, the appeals of scriptural truth. One word, and I have done. O remember that you have a soul, an immortal soul: will you finally consent to lose it in endless perdition, for the sake of paltry and fleeting indulgences? Farewell."

Each now disappeared from the other, in the crowd of life; and pursued a very different course. Ten, twenty, thirty years elapsed. The gentleman was one day standing at his door, when another gentleman was passing by in great haste; but a momentary glance induced him to stop, and to ask, "Sir, is not your name M—?"

"It is;" and a sudden reminiscence led him to add, "And is not yours G—?"

"You are right. Do you remember what you said at our separation at the corner of S—street, thirty years ago?"

"I have a faint recollection."

"But I have a strong one. I am another man. You left me a man of the world, and an enemy of the cross of Christ: I am now, and have been during many years, a member of a Christian church, and you are the cause. The word was 'in season;' I could not rid myself of it; I was forced by it to reflection; yes, I thought on my ways, and turned to God and happiness."

Bishop Asbury And Poor Punch

A patient, personal conversation and prayer can transform even the most notorious sinner.

Bishop Asbury, in 1798, on his journey to Charleston, S. C., passed a creek in the parish of St.—, on the bank of which sat a slave fishing and humming a ditty. His name was Punch. He was notorious for his vicious character. The pious bishop rode towards him, deliberately proceeded to alight, fastened his horse to a tree, and seated himself by the side of the slave!

As the slave seemed willing, he commenced a minute and personal conversation with him on religion. Punch began to feel, tears ran down his sable cheeks, and he seemed alarmed at his danger, and listened with intentness to the counsels of the singular stranger. After a long conversation, the bishop sung the hymn —

"Plunged in a gulf of dark despair," prayed with him, and pursued his journey. More than twenty years elapsed before he again saw or heard of Punch. While on another visit to Charleston he was called upon by an aged and Christian negro, who had travelled seventy miles on foot to visit him. It was the slave he had warned and prayed over on the bank of the creek, who had ever since been journeying on the way to heaven. When the bishop left him, on the bank of the stream, he immediately took up his fishing tackle and hastened home in the deepest agitation, pondering over the words of the venerable man. After some days of anguish and prayer, he found peace in believing and became a new man. The change was too manifest not to be discovered by his fellow-servants—it was the topic of his conversation with them incessantly. In his simple way he pointed them to the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world, and many of them became thoroughly penitent for their sins. Throngs of the neglected Africans resorted to his humble cabin to receive his exhortations and prayers. A perverse overseer, who had charge of the plantation, perceiving the increasing interest of the slaves for their souls, and their constant attendance in the evenings at Punch's cabin, determined to put a stop to the spreading leaven. But on coming one night to break up a meeting, he was struck under conviction, fell down under a tree near by, and began to cry for mercy. The negroes gathered around him, and prayed with him till God in his mercy pardoned and comforted him. The overseer now became a co-worker with Punch among them; he joined the nearest Methodist church, and in time became an exhorter, and finally a preacher! Punch had now full liberty to do good among his associates. He exhorted, prayed, and led them on, as a shepherd his flock, and extended his usefulness around the whole neighborhood. After many years he was removed, by the decease of his master and the distribution of the estate, to the parish of A., where he continued to labor for the souls of his fellow bondmen with still greater success. Scores and even hundreds were converted through his instrumentality, and he sustained a kind of pastoral charge over them for years.

### 110. Various Interesting Conversions.

"A Word In Season."

Timely warning and gospel appeal can awaken a person to their spiritual danger and need for salvation.

The Rev. Peter Mill, a zealous and venerable minister of the Gospel, being on a pedestrian excursion in Yorkshire (Eng.), came to the brink of a large pit, which was so completely covered with the drifted snow as to conceal all danger from the unwary traveller. Just at that imminent moment, when, had he stepped forward, it is more than probable he would have plunged into the gulf of death, a young woman coming up, discovered to him his perilous condition. Grateful to the First Cause of his deliverance, he was not unmindful of the instrument of it: and desirous of making her some important return for the service she had rendered him, he informed her that he was a minister of Christ, whose office it was to call sinners to repentance. And with much gratitude and earnestness, he exhorted her to flee from the wrath to come, entreating her seriously to consider that her youth was no security from death, and expressing a most ardent desire that he might be the means of saving her soul from the more awful pit than that from which she had been instrumental in saving his body.

What he said to her was "a word in season;" for, while gratitude sparkled in his eyes, and his countenance expressed more than his tongue could declare, she could not doubt the truth of his assertions; and such was the impression of his discourse on her mind, that she began earnestly to cry, "What must I do to be saved!" She soon obtained ease to her troubled conscience, and an assurance that her sins were pardoned. And about eight weeks after this, she died, happy in the consolations of religion.

The Clergyman Converted

A direct spiritual inquiry can convict and lead to the conversion of even a reluctant clergyman.

The excellent Joseph Williams, of Kidderminster, relates, in his diary, that in the year 1754, he was unexpectedly induced to take a journey; and, while out on his way, to ride to Bradford, in Wiltshire, on a stormy night. On a Monday, he called on a clergyman, the vicar of the town, and just as the party, to whom he was thus introduced, was breaking up, a young clergyman, the curate of the parish, came in. A pious friend, who accompanied Mr. Williams, requested him to speak to the curate: and with some reluctance he advanced towards him with the important inquiry, "Sir, how does your soul prosper?" He seemed disconcerted, and replied in a languid manner. Next morning, he sent for Mr. Williams, and told him that the conversation was deeply impressed on his mind, that he feared the state of his soul was bad, and desired some further intercourse. They conversed, they prayed, and, after they separated, kept up a correspondence mutually gratifying. The clergyman afterwards gave abundant evidence of piety, and of great faithfulness to the souls committed to his charge.

### III. The Duty Neglected.

Success With The Impentent

Consistent godly conduct prepares hearts for effective evangelistic conversations.

It is said of a follower of Christ who lived many years ago in Western New-York, that she had probably been instrumental in the conversion of more sinners than any minister in the same region of country. She was once asked how it was that she, while she was in the habit of speaking to every class of individuals, always spoke with effect without giving offence. Her reply was this: "Whenever such an individual comes within the circle of my influence, I at once set my heart upon saying and doing what I can to secure his salvation. As soon as a fit opportunity presents, my plan is to converse with him on the 'things which concern his peace.' As preparatory to such an event, my aim is to order my entire deportment in his presence so that what I say shall be impressed upon his heart and conscience by all that he has previously seen in me." Here was the secret of her power. What was spoken was always in time, and rendered like "apples of gold in pictures of silver," by its correspondence with her entire character. It is in place for the truly good to urge the practice of goodness upon all around them. Nor is it fitting in any others to engage in this hallowed employment. 167. 168

# EXPERIENCE,

167. Effect of relating, &c.

Payson And The Lawyer

God can use gifted believers to witness effectively even in skeptical, cultured settings.

The following rencounter with a lawyer of Portland, who ranked among the first in the place for wealth, and fluency of speech, will show Dr. Payson's insight into character, and also that his conquests were not confined to "weak women and children."

A lady, who was the common friend of Mrs. Payson and the lawyer's wife, was sojourning in the family of the latter. After the females of the respective families had interchanged several "calls," Mrs. — was desirous of receiving a formal visit from Mrs. Payson; but, to effect this, Mr. Payson must also be invited; and how to prevail with her husband to tender an invitation was the great difficulty. He had been accustomed to associate experimental religion with meanness, and of course felt, or affected, great contempt for the divine, as if it were impossible for a man of his religion to be also a man of talents. He knew, by report, something of Mr. Payson's practice on these occasions, and dreading to have his house a place for what appeared to him gloomy conversation, resisted his wife's proposal as long as he could do so, and retain the character of a gentleman. When he gave his consent, it was with the positive determination that Mr. Payson should not converse on religion, nor ask a blessing over his food, nor offer a prayer in his house. He collected his forces, and made his preparations in conformity with this purpose. When the appointed day arrived, he received his guests very pleasantly, and entered at once into animated conversation; determined, by obtruding his own favorite topics, to forestall the divine. It was not long before the latter discovered his object, and summoned together his powers to defeat it. He plied them with that skill and address for which he was remarkable; still, for some time, victory was inclined to neither side, or to both alternately. The lawyer, not long before, had returned from Washington city, where he spent several weeks on business at the supreme court of the United States. Mr. Payson made some inquiries respecting sundry personages there, and among others, the chaplain of the house of representatives. The counsellor had heard him in the devotional services of that assembly. "How did you like him?" "Not at all; he appeared to have more regard to those around him, than he had to his Maker." Mr. Payson was very happy to hear him recognize the distinction between praying to God, and praying to be heard of men; and dropped a series of observations on prayer, passing into a strain of remark, which, without taking the form, had all the effect on the lawyer's conscience, of a personal application. From a topic so unwelcome, he strove to divert the conversation; and every few minutes would start something as wide from it as the east is from the west. But as often as he wandered, his guest would dexterously, and without violence, bring him back; and as often as he was brought back, he would wander again. At length the trying moment, which was to turn the scale, arrived. The time for the evening repast had come; the servant had entered the parlor with the provisions; the master of the feast became unusually eloquent, resolved to engross the conversation, to hear no question or reply, to allow no interval for "grace," and to give no indication, by the eye, the hand, or the lips, that he expected, or wished for such a service. Just as the distribution was on the very point of commencing, Mr. Payson interposed the question. "What writer has said, 'The devil invented the fashion of carrying round tea, to prevent a blessing being asked?' Our host felt himself "cornered;" but, making a virtue of necessity, replied, "I don't know what writer it is; but, if you please, we will foil the devil this time. Will you ask a blessing, sir?" A blessing, of course, was asked; and he brooked, as well as he could, this first certain defeat, still resolved not to sustain another by the offering of thanks at the closing of the repast. But in this, too, he was disappointed. By some well-timed sentiment of his reverend guest, he was brought into such a dilemma, that he could not, without absolute rudeness, decline asking him to return thanks. And thus he contested every inch of his ground, till the visit terminated. But, at every stage, the minister proved too much for the lawyer. Mr. Payson retained his character as a minister of religion, and gained his point in every thing; and that, too, with so admirable a tact, in a way so natural and unconstrained, and with such respectful deference to his host, that the latter could not be displeased, except with himself. He not only acknowledged God on the reception of food, but read the Scriptures and prayed before separating from the family; and did it at the request of the master, though made, as in every other instance, in violation of a fixed purpose. The chagrin of this disappointment, however, eventually became the occasion of the lawyer's greatest joy. His mind was never entirely at ease, till he found peace in believing. Often did he revert with devout thankfulness to God, to the visit which had occasioned his mortification; and ever after regarded, with more than common veneration and respect, the servant of God whom he had despised; and was glad to receive his ministrations, in exchange for those on which he had formerly attended.

Mistake Of Neff

Small acts of kindness and gospel questions can lead to unexpected conversions.

One day, as Felix Neff was walking in a street in the city of Lausanne, he saw at a distance a man whom he took for one of his friends. He ran behind him, tapped him on the shoulder, before looking him in his face, and asked him, "What is the state of your soul, my friend?" The stranger turned; Neff perceived his error, apologized, and went his way. About three or four years afterwards, a person came to Neff, and accosted him, saying, he was indebted to him for his inestimable kindness. Neff did not recognize the man, and begged he would explain. The stranger replied, "Have you forgotten an unknown person, whose shoulder you touched in the street in Lausanne, asking him, 'How do you find your soul?' It was I; your question led me to serious reflections, and now I find it is well with my soul." This proves what apparently small means may be blessed of God for the conversion of sinners, and how many opportunities for doing good we are continually letting slip, and which thus pass irrevocably beyond our reach. One of the questions which every Christian should propose to himself, on setting out on a journey, is, "What opportunities shall I have to do good?" And one of the points on which he should examine himself, on his return, is, "What opportunities have I lost?"

# 261. Success in their Labors.

Page’S Mode

A direct, personal question about salvation deeply touched a man unused to heartfelt evangelism.

After the death of Harlan Page, that devoted fisher of men, who it is said, was instrumental in leading one hundred souls to Christ a man said: “A plain man sitting by my side, after a kind salutation, said: ‘I trust you love the Saviour?’ The question filled my eyes with tears. I had been preached to at arm’s length all my life, but this was the first time that ever a Christian thus put such a question to my heart.”

Have you ever Told Jane?

John 3:16

Parents should personally and urgently share Christ with their children to awaken faith.

One Sunday evening, in the course of his sermon, Mr. Spurgeon said: "Now, you mothers, have you ever prayed with each of your children, one by one, and urged them to lay hold on Christ? Perhaps dear Jane is now in bed, and you have never yet pleaded with her about eternal things. Go home tonight, wake her up, and say, 'Jane, I am sorry I have never told you about the Saviour personally, and prayed with you, but I mean to do so now.' Wake her up, and put your arms round her neck, and pour out your heart to God with her." This was a bow drawn at a venture, but God directed the arrow. The very next Monday evening, a good woman, who had a daughter named Jane, came to see him in the vestry, bringing her daughter Jane with her. On the Sunday night, when she went home, she found Jane in bed. She woke her up, and began: "Dear Jane, I have not spoken to you about Jesus, as I ought to have done." "Oh, dear mother!" said Jane, "I have loved the Saviour these six months, and wondered you had not spoken to me about Him." Are there not many such mothers and fathers? And may there not be many such Janes or Johns? Let us never be ashamed or afraid to talk to our children, or other relatives, or servants, about Him who is "The fairest of ten thousand fair," the "All in all" in every believer's salvation.

The Cabman's Testament

A gifted Bible and personal witness can leave a lasting spiritual impact.

Hailing a cab one day, to be driven home, when Mr. Spurgeon paid his fare, the man said, "It is a long time since I drove you last, sir." "Did you ever drive me before?" asked Mr. Spurgeon, "I do not recollect you." "Oh, yes," said the man; "it is about fourteen years ago, but if you have forgotten me, perhaps youwill remember this," and as he spoke he pulled out a Testament from his pocket. "What," said Mr. Spurgeon, "did I give you that?" "Yes, sir, and you spoke to me about my soul, and nobody had ever done that before. I have never forgotten it." "And haven't you worn the Testament out in all these years?" "No, sir; I wouldn't let it be worn out. I have had it new bound."

Influence, Personal

Personal courage and zeal can revive faith and start new ministries.

Embury was one of a group of Irish-German emigrants to the United States in 1764. He settled in New York, but lacked courage to begin religious work there, and by a natural and inevitable reaction his own religious life began to die. Another party of these German-Irish emigrants, from the same neighborhood, landed in New York the next year. Among them was Barbara Heck, a peasant woman of courageous character and an earnest Methodist. Her zeal kindled in womanly vehemence when she found the first party of emigrants had practically forgotten their Methodism. A familiar but doubtful story relates how she went into a room one day where Embury and his companions were playing cards. She seized the pack, threw it into the fire, and cried to Embury: “You must preach to us or we shall all go to hell together; and God will require our blood at your hands.” “I can not preach,” stammered the rebuked man, “for I have neither chapel nor congregation.” “Preach in your own house,” answered Barbara Heck, “and to our own company.” And so the first Methodist sermon in America was preached under a private roof and to a congregation of five persons.--W. H. FITCHETT, “Wesley and His Century.”

Influence, Unnoticed

Unnoticed personal influence can profoundly change others and history.

Wesley declares that he owed his conversion to the teaching of Peter Bohler. What, then, exactly was that teaching? Bohler did unconsciously the supreme work of his life during these few days in London and at Oxford when he was conversing with Wesley. The humble-minded Moravian, wise only in spiritual science, touches Wesley--and then vanishes! But he helped to change the religious history of England, little as he himself dreamed of it.--W. H. FITCHETT, “Wesley and His Century.”

Personal Evangelism

Dwight Moody's personal interest made evangelism impactful even in a barbershop.

President Woodrow Wilson, of Princeton, gives this incident of Dwight L. Moody:

Whenever I came into contact with Mr. Moody I got the impression that he was coming separately into contact with one person at a time. I remember that I was once in a very plebeian place; I was in a barbershop, lying in a chair, and I was aware that a personality had entered the room. A man came quietly in upon the same errand that I had come in on and sat in the chair next to me. Every word that he uttered, tho it was not in the least didactic, showed a personal and vital interest in the man who was serving him, and before I got through with what was being done to me I was aware that I had attended an evangelistic service, because Mr. Moody was in the next chair. I purposely lingered in the room after he left and noted the singular effect his visit had upon the barbers in that shop. They talked in undertones. They did not know his name. They did not know who had been there, but they knew that something had elevated their thought. And I felt that I left that place as I should have left a place of worship. Mr. Moody always sought and found the individual. (Text.)

Temperance

Father Mathew's temperance society rapidly grew after his public commitment to abstinence.

* * * * *

In April, 1838, William Martin knocked at Father Mathew’s door in obedience to a summons. The friar met him at the threshold, his handsome face radiant with kindness and good-nature.

“Welcome, Mr. Martin, welcome! I have sent for you to assist me in forming a temperance society in this neighborhood.”

“I knew it,” said the Quaker; “something seemed to tell me that thou would’st do it at last.”

“For long I could not see my way clearly to take up the question. I have been asked by several good men to take up the cause, and I feel I can no longer refuse. How are we to begin?”

They began with a little meeting in the friar’s school-room, when Father Mathew, after his address on temperance, said, “I will be the first to sign my name in the book which is on the table, and I hope we shall soon have it full.” He then approached the table; and, taking the pen, said in a loud voice, “Here goes, in the name of God!”

In three months from the day that Father Mathew signed the book “in the name of God,” the number on the roll was 25,000; in five months it rose to 131,000; in less than nine months it was 156,000.--EDWARD GILLIAT, “Heroes of Modern Crusades.”

We Can All Be A Tom Phillips

Acts 2:21

In the year 386, Augustine of Hippo sat beneath a fig tree, weeping bitterly over the state of his soul. Then he heard the voice of a young child singing, “Take up and read. Take up and read.” Immediately Augustine grabbed the Scriptures and opened to Romans 13: “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Augustine went on to become the most influential Church father in Western Christendom.

We do not know the name of the young child whose song helped Augustine to faith.

In 1736, on a ship bound for America, John Wesley trembled with fear because of a terrible storm. Despite the wind and waves, on the ship’s deck, a group of German Moravians calmly sung hymns. Wesley was stunned at their faith and lack of fear, and after the voyage, learned from a Moravian bishop about “the second birth” and assurance of salvation.

We do not know the names of those faith-filled Moravians.

In August of 1973, Nixon hatchet man Chuck Colson sat crying in the driveway of a corporate executive who’d just shared with Chuck the good news of Jesus Christ. Chuck gave his live to Christ and became one of the great evangelical voices and Christian worldview thinkers of modern times.

We do know the corporate executive’s name. Tom Phillips. In January 2019 he passed from this life into the arms of his Savior.

Tom Phillips was extraordinarily successful. He was chairman and chief executive officer of Raytheon. He was awarded several honorary degrees. He served on numerous boards (including an advisory board of the Salvation Army), and he was a generous philanthropist.

But one of his greatest achievements was sharing his faith in Christ with Chuck Colson. Years ago, on BreakPoint, Chuck described that fateful evening

Chuck Colson: I knew Tom had become a Christian, and he seemed so different. I wanted to ask him what had happened.

That night he read to me from Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis, particularly a chapter about the great sin that is pride . . .

Tom, that night, told me about encountering Christ in his own life. He didn’t realize it, but I was in the depths of deep despair over Watergate, watching the president I had helped for four years flounder in office. I’d also heard that I might become a target of the investigation as well. In short, my world was collapsing.

That night, as Tom was telling me about Jesus, I listened attentively, but didn’t let on my own need. When he offered to pray, I thanked him but said, no, I’d see him sometime after I read C. S. Lewis’s book. But when I got in the car that night, I couldn’t drive it out of the driveway. Ex-Marine captain, White House tough guy, I was crying too hard, calling out to God. I didn’t know what to say; I just knew I needed Jesus, and He came into my life.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Chuck went on to found Prison Fellowship, the world’s largest prison ministry. Through his work in the prisons, untold thousands of prisoners across the world came to Christ. They owe their salvation in part to Tom Phillips’s willingness to share the Gospel with Chuck.

All the great work Chuck did for justice reform, and the ministry of BreakPoint and the Colson Center, not to mention Chuck’s extraordinarily influential books on Christian worldview, can be traced back to Tom Phillips.

Very few of us will ever have the sort of towering life and influence of a Chuck Colson. But every single one of us can be a Tom Phillips. Just think: that kind word in Christ’s name, that work of art that points to truth and beauty, that article or commentary, and especially that face-to-face talk about Jesus ... can change a life. And that life might change the world.

Praise God for Tom Phillips.

________

Resources

The Man Who Led My Dad to Christ: Tom Phillips (1924-2019)

Emily Colson, with David Carlson, BreakPoint, January 10, 2019

Augustine's Confessions: Chapter XII

Christian Classics Ethereal Library

The Moravians and John Wesley

Christian History

Moravian Moment # 22 - The influence of the transformed life

June 10, 2007

________

Invest and Invite: A Successful Strategy For Evangelism & Follow-up

Mark 5:19

Personal evangelism is one of the most effective methods of sharing the Gospel with friends, family and strangers. According to an article written by Thom S. Rainer, author of “Surprising Insights from the Unchurched and Proven Ways to Reach Them,” about two-thirds of new believers his research team interviewed said someone had shared with them personally how to become a Christian.

But what then is the next step? How do believers nurture new Christians to grow in their faith? What are the responsibilities of believers in following up those with whom they have shared the Gospel? Some good examples of sincere follow-up can be seen in the evangelism ministry of First Baptist Church of Colleyville, Texas, and one of its members, Ron Cogburn.

Frank Harber, pastor of the Colleyville church and former evangelism professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, recounted his church's strategy for encouraging members to have a lifestyle of involvement in the lives of others, called “I2,” which stands for “Invest and Invite.” Members are challenged weekly to invest themselves in relationships with the lost and then invite them to church.

First Baptist Colleyville has quadrupled in size in the last two years, from 400 to 1,800 members, and from a budget of $1.2 million to $4.1 million.

“We tailor everything in our church for our people to come and bring people. That's why our church has grown so fast,” Harber said. “The church is the New Testament strategy to reach people on this planet. So the church has to be involved in the mindset to do this.”

Regardless of the sermon topic, Harber presents the Gospel in every message. “People receive Christ every single week. Our people know that our church is a place that they are going to hear the Gospel,” he said. “We've created a climate where people know how to bring their friends.” Events and programs that are good entry points for new people into the church are noted in the church bulletin with the “I2” logo.

Inviting people to church is a powerful but sometimes overlooked method of follow-up, Harber said. But what about those outside our daily reach -- those who respond to the Gospel through mission trips, business trips, or others with whom we are not likely to have regular contact?

Ron Cogburn, chairman of the deacons at First Colleyville and president of a Dallas consulting firm, has many times witnessed to people he is not likely to see again until Christ returns. On a business trip to Saipan, Cogburn shared the Gospel daily, with passengers he sat next to on airplanes, hotel employees and others he met along the way.

As people responded to the Good News of Christ, Ron sent home e-mails requesting tools to help them understand their new relationship with God, such as Filipino Bibles and a book called “Going Forward with Jesus Christ.” Cogburn also requested prayer for each person he had witnessed to and for those who had become new brothers and sisters in Christ through his witness.

One of Cogburn's friends, Kyle Mabry, said of the e-mail reports, “I don't want to over-dramatize this, but you almost felt like you were reading one of Paul's letters. 'Send this person one of these. Provide this person a copy of this.'“

While in Saipan, he also visited with a Baptist missionary, Bob Berkley, who made contact with the new converts and invited them to attend church services there.

Closer to home, Cogburn became aware of some impoverished Hispanic neighborhoods in Grapevine, not too far from his church -- people not likely to enter the doors of First Baptist Colleyville. Upon discovering their plight and the fact that no church was doing significant ministry there, Cogburn inspired church leaders to organize an annual December event called Mission Colleyville.

The church advertised through fliers that they would send buses to pick up anyone who wanted to attend the event to receive a meal, free groceries and toys donated by church members. More than 1,000 people attended, and more than 200 responded to the Gospel that night.

FBC still visits that neighborhood regularly, offering assistance for physical needs and sharing the Gospel.

“Mission Colleyville has really jumpstarted a move of God in the Hispanic community,” Cogburn said. Since then, a church has been established in the neighborhood. Cogburn said FBC also works closely with GRACE, a local charity organization, to continue meeting needs in that area.

Harber acknowledged that follow-up may not always be possible, but that should not stop people from spreading the Gospel. He looks to the parable of the sower for his evangelism philosophy. “Evangelism is really sowing. Only one in four in the parable are responding in the different soils,” he said. “But the sower was maniacal about spreading the seed, which was the Gospel. Some people will only witness to people they think will respond. We should throw it out everywhere. We don't know what's going to happen. If we sow and faint not, we will reap.”

*

[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #931]

Why We Fail to Be Involved in Personal Evangelism

Jude 1:3

My Source: BEACON of Bellview church of Christ

Volume XXVII, #22, May 31, 1999

Author: Barry M. Grider

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WHY WE FAIL TO BE INVOLVED

IN

PERSONAL EVANGELISM

by Barry M. Grider

All of us have heard sermons admonishing us to be faithful in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). Because of our failure to do so, we often soothe our consciences by financially supporting preacher training schools or missionaries overseas. While these are truly noble endeavors, it does not excuse our roles as individuals to be involved personally in winning new converts to Christ. Others may say they live a good moral life in front of friends and co-workers and that is enough. While it is commendable to live such a life, this alone will not save the lost. Personal evangelism means opening our mouths and distinctively expressing to others what they must do to be saved. Yet, how often do we fail to show the way to others. Perhaps we even cringe when someone asks us a Bible question. Remember Peter said, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason fo the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Pt Matthew 3:15). Why do we often fail to heed this divine admonition? Here are some possible reasons:

ONE--FEAR OF EMBARRASSMENT...

Nothing can bring more pain to an individual than being embarrassed. Many times, because we fail to study, we cannot provide adequate Bible answers to questions that might arise. For this reason Paul exhorted Timothy: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tm 2:15). Sometimes we may be embarrassed to admit we are Christians. If this be the case, we need personally to examine our hearts. John warns us "love not the world" (1 John 2:15); and the Lord Jesus said, "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:33).

TWO--FEAR OF STIRRING ANGER AND RESENTMENT...

Most everyone wants to be liked by others. As a result, we often tend to avoid confrontation. Yet the Bible is clear, Christianity is confrontational. Jesus did not seek strife, but He was not afraid of it, as evidenced when He drove the money changers from the temple (Matthew 21:21). Some have avoided confrontation by declaring we just are to LOVE others. Often what is meant by this statement is we should tolerate error and evil. Again, hear the apostle Peter: "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified" (1 Pt Matthew 4:14).

THREE--PEOPLE ARE NOT INTERESTED...

Too often we take it upon ourselves to judge whether or not someone would be interested in the gospel. While we live in an increasingly indifferent and apathetic world, we still have the command to take the gospel to the lost. Jesus did not say go take the gospel only to those who are interested. Our job is to plant and water, God will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). I have heard Christian young people express disdain when someone disreputable from school is invited to a church activity. Such an individual is the one most in need of our love and teaching. I am so glad our Lord did not give up on Saul of Tarsus, the great persecutor who became the great preacher.

FOUR--WE ARE NOT CONVERTED OURSELVES...

One other reason we may not be involved in personal evangelism is we simply fail to see the need. Perhaps we are not certain those outside of Christ are really lost. This may stem from our own lack of conversion. Remember Jesus said, "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13). How sad it will be that some individuals will be lost because we did not see the need of sharing the gospel with them.

Indeed, personal evangelism is eseential for the church to grow and for souls to be saved. Do not lack confidence in the message of the cross, nor make rash judgments concerning the souls of others. Remember Jesus' words: "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37). None of us want to hear the words contained in the chorus of the following song, written by James Rowe: "You met me day by day and knew I was astray, yet never mentioned him to me." Paul admonished, "therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58). A major part of this work is personal evangelism.

Personal Evangelism & Blackberries

Jude 1:3

My Source:

THE OLD PATHS ARCHIVE

… … … … … …

Author: T. Pierce Brown

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Personal Evangelism and Blackberries

While picking blackberries, the thought occurred to me that there are many lessons that relate to principles of personal evangelism. First, if you are more concerned with being bitten by chiggers, stung by yellow jackets, scratched by briars or other trivial things, than you are with picking berries, you will never be a great berry picker. If anything is more important to you than glorifying God by being a fisher of men, you will never be a great soul winner.

Second, you may find them where you least expect it. If you are really interested in picking berries, you will discover them by the side of the road, in little patches hidden here and there in the field. It does not really matter if you are ready. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear.”

Third, you either get them when they are ripe and ready, or you do not get them. In my 50 years of experience in trying to do personal evangelism, I have noted two significant things, both of which are bad. There are those who are always procrastinating. They plan to try to win some soul for the Lord when the time is ripe. The time never gets ripe, and those who would obey the gospel if it were presented to them are forever lost. On the other hand, there are those who are so eager to get someone baptized that they “pick them while they are green.” A person who “obeys from the heart the form of doctrine which is delivered unto him” (Romans 6:17-18) and then is made free from sin, must first be taught. It is true that he does not need to know all that he will learn in the next 50 years, but he has to understand the facts of the gospel and realize what it means to accept Jesus as Lord. In the 50 years I have been picking blackberries, I never remember picking a green or red one that ever ripened properly. I doubt that I could find many persons who were baptized without having been taught properly who have ever matured properly.

A fourth lesson came to me as I was leaving one clump of vines. I had picked all I saw as I was going in, but as I was coming out, I saw almost as many more. The principle is: If you think you have done all the good you can do by using one approach, and have not been very productive, it might be worth while for you to look at things from some other angle. This applies not only to the methodology by which you set up a Bible study, but the techniques by which you study with an individual.

Fifth, occasionally I found a whole bunch that were ripe, and it appeared they could all be picked with one clutch of the hand. Many times when such is tried, half of them are dropped, and many mashed into a pulp. It is generally better to pick one at a time, so individual attention can be given to its welfare.

Sixth, learn to stick to one bush until you get the maximum good done. If you are always looking around to find more likely places to find berries, it may be you will cover half an acre and not get a bucket full. There are preachers who almost always think the grass is greener or the field is more productive on the other side of the fence, but one needs to try to finish what he starts to the best of his ability before flitting around.

Seventh, be gentle and careful. It is possible that if you step on all the briars that get in your way, or jerk and slash unnecessarily, you will not only destroy many future plants that would be productive, you will actually shake off many berries you could be picking now. Another interesting side effect may be that one of the briars you jerk around may slip loose and slap you across the face with its sharp thorns. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.” There are many other references that teach the same principle. Some people evidently feel that most of their remarks to those of other religious persuasions should be seasoned mostly with pepper.

T. Pierce Brown

Published in The Old Paths Archive ( \webpage{http://www.oldpaths.com} )

Evangelism is an "Every Member" Business

Jude 1:3

My Source:

Bulletin of the Viva Drive church of Christ

June 13, 1999

Trumann, AR 72472

Author: Unknown

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EVANGELISM IS AN "EVERY MEMBER" BUSINESS

A newspaper carried the story of a lawsuit brought against a doctor who passed by the scene of an accident without stopping to render medical assistance. One of the victims died from a loss of blood. The dead man's family then sued the doctor who was seen passing by the scene of the fatal accident. The court ruled against the doctor and awarded a great amount of money to the dead man's family. Why this judgment? It was ruled that the doctor's knowledge of medicine automatically made him responsibile to assist in the saving of life under all circumstances.

In exactly the same way, the fact that Christians have knowledge of salvation automatically makes them responsibile to assist in the saving of souls! Does any one of us think that the Judge of heaven and earth will ignore the fact that His saved people are passing by on the other side and allowing people to be lost in their sins? Christians are under obligation to every lost person in the world. And not one of us is released from that obligation until every person has been adequately provided opportunity to be taught the truth. The Christian never goes to bed at night with his work done nor rises in the morning with nothing to do! Evangelism is a constantly pressing matter and is the business of the militant church.

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DRL NOTE: Brethren I don't know about you, but that moves me. I wish I had more specifics of the details of this account. If you should happen to know of this incident with the doctor, please let me know: dlemmons@hcis.net We certainly do need to understand that our work in the vineyard of the Lord is a never ceasing one. May we come better to understand the need to fill our proper roles in the "militant church!"

One on One Evangelism

Acts 8

My Source: Email from Author

Author: Hud Griffith

hudgriffith@juno.com

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ONE ON ONE EVANGELISM

by Hud Griffith

Most of us will never stand behind the pulpit to deliver a sermon. The commission that was given to ALL of us by Jesus in Matthew Matthew 28, by sensible deduction, would indicate that in many cases the only way we can deliver the Gospel, is by one to one communication. The majority of the examples of conversion in the book of Acts, were very personal in nature. That is to say, very few were present during the delivery of the Word of life. Philip preached Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch, one to one. It was important enough to The Holy Spirit that this man hear the Gospel, that he instructed him to go into the desert... To preach to one man! Acts Acts 8. Each and every soul on this earth is important to our Father. Sometimes Satan's negative influence takes over, and we tell ourselves that we're insignificant, that nothing we can say or do will affect this person. Each one of us has the tools available at our very fingertips. So many died because they desired to look into the word of God during the dark ages, and most of us have a plurality of copies of the Bible in our homes. The vast majority of the people we come in contact with in our

daily lives, have never read or been told of Peter's sermon in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost in Acts Acts 2. Nor the story of the Philippian jailer who, within an hour after being in a suicidal state was baptized, along with his entire family, Acts Acts 16.

None of us need to be great orators (or even good orators) to show people the way to the King of kings. We just need to be able to show how people were converted in the first century, and how they worshipped God upon their conversion. Don't let Satan tell you that you're insignificant.

"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,

exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2 Timothy 4:2

Going From Golf To God

Mark 1:14

The hardest part about witnessing is turning a casual conversation into a spiritual one. Someone I once heard called it, “Going from golf to God.”

As an obedient follower of Christ, I should want to have these kinds of conversations. The key is to think about ways to do so in advance. It’s not incredibly difficult, but like a high school boy learning how to ask a girl to a movie, it helps to plan ahead.

Let me share with you a new way I am learning to do this. It’s based on three questions that I learned from an evangelism strategy called CROSS Training.

Question number one is an ice-breaking question. “What is the most important thing I need to know about you today?” I asked a young lady this question the other day and she told me she got engaged over the weekend. I had a great time listening to her recount this wonderful event and she loved telling it.

I particularly like to use these questions in a restaurant. After I get the answer to the first question, I tell the person helping me, “I’ve got another question to ask you. I don’t know if you can handle it, it’s pretty deep, but if you’ll remind me when you come back to my table I’ll ask you.” Have you ever heard the phrase, “Curiosity killed the cat”? Most of the time the person helping me can’t hardly wait to get back to me to find out what this “deep” question is.

In the rare event the person doesn’t remind me about the question, I’ll say, “By the way, are you ready for that question I was going to ask?” I’ve never had someone not want to answer the question. You might have that experience, but it hasn’t happened to me. At least, not yet. If it does, I’ll simply say, “Thanks for thinking about the question.” I would go no further with the conversation. Then after my meal, I’d leave a great tip and a Gospel tract.

Question two, the deep question, is a spiritual one. “What is the most important thing God has ever done for you?” One man I talked to said that God had allowed him to live with his mother after his parents’ divorce. He said living with his mother provided stability during a very unstable time for him.

A common answer to this question is, “He allowed me to wake up today.” That’s a safe answer, but not necessarily a fake answer. You never know what events have just transpired in that person’s life. One of our state convention staff was in a horrible wreck. The same vehicle that struck him killed a pregnant woman in another car. Waking up the morning after the wreck had more meaning to him than waking up the morning before the crash.

The final question is the kicker, the crux of the matter. “In your opinion, what does God require for a person to go to heaven?” The word “require” is the key word, no matter how you phrase the rest of the sentence. If a person gives a works answer, you can say, “That’s a great answer. That’s what a Christian does, but that’s not what God requires for a person to go to heaven.”

A few days ago, I said this to a woman who was helping me and she immediately said, “Really? Well, what does He require?” In just a few minutes, after sharing the Gospel message, I was leading her in a prayer of surrendering her life to Jesus.

If she wouldn’t have responded so quickly, I would have asked, “May I share what God requires with you?”

I know this way is only one way to transition a casual conversation to a spiritual one, but I have discovered something important. The evangelism strategy that works the best is the one I USE. If I don’t share what Jesus has done for the world, I never get to see anyone get saved. If I do share the Gospel, I get to experience God at work in someone’s life.

Why don’t you plan to take a conversation from golf to God today? You’ll be glad you did.

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[Original illustration at this number was added to HolwickID #22476]

Don't Overestimate Your Ability

2 Corinthians 5:16

”Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” — 2 Corinthians 5:16 NIV

I was reminded this week by your letters, and from personal experience, of one of the greatest caveats about personal evangelism. I pray that this devotional will help you understand these traps that can discourage you from doing your part in advancing the cause of Christ in your arena.

A few years ago, a man in our church had the spiritual gift of evangelism. He was effective in door-to-door campaigns of witnessing. He never missed an opportunity to tell anyone willing to listen, the sensational news about Jesus Christ. He was bold and effective with some people, but not with everyone. I will never forget what he shared with me one day after a Bible study, in the parking lot of our church. With tears in his eyes and great frustration, he told me that his mother-in-law simply would not listen to the Gospel. She would not change. Over and over again, he kept saying, “I can’t get her to change.”

I have also received letters that expressed the same frustration with friends and family members. You are exhausted from trying to get people to change. Frustrated spouses go to church alone, while their mates sit at home waiting for them to return, so they can berate them or scoff at their church attendance. Family members, coworkers, acquaintances and classmates sigh and walk away, when you try to share what Christ means to you. You walk away feeling defeated and deflated.

My friend in the parking lot gave up on church. I know of spouses and family members that give up on Christ. They are falling into a terrible trap that the great deceiver has lain out for them.

“The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.” — 1 Samuel 10:6 NIV

“As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.” — 1 Samuel 10:9 NIV

Don’t miss the point of the above verses. You are not the change agent for a person’s heart. Only through the Holy Spirit are hearts changed. Please don’t overestimate your own power, and for Heaven’s sake, do not underestimate God’s power. We are only the communication agent. God is the change agent. He is the catalyst. I read a recent study that said that on average, a person hears the Gospel seven times before responding to the message. Your time of sharing may be Number One, Number Five or sometimes Number Seven. Keep planting the seeds — tell the story once, but then let your life show it.

Prayer:

“Father – forgive us when we overestimate our power and underestimate Yours. Help us to be content with planting seeds and letting You water them. Thank You so much for giving us the free gift of eternal life through Your Son Jesus, who paid for it all in full. In His name, Amen.”

Gentle as Doves

Sign in a Veterinarian’s office: “All unattended children will be given a free kitten.” That should get a parent’s attention.

George W. Bush, in writing about his meeting with with Billy Graham, said, “The Lord was so clearly reflected in his gentle and loving demeanor… He didn’t lecture or admonish; he shared warmth and concern. Graham didn’t make you feel guilty; he made you feel loved.” Friends, isn’t that the way to reach people for Christ — to demonstrate the love of Christ through our actions?

Betty’s father was nearly repulsed and turned away from Christianity by an over aggressive type who kept bugging him. Finally, a kind man with the same sweet spirit as Billy Graham, gently led her dad to faith in Christ. Why do we feel it is our job to do the Holy Spirit’s work for Him? The average person reacts with as much revulsion by the used car salesman witnessing approach as I am repulsed by telemarketers.

Read the accounts of Jesus’ own ministry as He led people to faith. He didn’t hold a knife to anyones’s throat. He gently led them to belief. If we are going to share the Gospel, wouldn’t it be wise to be Christlike and follow His example? You don’t need to threaten someone with a baseball bat to share the message that “God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son; that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.” Let’s love people into the family of God.

Just Do It!

Acts 1:8

“Just do it” was not only a slogan for a commercial about shoes, but it was also a command from my father about homework, taking out the trash or cutting the grass. There were many occasions my dad found it necessary to remind me to “just do it.”

As a pastor, there were times when I had very important things that needed my attention, but quite often, I would become preoccupied with less important tasks. I didn’t intentionally lose sight of the important priorities. However, it seemed the lesser things, like committee meetings or plumbing problems, always managed to get me sidetracked.

I’ve never met a pastor who said to me, “I don’t want to lead anyone to Jesus.” Yet for pastors, personal evangelism is one of those areas that can get pushed aside by other things -- important things, mind you, but nevertheless things that distract from the most important priority of sharing the Gospel.

Jake Roudkovski, assistant professor of evangelism at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, discovered something startling while doing his doctoral research: A pastor’s commitment to personal evangelism makes a powerful impact on his people’s willingness to witness.

Another discovery Roudkovski made ought to excite any pastor: If you will lead people to Jesus, use with discretion your witnessing stories as sermon illustrations and equip your people to share their faith, the number of people you baptize will increase exponentially.

In his book, “The Evangelism Mandate,” author and professor David Larsen maintains that evangelism must be the priority of the church. That’s not to say the church should neglect its other tasks, such as discipleship and fellowship. However, these functions of the church are not ends unto themselves. They should work in harmony and encourage people who don’t know the Lord to become committed followers of Christ.

I’ve discovered that if I’m going to help church members get excited about evangelism, I have to refocus.

First, I need to remind myself of God’s promise. Jesus said in the Great Commission, “I will be with you always....” When I witness, I go out with the delegated authority of Jesus. The marvelous thing is when I go He also goes with me, even to the ends of the world.

The second way I refocus is to remind myself of God’s power. Jesus said to his disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). Apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, my work and my witness amount to little. However, the work of the Holy Spirit convicting someone of sin is powerful. I have to remember the tool the Lord uses to share the Gospel is a spirit-filled human being. He wants to use me.

Finally, to refocus on personal evangelism I must make it my priority. As a part of the body of Christ, I should be quick to brag on Jesus. All of us search for willing ears that will listen to the latest accomplishments of our children and grandchildren. We can’t wait to brag on the statistics of our favorite sports stars. In the same way, we shouldn’t hesitate to tell others about how good God has been to us.

Across our convention, statistics indicate that baptisms have been flat or falling. Those statistics can change. And they will change, if and when we listen to our heavenly Father’s call to “just do it.”

It's Good To Go Fishing

Mark 1:17

Mike Smith sat in a wooden rocking chair overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and spoke about why people have trouble with evangelism.

“Jesus said, ‘Follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men.’ He didn’t say every time you fish you’re going to catch something,” said Smith, LifeWay Christian Resources’ FAITH/Evangelism specialist.

“I think we have to celebrate the people who are fishing and not just the people who are catching. We’ve got to encourage people to fish.”

Across the conference center campus in Ridgecrest, N.C., Roy Fish, distinguished professor of evangelism at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was preaching a message about evangelism from John 4:35-39.

“There is equality in sowing and reaping,” Fish said. “As Southern Baptists, we have failed to see this. We have made heroes out of reapers. Maybe not consciously, but we have relegated sowers to relative unimportance. The reaper is the person we put in the spotlight.”

The concern needs to be repeated over and over: The church must do a better job of discipling its members and the members must do a better job of going outside of the church to evangelize.

“Evangelism is the heartbeat of missions,” said Don Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S.C. “Our mandate is to equip the saints for ministry ... [to] reach all people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We do that through evangelism. It’s the functional goal for which we strive. Evangelism and discipleship run down parallel tracks. You can’t have one without the other. They are inseparable.”

“The population is growing but we’re not converting the lost,” Smith said. “We can’t keep doing this and survive. Look at plant life or animals. If they don’t reproduce their own kind, they die. What happens if the church multiplies our kind? If we don’t reproduce our kind, we die. What is the purpose why we exist? It’s to make disciples.”

Smith and Fish acknowledged that people want instant gratification. So, if one presents the Gospel and it is not embraced, many times the person thinks he/she is a failure and doesn’t move on to the next person.

“Sowing must always precede reaping,” Fish said. “[New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President] Chuck Kelley once said, ‘Part of our frustration in evangelism is that we are a reaping denomination. We are living in a field that has not yet been sown.’

“The average person in the United States who comes to Jesus Christ comes the seventh time that he or she hears the message,” Fish continued. “Are you willing to be the No. 4? Are you willing to be the No. 4 five times? There would not be a No. 7 if there wasn’t a No. 4.

“Usually when you sow a seed, you never find out what happened. But when you get to heaven, you will see the results of your sowing,” Fish added. “You will see people you dropped the seed of the Good News of Jesus in their hearts.”

Smith said evangelism confronts Christians with three major issues:

1. LOVING PEOPLE. “People are not a notch on a gospel belt. People aren’t always easy to love,” Smith said. “I think a lot of people look at people like a target instead of being people. They are people that God loves and we are to love. We struggle with loving sinners. It takes time and that means inconvenience.”

2. LOVING GOD. “Jesus said, ‘If you love Me, you’ll obey Me,’” Smith said.

3. FEAR. “Fear locks up so many people,” Smith said. “They say, ‘I’m afraid I won’t say the right thing or get asked questions I don’t have answers to. I’m afraid I’ll mess it up.’ But I think our love for God and our love for people will help us overcome these fears. How uncomfortable will they be in eternity if I don’t talk to them?”

Claude King, LifeWay’s editor in chief of leadership and adult publishing, said the greatest evangelism will occur from a foundation of discipleship. The message of Christ’s life and what Christ did for us, when lived out, is contagious, King said.

“People see it. They want it. And people who have it bubble over with vitality,” King said. “That’s really what the Great Commission is all about: As we are going, be serious about making disciples.”

Statistics show that fewer people are coming to church than in previous generations, Smith noted. If that continues, there’s a real possibility of more churches dying from a lack of true biblical discipleship and evangelism.

“I am called to share the Gospel. God’s job is to do the converting,” Smith said. “I’ve got to believe that the Gospel can change your life and I just have to talk to you about it. There comes a point where I have to live my faith and share my faith and I’m going to leave the results up to God.”

The Four Spiritual Laws

John 3:16

Just as there are physical laws that govern the physical universe, so are there spiritual laws which govern your relationship with God.

1. God LOVES you and offers a wonderful PLAN for your life.

(References contained on this page are from the Bible and should be read in context wherever possible.)

GOD’S LOVE

“God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

GOD’S PLAN

[Christ speaking] “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” [that it might be full and meaningful] (John 10:10).

Why is it that most people are not experiencing the abundant life?

Because...

2. Man is SINFUL and SEPARATED from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for his life.

MAN IS SINFUL

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. This self-will, characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is evidence of what the Bible calls sin.

MAN IS SEPARATED

“The wages of sin is death” [spiritual separation from God] (Romans 6:23).

HOLY GOD // SINFUL MAN

This diagram illustrates that God is holy and man is sinful. A great gulf separates the two. The arrows illustrate that a man is continually trying to reach God and the abundant life through his own efforts, such as a good life, philosophy, or religion - but he inevitably fails.

The third law explains the only way to bridge this gulf...

3. Jesus Christ is God’s ONLY provision for man’s sin. Through Him you can know and experience God’s love and plan for your life.

HE DIED IN OUR PLACE

“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD

“Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred...” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

HE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me’” (John 14:6).

GOD >> JESUS

This diagram illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

It is not enough just to know these three laws...

4. We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.

WE MUST RECEIVE CHRIST

“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).

WE RECEIVE CHRIST THROUGH FAITH

“By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

WHEN WE RECEIVE CHRIST, WE EXPERIENCE A NEW BIRTH

(Read John 3:1-8)

WE RECEIVE CHRIST BY PERSONAL INVITATION

[Christ speaking] “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20).

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.

These two circles represent two kinds of lives:

(SELF) Cross

1. The Self-directed life

Self is on the throne. Interests are directed by self, resulting in discord and frustration. Christ is outside the person’s life.

(SELF + Cross)

2. The Christ-directed life

Christ is on the throne. Self is yielding to Christ. Interests are directed by Christ, resulting in harmony with God’s plan.

Which circle best describes your life?

Which circle would you like to have represent your life?

The following explains how you can receive Christ:

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer:

(Prayer is talking to God)

God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. The following is a suggested prayer:

“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my

sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior

and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal

life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind

of person You want me to be.”

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? If it does, I invite you to pray this prayer right now and Christ will come into your life, as He promised.

Did you pray this prayer?

Getting Rid of the Fear of Witnessing

John 16:8

What is the biggest single reason people give for not sharing their faith? Out of all the conferences I’ve done over the many years, there’s always one reason that comes up as the main reason for not sharing your faith, and that is the fear of rejection.

Let’s take a look at that because it’s probably one of the reasons you do not share your faith. First of all, it is Jesus that’s getting rejected, Scripture that’s getting rejected.

I know it feels like you and it feels like me but it’s never you and it’s never me being rejected. Let me make a point. Let’s say you go out today and you try to share your faith with someone and they tell you to take a hike. Have you failed? Absolutely not; you’ve been obedient.

Likewise, let’s say you go out and share your faith, and this becomes God’s chosen replacement for Billy Graham. Can you take credit for it? Absolutely not: It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of our sin, calling us to repentance (John 16:8).

Sharing the Gospel is never about success or failure of the messenger. It is about obedience. Success is achieved by sharing your faith and by living your life out for Jesus Christ. It has nothing whatsoever to do with bringing anyone to the Lord.

I am not, you are not, and your pastor is not responsible to cause the conversion in anyone’s life. Think about it. If you caused the conversion, the person remains unsaved. If they reject the message, they are not rejecting you, but are rejecting God (1 Samuel 8:7).

The other reason people give me for not sharing their faith is the fear of not knowing enough. That usually comes from a Christian who’s been a believer for five, 10, 20 years or more ... and I tease them.

I say to them, “The problem is you know far too much. You’re spiritually constipated and need to get rid of some of this information you’ve been hanging on to for so long.” Remember: If the Gospel is simple enough for a child to understand it, it will be easy for an adult to share it.

As an example, just last week, a man that had been singing in the choir of the church for 50 years -- I kind of had a sense something wasn’t right, and I asked him if he was born again. I got an evasive answer. And I said, “Please tell me, if you die, where are you going?” And he broke down with many tears, giving his heart and his life to Jesus Christ.

“HOW TO” SHARE YOUR FAITH

Remember, this is the one area of your life you cannot fail in.

Even if you share stupidly, unlovingly, tactlessly and with poor timing, God can use it (think “Jonah”).

What He can’t use is your silence.

Sharing the Gospel is as easy as talking. So how do you initiate a conversation?

I’ve learned to do it through a series of questions. For instance:

• “Do you have any kind of spiritual belief?” I don’t ask someone if they believe in God. But if you asked an open-ended question, the person may go on for ten seconds or two minutes.

• The second question I like to ask is, “To you, who is Jesus?”

• The next question I like to ask is, “Do you think there’s heaven or hell?” They will oftentimes say “yes” or “no.” It doesn’t really matter what they say, because you’re not going to respond.

• The next question I ask someone is, “If you died right now, where are you going?” And they’ll give you that response again. But again, I remind you that no matter what they say, you don’t respond.

• Now I ask the key question. “If what you believe is not true, would you want to know?” There are only two possible answers -- “yes” or “no.” In the thousands of times I’ve asked these questions, not once, not ever, never have I had a “no” that stuck. Let me elaborate on that. I’ve asked “If what you believe isn’t true, do you want to know?” and they go, “no.”

You know what I do next?

Nothing.

Before long they’ll ask, “Aren’t you going to tell me?” I’ll say, “You didn’t want to know.” They’ll say, “Yes I do,” and here we go again. Here’s the key: If you try to coerce somebody into hearing about your faith, know that their defense is stronger than your ability to force them to hear. For me, no matter what response I get -- until they ask me to tell them -- all I ever say in return to their response to a question is “uh-huh,” “uh-huh.”

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS

Share the Gospel and watch God work.

Here’s your challenge: I want you to test these questions by going to one person this week and say, “I’ve been given a little homework assignment. May I ask you five questions?” No matter what they say to answer these questions, you simply “uh-huh” and watch the Holy Spirit end up giving you permission to share your faith.

In fact, if you have found your Christian life to be just a little bit on the flat side, why not go ask someone you care about, “If you died today, would you go to Heaven?”

Remember, you cannot fail when you choose to be obedient.

I will be praying Paul’s prayer that by sharing your faith you will gain “a full understanding of all the good things you have in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Philemon 6).

Now go ... and send an e-mail to let me know how it went.

________

Bill Fay is an evangelist and author of “Share Jesus without Fear.”

The Desert Road

Acts 8:26

Tony took his family to spend the day at a water park. On their way home, they ran out of gas.

They were stranded on the interstate in the desert of West Texas. While his wife and three young daughters sat in the hot car, Tony walked to a nearby rest stop to see if someone would help.

I happened to be driving across the United States that day, not knowing that I was headed toward a divine appointment. I had planned to stop at a scenic overlook, but was in the wrong lane and missed the exit.

Frustrated with myself, I continued up the road and eventually stopped at a rest stop seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

Tony approached me for help, and I assumed he was going to ask for money. I soon found out that he wasn’t looking for money, he was looking for someone to help him get some gas.

The closest town was about 15 miles away. I assured him that we would get some gas and come back. As we were driving to the nearest town, I knew that this was the divine appointment I had prayed for before the cross-country trip began.

When we returned, Tony began to pour the gas into his vehicle and pour out his heart at the same time. Life had been hard for Tony, and he didn’t understand why things were happening the way there were.

For the first time, I noticed that his red T-shirt had a large white cross on the front with a skull in the middle of the cross.

I asked him, “Tony, what does that cross mean to you?” He said, “I don’t know, man. It’s just a T-shirt.”

I said, “Tony, that shirt says to me that there is hope for you.”

With his permission, I took out my phone and began to tell Tony about Jesus using the Three Circles app. When I got to the part about brokenness, Tony broke down in tears. I realized that this was more than just a presentation; this was his story.

By the grace of God, Tony trusted Christ as his Savior that day on the side of Interstate 10 in West Texas.

As I drove away, I marveled how God cares about one person on a desert road. The whole encounter reminded me of another man on a desert road that we read about in Acts 8. The angel of the Lord sent Philip down the desert road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza. There was a man on that road who was about to experience a divine appointment.

As he sat in his chariot reading Isaiah 53, Philip approached him and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The Ethiopian man said, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?” That question reveals a powerful lesson for us all. Those who do not know Jesus need someone who does.

The Bible says, “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the Good News about Jesus” (Acts 8:35 NIV). There on that desert road, the Ethiopian man responded to the Gospel and put his faith in Jesus Christ.

I can still remember being in Dr. Roy Fish’s class in seminary as he used that text to teach us how God yearns for people to know Him. Dr. Fish explained that God yearns for us to know His love and to share that love with others.

You may not travel on a desert road this week, but you will likely come across someone who is far from God. You and I have Good News that they desperately need to hear.

Someone once said that the sin of the desert is to know where water is but not tell anyone. Be sensitive to who you meet this week. It may be more than a coincidence that your paths have crossed. Prayerfully open your mouth and tell them the Good News about Jesus.

________

Keith Shorter is pastor of Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Easley, South Carolina, and a former president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention.

One of Satan’s Biggest Lies When It Comes To Evangelism

Acts 8:27

There’s an unstated theory that a relationship with a person is what leads them to salvation, not the Gospel. A predominant lie Satan has foisted on the church is that you can’t just talk to people about Jesus without first developing a long-term relationship.

Far too many Christians think they can’t share the Gospel until they’ve built a strong friendship with someone over time and have “earned the right to be heard.” They subconsciously have bought Satan’s lie that the power to save is in the strength of their relationship with the person they are seeking to reach.

It’s not.

The power is in the message, not the messenger. This is why the apostle Paul described the Gospel as “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes ....” (Romans 1:16).

Building a deep relationship with the unreached people we know is important. It creates opportunities to share the Gospel naturally along the way. But many Christians end up waiting and waiting for “just the right time” that never actually comes.

Of course, this doesn’t mean we should be pushy. But we should be intentional with every relationship and every conversation. We should look for that natural opportunity in every conversation to turn it toward spiritual things. This could come by simply asking the question, “Is there anything I can be praying for you about?” or “Do you happen to go to church anywhere?”

I’ve used questions like these to open countless Gospel conversations with friends and strangers alike. Some people start sharing their prayer requests or spiritual background right away. Others don’t. Either way I want to try to take the Gospel conversation as far as it can go without unnecessarily turning that person off.

But it has been my experience that most people are open to talking about God and their spiritual beliefs when approached in genuine kindness, authenticity and humility. Of course, not everyone puts their faith in Jesus on the spot, but my goal is to, at the minimum, nudge them that much closer to faith in Christ.

I remember a speaker once lecturing me at a youth leader event, explaining to me how evangelism didn’t work in the current culture. A crowd gathered as he went on and on, telling me that people weren’t open to hearing about Jesus unless a long-term relationship had first been built and firmly established over time.

While I agreed that we must build relationships with people, I told him it’s weird to bring Jesus up later in the relationship instead of early on. After all, you talk about what you love. And, if we truly love Jesus, we can’t help but talk about Him early on.

I also pushed back on his assertion that you can’t just talk to random strangers that you may encounter in everyday life about Christ.

I pointed to Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Within a minute of meeting her, Jesus had segued the conversation into a spiritual one. In less than five minutes she was on her way back to town to share her testimony with her fellow Samaritans.

As this speaker and I bantered back and forth, a crowd of youth leaders grew. They were all locked into our conversation because they had felt that same tension in their hearts when it came to evangelism.

I finally said, “OK, I have a challenge for you. Let’s you and I go out to the streets of Pittsburgh (where we were) and just talk to people about Jesus for an hour. I’ll do all the talking. You can stand by my side and silently pray for them. We will see how willing people are to talk about Jesus if you’re up for it.”

The youth leaders gathered around us started chanting, “Do it! Do it! Do it!” But this leader was not willing to put his theory to the test.

Far too many are not.

I’ve evangelized friends, family, neighbors and strangers for 45 years. Some I had a relationship with. Others I met on a plane, in a gym or at a restaurant and engaged them in a conversation.

Jesus told us that our primary mission is to “go and make disciples of all nations ....” (Matthew 28:19). This assumes that we take the initiative.

Are you? Are you praying for an opportunity to share the Gospel every single day? Are you seeking to turn your everyday conversations toward Jesus? If not, start today!

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Greg Stier is an evangelist, author and speaker and founder of Dare 2 Share Ministries.