308 Sermon Illustrations on Witnessing

When you live around New York City like I did for 30 years, you take people on lots of tours. We've had friends visit us from all over the country, all around the world - and, of course, they all want to see the sights of New York that they've heard so much about. We've gotten to take many of them to the Statue of Liberty, the late, great World Trade Center, Times Square, Broadway, the United Nations, Central Park. And something interesting happened to me as I introduced others to the places I already knew so much about. In a sense, I discovered those places for myself in a new way ... and I was energized by watching their reactions to seeing it all for the first time.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Eye-Opener."

Those places that I knew so well became more special to me when I introduced others to them. Just like what happens when you or I introduce someone to the Savior that we've known so long.

That's why Paul prayed what he did in Philemon, verse 6, our word for today from the Word of God. "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."

Now, there are many reasons to tell people about the life and love that you have found in Jesus Christ - not the least of which is that their eternity depends on them understanding what Jesus did on the cross for them. But here Paul gives a reason we may not think much about or we don't hear much about - and that is, in sharing your relationship with Christ, you begin to really understand your relationship with Christ as you never did before.

If you remain silent about Jesus, you can just coast along in a comfortable - but shallow - spiritual rut. But once you step up to your responsibility to get this life-saving message to the people around you, something awakens in your own soul. You have to find ways to explain what Jesus did without all the religious vocabulary - I call it "Christianese" -and that vocabulary allows us to believe without thinking much about it. But as you struggle to explain a relationship with Christ to someone else who doesn't know all those words, you start to better understand that relationship yourself. It's like me taking tours of where I lived - it becomes more special to me as I tell someone else about it ... as I see the wonder of someone else discovering what I discovered a long time ago. When you tell others about Jesus, He starts to mean even more to you.

And if you're like most believers, you are missing this life-changing, faith-expanding experience. Surveys show that 90% of Christians never talk about their relationship with Jesus Christ. Which means 90% miss what Paul calls "a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." And the lost folks in their circle of influence will likely go into a Christless eternity - because of the silence of the Christian they knew. Please don't let that be you.

It's time to start blowing the lid off your relationship with Jesus - by telling people about that relationship! Because when you show someone else this Jesus that you know, He'll mean more to you than He's ever meant before!

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. 'Practical Answers to Real Life Issues'

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A young man named Jared has become somewhat of an American celebrity, all because of the massive amount of weight he lost. A deli-sandwich chain has featured him in a lot of their advertising the last couple of years. He says he lost basically the equivalent of another whole person, largely by eating their low-fat, low-calorie turkey sandwich for months. And as Jared's body has been shrinking, the sandwich chain has been growing!

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft, and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Power of One Changed Life.”

Advertisers know the best way to sell a product, whether it's a diet plan, exercise equipment, a medication - have someone who's living proof of their product's effectiveness tell their story. For two thousand years, that's what has motivated people to pursue the most important thing in life - a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's what will interest the people you know in Jesus - if you'll tell them your story.

Some call it their “testimony.” I call it your personal hope story - the story only you can tell ... the story of what Jesus Christ has done in your own life. There's a great template for that story in our word for today from the Word of God in John 9:25. Jesus has healed a man who had been blind from birth. But the enemies of Jesus are trying to get the man to acknowledge that Jesus was a sinner because He had healed on the Sabbath. I love this man's reply: “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

He refuses to get entangled in their religious questions. He just tells them the difference Jesus has made - no one can argue about that. That's what you need to tell the folks in your world. They're not that interested in all our theology and our beliefs. Here's what they want to know: “What difference does Jesus make?” And your life is the answer that is right in front of them - if you'll tell your story.

You need to take a little time and think through your Jesus story - your “once I was _______ but now I ______________.” That's your story. Take a piece of paper and make three sections: “B.C.” - what I was like before I began my relationship with Jesus; then, “The Turning Point” - how I began my relationship with Jesus; and “A.D.” - the difference Jesus has made and is making.

Maybe you say, “But I was pre-natally nice.” You don't have a dramatic turnaround to tell about, but does that mean Jesus isn't making any difference in your life? Your assignment is to put these words at the top of a piece of paper - “If it weren't for Jesus....” Start writing the ways your life would be different if there was no Jesus - how you handle your lonely times, your hurting times, your stressful times. How would you be different as a single person, a married person, a parent, a boss, a friend if there were no Jesus? People don't just want to know about how you got started with Jesus. They want to know what difference does He make in your everyday life.

And that means you don't have just a testimony - you should have many testimonies, describing the difference Jesus makes in the parts of your life that might matter to the person you're with. It's your personal hope story that opens the door for you to then explain the Good News about Jesus - about His death for all the wrong things we've done, the way He's torn down the wall between us and the God we need so much.

You have a story that's all yours, that only you can tell. It's ultimately not a story about you - it's about the Man who is making your life what it could have never been without Him. It's a story that could help someone you know be in heaven with you!

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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A young man, a skilled mechanic, was driving a visiting clergyman from his home town, fifty miles across the country, to another city. En route, they passed a huge factory consisting of perhaps twenty buildings scattered over several hundred acres. "Do you see that red brick building over there behind this gray stone one?" the mechanic asked. "I work on the second floor on the south side. There are seventy-four of us in that department, and as far as I know, I am the only one in all that crowd who ever goes to church or tries to live a Christian life. Sometimes I have to remind myself that, as far as that department is concerned, I am all there is of the Christian Church. If I don't do good work, then the Church has failed as far as those men are concerned. If I can't be relied upon, then the Church is undependable. If I am careless, then some poor unfortunate soul may have to pay for the Church's carelessness. It is pretty serious business being the Church in the midst of seventy-four other people."

Far up the Amazon River, a Baptist missionary was using a flannelgraph to aid her in telling a group of school children about Jesus. As she talked, an elderly man with stooped shoulders and gray hair joined the children. He listened with rapt attention as the missionary told the story of God's grace as it is revealed in Christ. After the children were dismissed, the old man came up to the missionary with this question: "May I ask, Madam, if this interesting and intriguing story is true?" "Of course," the missionary said, "it is in the Word of God." With countenance and voice revealing his doubt, the old gentleman said, "This is the first time in my life that I have ever heard that one must give his life to Jesus to have forgiveness from sin and to have life with God forever." Then with a note of finality he concluded, "This story cannot be true or else someone would have come before now to tell it. I am an old man. My parents lived their lives and died without ever having heard this message. It cannot be true or someone would have come sooner." Although she tried hard, the missionary could not convince the old gentleman of this truth from God's Word. Turning to make his way back into the darkness of the jungle and the darkness of sin, he kept repeating the words, "It cannot be true; it cannot be true, or someone would have come sooner."

One can readily recall the words of Exodus 15:27 which reads, "And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters." Think what a wonderful sight a grove of palms must be to the wary and thirsty traveler on the desert! These trees not only mean shelter from the blistering sun, but water to slake the thirst. Palms grow where there is water, and they send down their trap roots to water. Thus this tree is never without its testimony.

Those familiar with this most famous of all Bible trees know that it Bears Fruit in Old Age. The palm never stops bearing fruit, even though it grows to a very old age. Psalm 92:14 states, "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age." The tree is never on the retired list. Too many of us are retired Christians. We get to the place where we imagine we have done our share, so someone else can take over and carry on the work. Recall the spirit of the old pioneers of Tombstone, who were willing to die with their boots on, working and toiling to the very last. Just as the palm grows for the ages, so should it be with all the children of God. We are not shrubs, but trees. "He shall be like a tree"-that which abides.

Who among us is not familiar with the fact that the Branches Are Symbols of Victory. In Revelation 7:9, the Apostle John caught the vision of the mighty multitude which no man could number, standing "before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands." There were they who had come out of great tribulation, and victory was theirs in the presence of their Lord. It was a time of rejoicing. Are we symbols of victory? Do men look at us and see some blessed evidence of the power of God operative in our lives? Or must they behold evidences of defeat? God forbid!

I exhort you, be a palm-tree Christian, the praise and glory of His grace. What a blessing we can be to others by living the upright palm tree life!

Once a little boy was lost in the woods. The alarm was sounded; a church meeting broke up; the whole congregation and neighborhood responded. Fishermen abandoned their nets and merchants closed their shops. Plows were left in the field and washing in the tub. Everyone turned out to hunt for the little fellow. There was a feverish haste.

The night was dark and harm might befall the little fellow. After hours of search, he was found, and oh, the joy that was felt because of the rescue!

Today that boy is grown. He is lost again! But none seem to care. Mom and Dad are busy with other things. The church does not seem to care.

No alarm is sent out. Yet, a far worse fate awaits him now. You see, he is now lost in sin! Do we really care? Enough to do something?

St. Francis said one day to one of the young monks, "Let us go down into the town and preach." They passed through the streets and returned to the monastery without having said a word. "You have forgotten, father," said the young man, "that we went down to the town to preach." "My son," Francis replied, "we have preached. We were preaching as we walked. We have been seen by many: our behavior has been noticed; it was thus that we preached. It is no use, my son, to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere as we walk."

"Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us play our part nobly, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1).

On a wall in the Museum of Natural Science in Chicago there is a checkerboard with 64 squares. In the lower lefthand corner is a grain of wheat. The display includes this question: "If you doubled the amount of wheat as you move from square to square, how much would you have when you reached the 64th square? A carload? A trainload? You would have enough wheat to cover the country of India six feet deep."

That is the power of multiplication. Suppose you go out and reach one person for Jesus. Stick with that person for six months. Help, encourage and strengthen him. At the end of six months there are only two. At the end of the year there are four of you. At the end of 18 months there are eight; two years, 16. Do you know how many people there would be at the end of 17 years? More than the entire population of the world-more than six billion. Stop and think about what you can do!

A wealthy Englishman had in his valuable collection a rare violin which Fritz Kreisler, the celebrated virtuoso, greatly longed to possess. When the owner persisted in refusing to part with it, Kreisler begged permission to play it just once. That was granted.

With trembling hands the artist tuned the instrument and then played.

He played as only genius can play. He poured his heart into his music.

The Englishman stood as one transfixed until the playing had ceased, and he did not speak until Kreisler had tenderly returned the instrument to the antique box, as gently a mother puts her baby to bed. "Take the violin," he burst out. "It is yours. I have no right to keep it. It ought to belong to the man who can play it as you did."

That was odd reasoning, and yet it has something compellingly illustrative of the attitude that Paul wanted to arouse in the Corinthians who were made rich in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:5). In a sense, ought not an instrument belong to the master who can draw the finest music from it? Ought not your life and mine belong to the Master who can draw the noblest harmonies from them?

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Another version from PREACHING NOW newsletter:

Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn’t able to buy it. Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping to purchase that beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay, it had been sold to a collector.

Kreisler made his way to the new owner’s home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession, and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. “Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?” he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector’s emotions were deeply stirred. “I have no right to keep that to myself,” he exclaimed. “It’s yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it.”

We have a message to share. Our heavenly Father created us as exquisite instruments, and the beautiful music we are to make is the Good News of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We were made to be played.

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Turning Point Daily Devotional, 7/26/06

”Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen … (Matthew 28:6-7).

“Today in the Word” quotes Edwin S. Johnson who said, “One of the greatest missionary texts in all the Bible is found in the words of the angel on that first resurrection morn. Four little monosyllables summarize the program and plan of the Lord to reach people with the gospel … Come, see, go, and tell!”

Once we COME to Christ and accept him as our personal Lord and Savior, and SEE what God has done for us, God wants us to GO and TELL others about this.

Many of us, including myself, are scared to do this in a confrontational way. Years ago I told God about how scared I was to witness for him, but I wanted him to use me so I prayed, “God I’m available to tell others about the gospel but you’ll need to do it through me because I’m too scared.”

And how did God answer this prayer? Probably in 40 million ways! ”Exaggerating?” you say.

Not really. I never wanted to be a writer but through unusual circumstances God put (more liked thrust) me into a literature and writing ministry. And over 40 million of our gospel brochures have been printed and distributed in many countries … not to mention what God is now doing through email and the Internet.

There are many ways to “go and tell” … through our life … through our talents … as well as through our words. One key is to tell God you’re available and ask him to do his work through you.

Suggested prayer:

“Dear God, I’m available. Please use me and the talents you have given me to ‘go and tell’ others what you have done for me … for forgiving my sins, for giving me a new life, a new hope, and the gift of eternal life. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Be ye fishers of men, you catch them — He will clean them.

Jenny was a counselor with a student group we had taken to a Youth for Christ conference at the New Jersey Shore. She was walking along the Boardwalk, enjoying all the attractions, when suddenly she heard what she thought was a scream. It seemed to be coming from the ocean. But it was night and it was just too dark to see out there. So Jenny ran down the steps, across the beach, and to the water's edge. This time it was clear that the screams were coming from somewhere out there in the water. Jenny paused for a moment - there are few things more frightening than going into the ocean in pitch darkness. But Jenny's hesitation was only for a moment. She forgot about her own safety, she threw off her shoes, and she plunged in to save what turned out to be a drowning girl. Moments later, others jumped in to help too. Later, Jenny told me, “I had to do it. Someone was dying out there!”

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “No Rescue Without Risk.”

Now, a life was saved that night - because of the courageous, selfless choice of a young woman who was in a position to make a difference. She was scared, she knew it was risky, but she was the one who could do something. And she did. Someone's dying condition became more important to her than her own comfort and safety.

But that's how it always is when there's a rescue. A drowning person; a person trapped in a burning building or the unstable rubble of an earthquake. There's no such thing as rescuing someone from a comfortable spot. There's no rescue without risk. Including the most critical rescue of all - the rescue of someone who is dying spiritually because they don't know Jesus - the only One who can rescue a person from the death penalty of their sin.

Jesus knows there's no rescue without risk. He said it in Mark 10:45, that He came “to give His life as a ransom for many.” Later He said to His followers, “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you” (John 20:21). Jesus was sent to lay down His life so others could live. And now He's sending you and me on the same rescue mission He died for - to do whatever it takes to try and bring some people you know to heaven with you. Jesus left His comfortable spot - heaven, the greatest comfort zone in the universe - to rescue you and me. He's asking you to leave your comfort zone to rescue someone you care about.

Your mission is graphically portrayed in our word for today from the Word of God in Proverbs 24:11 - “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” Telling people about the Savior is life-or-death business! Like Jenny on the beach that dark, dangerous night, you won't take the risks unless you realize that if you don't do it, that person may very well die without hope.

The Word of God says that the people you know who are without Christ will be “punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord” (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Not because Jesus wants it. He died so they don't have to, but because they haven't reached for the rescuer. And they need to hear about Him from you!

It's time you do what you need to do to build a relationship with a lost person you know, that you spend some time with them. Write a letter about Jesus to them. Pray for some natural opportunities to share life's most important relationship. Win the right to be heard and take them to the cross where God poured out His love for them.

Don't wait for a professional lifeguard to do it. Like that woman on the beach, God has put you in the position to be someone's rescuer. If you know it's life-or-death, and it is, you'll know what you have to do. You cannot stand on the beach and let them die.

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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Read: Romans 10:1-15

He brought His Word to light through the preaching entrusted to me. —Titus 1:3

Most college students know all about Napster. It’s their ticket to free music on the Internet. A lot of record companies and rock bands do not share their enthusiasm, however.

Why not? Napster is an Internet company that enables you to go out and find your favorite songs as MP3 files on other computers, download, catalog, and share them with others. The MP3 format allows users to store and play near-CD-quality recordings, copyrighted or not. Put those two together, and you have a nightmare for record companies. Fans can download CDs on their hard drives, then invite anyone to copy them for free, using Napster.

That’s not the only nightmare. Several universities have banned Napster from their campus computers because so many students were downloading music that it tied up Internet lines for hours.

The issue of copyright is confusing. Artists deserve a degree of control over their work, and it’s the way they make their living. On the other hand, budget-conscious students are urging their favorite bands to lighten up. It’s a tough call.

Some recording artists encourage pirating of their music. They figure the music belongs to their fans anyway, and they will still score their big bucks.

In one sense, salvation is available for downloading at any time too–the connection is always open and there are no copyright restrictions. God offers eternal life through Jesus Christ to anyone who believes. You couldn’t buy salvation anyway; it already cost God His only Son.

The only thing God needs is a few human “hard drives” available as the download recipient. God has opted to use Christians to share the good news, so we need to be ready to talk to people about our faith.

If you have a personal relationship with God through Christ, chances are that God used someone to download the good news to you. Why not do the same for someone else today? You won’t get into any legal trouble, I promise. This message was designed to be shared! — JC

REFLECTION

• Which computer term best describes my willingness to share the gospel:

° “Click to download now”?

° “Site contacted; waiting for reply”?

° Or … “Access denied”?

• What upgrades do I need to make so that I will download the good news more often?

• Lord,

° give me boldness to tell other people about You.

° The gospel is Your message.

° Give me Your power to share it.

When sharing the gospel, don’t get caught “napping.”

It takes time to win Muslims to Christ, and when Christians hurry the process they can turn the Great Commission into a “great debacle,” Carl Ellis, a featured speaker said at the National Conference on Islam Aug. 15-17 at LifeWay's Ridgecrest (N.C.) Conference Center.

“Microwave conversion just doesn't work with Muslims,” said Ellis. “We have to understand that it's more than a matter of differing doctrines. It's also each person's unique situation -- what's happening in their lives right now. And it's understanding their goals and motivations -- why they are Muslim, and what they hope to achieve through their faith.”

Ellis offered the guidelines to Christians eager to share their faith with Muslim friends and acquaintances, including:

-- Begin discipling before insisting on conversion.

“In the Great Commission, Jesus commands us to make disciples -- people in the process of learning to obey all that Christ commands. If we do that, He will take care of the conversion,” Ellis said. “Discipleship begins when we first engage people through day-to-day encounters and casual conversation, and it builds from there. Don't wait for a Muslim to become a Christian before discipling him.”

-- Be a good listener.

“Don't evaluate a Muslim only on the basis of his doctrine,” Ellis advised. “Ask questions. Examine the situation that led him to Islam and the goals he is trying to achieve through it.”

-- Try to understand Islamic doctrine from the perspective of Islam.

“Recognize that the Christianity Muhammad encountered was corrupted. Study the history of Islam's development.”

-- Be careful how you present and handle the Bible.

“Do not use a King James Version. According to the teaching of some Muslim sects, King James himself translated this version and corrupted it,” Ellis reported. “Also, never use a Bible in which you have made any marks. This appears disrespectful to Muslims, who would never write on the Koran. Do not put the Bible on the floor, either, or hold the Bible with your left (unclean) hand.”

-- Avoid all pictures of Jesus or any other biblical characters.

“A Muslim thinks that's idolatry.”

-- Allow them to reveal their personal situations, issues, concerns and fears at their own pace.

“Usually, they reveal more superficial issues in the early stages of a relationship, and save deeper life issues for later.”

-- Be respectful of them and their beliefs.

“It's crucial that we are not judgmental. Remember how Jesus dealt with the woman at the well. Rather than focus on her moral failures and theological shortcomings, He offered her living water.”

-- Wisely apply God's Word to the issues they choose to share.

“The Bible addresses every life issue. When we are able to demonstrate how practical and relevant the Word of God is, we've come a long way in leading our Muslim friends to Christ.”

Birds had moved into the vent in the exhaust fan of our kitchen range while we were on vacation. They set up their little nest and made themselves at home. And, man, were they noisy neighbors! The nest was so huge that it made the fan unworkable. And some lovely spiders were hanging down from the hood on the stove. Our problem was that trying to remove that nest might have killed that nest full of baby birds. Well, we couldn't see them, but we could sure hear them when they were hungry! So, we waited until Mom and Dad bird took the babies out. A couple of weeks later, after we were sure they were gone, I got a long stick and proceeded to rake out the nest. But when we removed the nest, we discovered a little surprise. Actually, a big, fat surprise. There was the fattest bird we'd ever seen, sitting in the nest. As my wife went to get gloves and a box, he got away. But it took a major earthquake to get that bird out of his nest!

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Camping In The Nest.”

You know, God has some spiritually fat “birds” that have been sitting in the nest way too long. They should be flying; instead they're just hanging around the nest. And God sometimes shakes our nest to get us out of where it's comfortable and into some lives whose eternity may depend on us.

Jesus addresses the tragedy of believers who are camped in the nest in our word for today from the Word of God. Matthew 9:36-37 tell us: “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Question: is that what you see when you look at the people you work with or go to school with or live near? When you ask Jesus for a heart like His, those people you see almost every day never look the same again to you. No matter how together they may appear, you see them as sheep with no clue where to go, people with the pain that sin causes and as the future inhabitants of hell. Unless someone close to them intervenes with news that Jesus has died so they don't have to.

Then Jesus reveals this deadly equation: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” Farmers tell me that, to them, the word harvest means “ready.” So Jesus is saying, “The ready is plentiful.” He's got all kinds of lost people ready to hear about Him. The lost people aren't His problem - it's His people. They're sitting in the nest, soaking up spiritual goodies, while people all around them are ready for Jesus but spiritually dying without Him. So Jesus says, “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field.” In the original language of the New Testament, the word for “send out” literally means “to forcibly expel”! Jesus has to shake our nest, make us restless with our comfort zone, to get us to join Him in rescuing the dying.

Words like “evangelism” and “witnessing” just don't convey the life-or-death urgency the Bible is describing when it tells us to “rescue those being led away to death” (Proverbs 24:11). When it's “rescue” - when someone will die if you don't go after them - you can no longer just stay in your comfy Christian nest. You have to do whatever you can to rescue the dying. And maybe God even wants to use these words to shake you out of your nest and into the mission for which His Son died.

We can rest in heaven - forever. We only have now to help some people we know be there in heaven with us. As Amy Carmichael said so powerfully: “We will have all eternity to celebrate our victories, but only a few short hours to win them.” We are in those few short hours.

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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It was one of the most compelling television documentaries I've seen in a long time. It aired on the second anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The stories of rescuers and the survivors, told first-person, took the viewer into what that day really felt like for the people who lived it. One story I cannot shake was told by a British young woman who worked in a brokerage firm high up in Tower Two. She recalled with remarkable composure the confusion in her office on whether or not to evacuate the building. She's alive today because she made the right decision. But many of her co-workers never made it out. She broke down for the first time as she talked about her good friend in the office. All she could say was, “I keep thinking, 'I should have asked him to go with me.’ I can't get that out of my mind.”

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Life's Biggest Regret.”

Okay, change the scene. You're in heaven, you're looking for a co-worker you cared about ... a fellow student or teammate, a family member, or a neighbor, maybe a friend. You ask Jesus, “Lord, is _____________ here?” What if He says, “Oh, did you bring her? Did you bring him?” You never asked him. You never asked her to go with you. Another scene: I've been to funerals where I looked at someone I'd been close to and realized that I had talked with them about everything except one thing - Jesus. And now I couldn't.

We can't have any of those missed opportunities back, but the future is yet to be written. I want to turn my regrets for the past mistakes of not telling someone about Jesus into a passion to be sure I don't make that mistake again. You and I have been placed in the lives of some people who are not ready for eternity, who have never been to Jesus to have their sins erased. God put us there to be their spiritual rescuer - to be their link to Jesus. To help them be in heaven with us.

Our assignment comes crystal clear in our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Corinthians 5, beginning with verse 11. “Since we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men ... for Christ's love compels us ... God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” No doubt about it. You're the one God is counting on to deliver His life-saving message to the people who are within your reach.

You can't just depend on your life to rescue them. They won't guess Jesus died on the cross for them. You have to tell them that. Start by loving them in their language of love. Pray with them when they share a burden. You'll be showing them your personal relationship with God as you do. Share the difference Jesus is making in your life at a point where the conversation allows you a natural opportunity. In fact, each day pray for - look for - opportunities. They're all around you. Let your hope story open the door for you to ask, “Has anyone ever shown you what the Bible says about how to have a personal love relationship with God and how to go to heaven?” In some cases, you might want to put your love for them and God's love for them in a letter where they can receive it without distraction and without debating.

You only have to be God's glove; Him inside you helping you to do and say what you could never do without Him. But silence is just not an option. Not if you want them to be in heaven with you. You know what they must know to get there. You're safe - you got out. They're still in the collapsing building. Life's biggest regret would be having to say, “I should have asked them to go with me.” You still can. There's still time.

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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When Carol and her two children left on their long trip to California, some friends from her church gave her a cooler filled with lunches to take along. She did not have time to look into the box until they stopped at a picnic area to eat.

To her amazement, she found a pretty red-and-white, checkered disposable tablecloth, plastic spoons and forks, and her children’s favorite fruit drinks. In addition, the box contained caramel rolls and juice for breakfast, bite-sized candy bars for snacks, and even a sharp knife to slice the salami.

The children squealed over travel games and paperback books also found in the box. Then they dug to the bottom of the cooler to find other treasures nestled in it for them. Last of all, Carol found a note written to encourage her as she drove.

A sense of warmth flooded over her. The faces of those lovely women came into her mind as she thanked God for them before she and the children ate.

This was nothing less than the love of God being manifested to Carol through her friends. The thoughtfulness of others is just one of the many ways that God shows His love to us.

The story is told of a modern prodigal son who had quarreled with his parents and had left home in anger. After leading a life of partying, illicit sex and drugs, he finally boarded a train for home.

As the train neared his home, the young man related to the passenger next to him that he had written a letter to his parents, asking their forgiveness and begging them to take him back. If they wanted him to return, they were to tie a white rag to the old elm tree in the front yard.

“I can’t look,” he said to his seat partner. “You look for me. I’m afraid there will be no rag on the tree.”

As they rounded the bend, his neighbor peered out the window and exclaimed, “Look! There’s not just one rag, there are hundreds! Every branch is covered!”

This is a wonderful illustration of God’s inexhaustible, unconditional love. Both the above cases remind me of Romans 8:38, “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love” (NLT), and Ephesians 3:20, expressed in the classic words of the King James Version: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

That exceeding, abundant love and power were working through Carol’s friends and the young man’s parents.

Our daughter was a high school student on the East Coast, our son-in-law in the Midwest when they met. And how did they meet when they lived 800 miles apart? Ah - the introducers! That would be my friend Chuck and me. I was going to Chicago for the kickoff broadcast of a new youth broadcast, which included live call-in. But since I wasn't sure anybody would call the first time, I asked our producer to help me make sure we had some teenage dialog by having a guy and a girl in the studio with me. The subject was, appropriately enough, “The Three Lies of the Dating Game.” Well, I brought my daughter; Chuck brought this cool guy from the Chicago suburbs. And my producer and I got to introduce them. No, it wasn't love at first sight - but it was the first chapter in what became a lifetime love. And I think they owe my friend Chuck and me big-time. Because in many cases ... no introducer, no relationship!

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Hero Anyone Can Be.”

You remember the person who introduced you to someone who ended up being very important in your life - in business, in romance, in a group you want to be in. Or, ultimately, when you get to heaven some day. I don't think we'll ever forget the person who introduced us to Jesus. I sure won't forget the lady who introduced a little guy named Ronnie to Jesus years ago.

Hey, we can't all preach. We can't all sing or play. We can't all draw or write or lead impressively. But we've got one gift that every person has. You've got this treasure called influence. At school, at work, at home, at the club, in your family - somewhere there's a person or people whose life you affect. It may be one person. It may be a thousand people, but you have influence over someone. The question is: what are you doing with the influence God has given you? You're supposed to be using your influence to make the introduction!

One of Jesus' disciples understood that very well. He's the quiet disciple, maybe like you. You may say, “Well, I'm no Peter - with all his boldness and strength!” Maybe not - but you may be an Andrew. Anyone can be an Andrew. Every time he turns up in the Book of John, he's doing the same thing. Act One is in our word for today from the Word of God in John 1:41-42, right after he had met Jesus. The Bible says, “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother ... and he brought him to Jesus.” No quiet Andrew, there's no bold Simon Peter.

Act Two: in John 6, the disciples are trying to figure out how to feed 5,000 people. Guess who finds the boy with the miracle lunch and brings him to Jesus. Andrew, of course. Later, some Greeks were wanting to see Jesus - guess who made the connection? Andrew - the bringer. The introducer. We don't know of any miracles Andrew performed. We don't know of any sermons he preached, but we sure do know about people he introduced to Jesus!

That's why God placed you where you are, with the people you know - see, you're His designated introducer. You don't have to persuade them to give themselves to Jesus. You don't have to be a great talker or a charismatic personality. You just have to do what Andrew did - tell them what's happened since you met Jesus, and how they can meet Him, too. Tell them about the peace in your stormy times, the love in your lonely times, the comfort in your hurting times, the strength in your weak times and the security in your fearful times - all because of Jesus. Tell them about His love, proven on the cross; His power, proven with an empty tomb.

You know Jesus and you know the person who listens to you. Who do you think Jesus is counting on to be the introducer? You don't have to be a Peter, but you can be an Andrew. You take your friend Jesus in one hand and the person you care about in the other hand, and you be the one who brings them together. For that person you introduce to Jesus, you will be the friend they will never forget!

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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Since I was a boy, I've been a fan of Abraham Lincoln. No, I never saw him in person. I do know he was born in a log cabin, I read about him studying by candlelight, splitting rails as a young man, grieving over the death of the love of his youth, and then becoming an unlikely political leader. And then the dark days of trying to hold a nation together during the Civil War, and then, his tragic death just five days after the end of that war. His name, his life, his face - they're known around the world. But only a couple of years ago, I learned something about Abraham Lincoln's life that really thrilled my heart. I read a Lincoln scholar's description of him making a personal commitment to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. It was during one of the darkest days of the Civil War, and God used a surprising person to lead Abraham Lincoln to saving faith.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “The Most Powerful Position in the World.”

Abraham Lincoln, in the most powerful position in the world, was introduced to the Savior by the White House seamstress; a precious black woman with a deep faith in Jesus Christ. Now, imagine Abraham Lincoln, the legendary President of the United States, brought to Jesus by a seamstress. But maybe that's not such a surprise. See, when someone serves you, they have a unique, non-threatening, trusted position in your life - perhaps the most powerful position in the world for real.

Which leads us to our word for today from the Word of God in 2 Kings 5, beginning at verse 1. We're talking about Naaman, a great military commander of Syria, but it says he was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who was in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy” (vs. 3). As it turns out, he does go to the prophet, and his leprosy is healed.

Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl had said. And the king said, “By all means go” (vs. 5). So he goes out and finally gets his cure. Here's the most powerful military figure maybe in that part of the world, being told where the answer is by a little Jewish servant girl. But he listened, just like Lincoln did. Now there's an important and encouraging secret here. If you're going to be in a position to get through to someone spiritually, be their servant. Being a servant to someone is the most powerful position in the world.

Can you think of someone you're spiritually concerned about? I hope so, because Jesus has called you to be His ambassador. Think about this question: how could I serve him or her? How could I be there for him, for her? Sharing Christ isn't just a matter of dumping the Gospel on someone. You need to get in a position where they'll listen to you. You need to win the right to be heard. Serving that person may mean listening a lot before you start giving answers, helping them when they're sick, when they're hurting, when they're broke. Maybe it will mean looking for moments of need, and then quietly finding a way to lighten their load. God will show you a way to serve, and serving will open the way for you to tell that person about your Jesus. Remember, it was a servant girl who was in the best position to lead Naaman to the cure.

I'm so thrilled that Abraham Lincoln will be in heaven because of a woman who served him faithfully and served her Savior faithfully. There is no more disarming, powerful position on earth than to live as a servant in someone's life - and as the personal ambassador of Jesus Christ to the person that you're serving.

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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“Quick Prayerism” is a method of soul winning that has spread widely since the 1970s. “Quick Prayerism” evangelism is quick to do two things.

First, it is quick to get people to pray a “sinner’s prayer” regardless of whether or not there is any evidence that the individual is even slightly interested in Christ, let alone that he is calling upon Christ from a heart of true repentance and genuine saving faith.

Second, it is quick to give assurance to those who have prayed such a prayer and to include them in salvation statistics when there is no evidence that they have been born again and, in fact, when their lives witness against their profession. “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good” (Titus 1:16). See also Matthew 7:21-23; John 10:27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 John 2:3-4.

A church in Maine had a soul winning campaign a few years ago and the people were instructed to go house to house and ask the following question: “If I could tell you that you can go to heaven when you die and you won’t have to change anything, would you be interested?”

I believe that type of methodology is heresy and deception. We must tell people the same thing that the apostle Paul told them, that “they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20).

To tell sinners that God demands that they repent will cut down on the “decision” statistics, but it is the only honest and scriptural path. God has commanded that they repent (Acts 17:30) and Jesus said they can’t be saved without it (Luke 13:1-5), so how can we fail to tell them this? What good are empty professions and bogus salvation statistics?

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Holwick: Scripture references changed to NIV.

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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #21623]

In a small fishing village in Galilee, a sign once hung. Or at least I can imagine that a sign once hung with the usual message for the neighbors: “Gone Fishin'.”

While out on the sea, two brothers threw in their nets, wiping the sweat from a warm morning. The sea seemed to flow through their blood. They were experts in their field, able to mend nets in double-time, and pull in enough fish to keep the local market economy flowing.

Then a little-known man from the region walked along the edge of the fishing grounds. In the Gospel of Luke this man says, “Let down your nets for a catch.” The fish-stands at the market would have been bare that day, if not for this gesture of goodwill (for they had been fishing unsuccessfully all night). The two men in the boat, Andrew and Simon, scratched their heads. They could have been asked to dive in and catch fish bare-handed and the imperative would not have been more absurd. But it was not a matter of nets and boats but a matter of who made the statement. And as soon as obedience met the command, a miracle happened. The nets were full; the market was open.

In the account of the same event in the book of Mark, Jesus simply calls them. Scholars tell us that, though there are different accounts of the calling of these men, the accounts probably represent stages of the calling. Simon and Andrew may not have followed from the first moment. But the multiple callings build a cumulative case that Simon and Andrew were not blind followers to the ordinary village upstart. There was something different about this man who had power over their unpredictable occupation.

When Jesus calls them, he used his artistic tongue. He borrowed the idea of fishing and spins a metaphor to capture the imagination of these fishermen. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mark 1:17).

Though the brothers did not know what all of that entailed, they knew it was enough to follow. So they left their nets of many years and followed Jesus along the shore.

I can imagine their sign, several days later, still hung outside their door in the village: “Gone Fishin'.” It was still true — but with different kinds of nets and for a different kind of fish.

The metaphor is still a strong picture for us today, even those of us who live in a world of corporations, concrete, sound-bytes, and email. A simple return to the words of Jesus and his metaphor reminds us again that one of our quests is to help fish people out of the ocean of confusion, folly, and rebellion, despite all the trappings of modernity. To someone who likes fishing, it encourages me again to take up the Master's imperative, cast my line (or my net), and see what bites.

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Copyright © 2004 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

Amy Carmichael was one of India's most heroic missionaries, and a woman whose life continues to inspire many people today. She has written some inspiring words, but none more inspiring than her account of a scene she saw in her mind one sleepless night as she agonized over the people around her without Christ. She saw herself standing on the edge of a sheer cliff that dropped off into dark and seemingly bottomless space. She describes the people who were moving steadily toward that edge. She saw a blind woman plunge over the cliff with a baby in her arms and a child holding onto her dress. Streams of people began to come from all directions; all of them blind. There were terrible screams as they suddenly found themselves plunging into that awful darkness. There were, thankfully, a few sentinels along the edge, but the gaps between them were far apart. And while the sentinels were able to save a few, most people were plummeting unwarned into oblivion. In Amy Carmichael's words: “Over and over the people fell, like a waterfall of souls.” She went on to say, “Then I saw a little picture of peace, a group of people under some trees, with their backs turned toward the gulf.” When she investigated what had them so occupied that they were ignoring the carnage just beyond their circle, she found them playing with the grass and the flowers. They were busy - making daisy chains.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “Daisy Chains.”

It's an awful picture. One I cannot get out of my mind. And, honestly, I hope it's a picture you will not soon forget. Because somewhere in that tragic vision is you and me. If you've never put your total trust in Jesus Christ and His cross to rescue you from your sins, you are the blind man or woman headed for spiritual destruction - not because it's what God wants, but because you've never opened your heart to the Savior who died so you don't have to. And none of us knows how soon we'll reach the edge.

Or maybe your place in the picture is standing as one of those sentinels, trying to stop as many people as possible from going over the edge into a Christless eternity. You're actively praying for opportunities to tell people about Jesus. You're seizing every possible opportunity to give them the life-saving message of Jesus. Because of you, some of those folks will be rescued by Jesus. They'll be in heaven with you, and that's the ultimate legacy of any life.

But sadly, too many of us are in that group sitting in the grass, doing nothing about those around us who are moving steadily toward an awful eternity. We're real busy - making our daisy chains. Listen to God's warning in Amos 6:1, our word for today from the Word of God. “Woe to you who are complacent in Zion.” Complacent in God's place. Going to heaven but not caring much about those who aren't - making daisy chains. You're so immersed in your work, your family, your activities, even your church that you're missing the reason God has placed you where you are - to help some of the folks there be in heaven with you some day! To be sure, God must draw them to Himself, but His chosen deliverer of how to know Him is you. He won't be sending an angel to tell them what Jesus did for them on the cross. He's left that with you. You're their chance.

Maybe there's a gap in the rescue line because you haven't taken your place as God's rescuer of the people around you. God's command from Proverbs 24:11 is: “Rescue those being led away to death ... If you say, 'But we knew nothing about this,' does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? ... Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?”

How can you be content making your oh-so-important daisy chains when every day someone else is plunging over the edge into an unthinkable eternity?

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Copyright © Ron Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc., PO Box 400, Harrison, AR 72602. Used by permission. Written by Ron Hutchcraft. "Practical Answers to Real Life Issues"

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Acts 6:1–16 — The Seven and Stephen — (outline by F. F. Bruce, NICNT) « Leader information shown in this fashion »

{A.} The Birth of the Church (1:1–5:42)

{1.} The Forty Days and After (1:1–26)

{2.} The Day of Pentecost (2:1–47)

{3.} An Act of Healing and its Consequences (3:1–4:31)

{4.} All Things in Common (4:32–5:11)

{5.} The Apostles Before the Sanhedrin (5:12–42)

{B.} Persecution and Expansion (6:1–9:31)

{1.} Stephen (6:1–8:1a)

A. The Appointing of the Seven, Acts 6:1–6 (NKJV) 1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

1. What was one outcome of the blessing of increased numbers?

a. Acts 6:1 — « murmuring and complaining of neglect »

b. Who were involved? — « the Hebrews (speaking Mishnaic Hebrew or Aramaic) & Hellenists (speaking Greek); a division based on language; thus this was also between Palestinian and Diaspora Jew, with there already being tension in Jewish world on this (2 synagogues) »

c. What was the reason? – « disagreement not theological, but practical; support of poor (”widows” is metonymy with the whole group of needy called by its largest segment) »

2. What were the qualities of those to be selected? … the reasons?

a. « part of this congregation; know the needs »

b. « well reputed; so there was trust and to quell murmuring »

c. « full of the Holy Spirit; their lives to provide evidence of His sanctifying work; that they were intent on others’ interests »

d. « wisdom; able to discern reality and level of needs »

e. should be basic requirement for all church appointments

3. this gave apostles « (vs. disciples) » freedom for what ministries?

(A) « prayer – or intercession, including that for healing »

(B) « the word – or preaching and teaching »

4. What do you note of those chosen (v. 5)? — « their Greek names »

5. Note that the community makes the selection; apostles give approbation and make the installation by laying on of hands

a. Genesis 48:13–20 it was for … « blessing »

b. Leviticus 1:4, 3:2, 4:4, 16:21, &c. it was for … « identification »

c. Numbers 27:23 it was for … « the commissioning of a successor »

« d. Mishna, Sanhedrin 4.4 for its members »

e. Acts 8:17-19, 19:6 the apostolic laying on of hands was used « to confer the gift of the Holy Spirit (but this appears to be confined to very special instances; hence its being noted) »

f. 1 Timothy 5:19–22, as examined in its context, has to do with the laying on of hands to mark the restoration of a fallen believer to fellowship of community and service; the last part of verse 22 as well as verse 20 seem to refer to the truth of Leviticus 19:17. Others, however, equally apply this verse (22) concerning commissioning of deacons and elders

6. were these “deacons”?

a. the seven are not called deacons here

b. the word and its corresponding verb(diakoneo) are applied to both the ministration (v. 1, 2) and ministry of preaching of the apostles (v. 4)

c. so this is not the same use of the word as it was later for an office distinct from that of presbyter (elder, bishop, pastor-teacher) as found in Philippians 1:1, 1 Timothy 3:8–13 «

d. in any event we shall find that their service was not limited to being almoners, ie., looking after distribution to poor »

B. Progress Report, Acts 6:7 (NKJV): Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

1. This verse is one of the six “punctuation points” of the book of Acts « (C. H. Turner, “Chronology of the New Testament”) » each marking out a rough quinquennium: see also Acts 9:31, 12:24, 16:5, 19:20, 28:31

2. What notable group of believers is added here? — « priests (not the high priests (who held Roman sinecures) but the humble men of the various courses that came to Jerusalem to serve for two weeks of every year (such as Zachariah, Luke 1:5–6) »

3. list some of the qualities of the church giving such growth:

a. « generous care for one another »

b. « Holy Spirit guidance and workings »

c. « consistent teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ »

d. « godly solutions to human problems »

C. Stephen’s Activity Arouses Opposition, Acts 6:8–10 (NKJV): 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

1. How does the Holy Spirit, already dwelling in Stephen at his selection, confirm that selection? — « He maintains his orientation, as already full of faith, and expands his ministry beyond that for which he was chosen (looking after distribution of alms) »

2. What was the character of this opposing synagogue? — « formed of the Diaspora; Greek speaking, so more in contact with this Greek speaking minister, Stephen. Freedmen were freed slaves either by their owners, or by the state on occasion »

3. Tarsus was a principal city of Cilicia; who came from here? Could he have been one with whom Stephen disputed? — « Saul, later Paul was from Tarsus (but as an Hebrew and student of Gamaliel he may have regularly attended a Hebrew-speaking synagogue. Yes, he may well have; see 7:58, 8:1 »

4. the Greek does not uses capitals to distinguish Deity: justify the translator’s capitalization of “Spirit” in verse 10 — « it is not that his argument was convincing (which could have been a human or evil spirit) but that he was “full of the Holy Spirit,” verse 5 »

D. Stephen Accused before the Sanhedrin, Acts 6:11-15 (NKJV): 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” 15 And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.

1. Those who bear witness against those speaking by Holy Spirit authority are by definition false witnesses; why? — « because His ministry is to guide into all truth (John 16:13) »

2. The worst lies are those which contain an element of truth but distort it. Their charges parallel those against Jesus;

a. Jesus said (John 2:19–21, Luke 18:33) — « if His body was destroyed, He would raise it up on the third day »

b. Jesus said (Mark 13:2) — « foretold the temple’s destruction »

c. they said Jesus said (Mark 14:58-59) — « He would destroy the temple made with hands, and raise another one up »

d. Stephen, in his discussions, evidently taught what? — « the Person and words of Jesus Christ »

3. Contemporary history tells us that the Diaspora venerated the city of Jerusalem, the rites and ceremonies held there, because, although they chose not to return there to live, the annual trips gave to them a sense of community with their heritage as Jews. The Jews dwelling in Jerusalem also revered the temple both for religious reasons

a. and because — « many depended on it for their livelihood »

b. so the charge was one that would — « meet acceptance by the people of both residents and visitors »

By Brennan Bilek, age 10

One night, when my parents dropped me off at our Awana program at church, they told me they were going to visit a friend who has been diagnosed with a mental illness called schizophrenia. It was his birthday. At group prayer time, I asked my group to pray for my mom and dad and that Mike would let them tell him about Jesus. We all prayed.

Two hours later, my mom and dad picked me up. I asked how their time with their friend had been. They looked at me funny. Then they told me a long story about how they had tried to share Jesus with him many times before. He would always change the subject or start getting squirmy and leave. This time they couldn't believe what happened. They said their friend brought up God and the Bible and wouldn't stop asking questions and talking about Him. I smiled and said, “My group and I were praying for you!”

I think God is so cool to hear our prayers and send His Holy Spirit across town to this man's mind just because we asked Him to!

A few days after that, I wrote a paper for a writing contest. I called it “How to Get to Heaven.” I was very sad when my teacher told me she couldn't enter it because it was “too preachy” and wouldn't win. On the way home I told my mom that I didn't write the paper to “win.” I wrote it so the judges would learn the way to heaven and think about it. I was really bummed out that the teacher wouldn't even turn the paper in.

Later that day, before my gymnastics class, a college kid came up to me and asked if I died that day, would I know for sure that I'd go to heaven. I told him yes and all about the paper I had just written. He said he couldn't believe I was only 10! He told me I was an awesome leader for God. I can't tell you how much better that made me feel.

That night I told my mom what the college boy said. She started crying. She told me that at that exact moment she had been on the phone with her friend, and they were praying for me and my situation!

My family prayed some more that night. The next day, my teacher told me she had entered my paper in the contest! God had changed her heart.

I love how God answers my prayers and makes Himself real to me. I want all the kids in the world to know that He loves you too and will hear you when you talk to Him. Just try it!

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Source: Pray!, July/August 2005, http://www.praymag.com

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It's a day I’ll never forget. I began the day the way I seek to begin every day.

I asked God to help me have my eyes open to lost people He will bring my way. But I didn’t ask Him to bring those people my way -- I know He will do that. I am just so full of self so often that I will pass them by without His help. I will spend all my time on lesser things and all my relational time with people who already know Him. But He is so patient with me, and this day He had something very special in mind.

I was in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a meeting and was scheduled to be at a dinner, but there was a mix-up with my ride and I found myself with a free evening. So, I made my way to the fitness center for a good workout. It was quite a facility, with racquetball, weights, a spa and pools, so I was surprised that there was no one there. A sign on the reception desk said that even the trainer was on break.

I began to lift weights in a strangely quiet room. But almost immediately, the door opened, and an elderly man slowly hobbled in on a cane. I was amazed to see him inch toward the bench press, hang his cane on the bar, and begin to do push ups on it. We struck up a conversation and I told him how impressed I was. His name was Pete, and he shared with me that although he was 82 years old, he had always been a power-lifter and a Marine, and did his best to stay in shape.

For the next half-hour, Pete opened up and shared his life with me. It struck me that God had allowed this place to be empty because this man was lonely and needed a friend. He lived nearby and had joined the hotel’s health club. Since we were alone, he openly shared very personal experiences, including his role in World War II at Iwo Jima, and the horror of watching so many of his friends killed.

I told him that I worked with our military chaplains and that I was also a law enforcement chaplain. He seemed startled by that and said, “My son is a law enforcement chaplain but hasn’t been able to do much good with me.” I knew at that moment that this man was so loved by our Lord that He had put together every circumstance so I could share the Good News with him. And so very simply, sitting beside him, that’s what I began to do.

When I finished, with deep emotion he said, “I have thought about these things many times but even in the war, I never knew what would happen to me if I died.” I told him that God could change that right now, and give him the life he had always sought. With a very “Marine-like” answer, he said, “Well, let’s get to it!” I knelt beside him and said, “Pete, let’s turn this fitness center into a worship center!” And Pete prayed with me and met Jesus!

As soon as we said “Amen,” the door opened and people began to come in. I was in awe of how God put all this together. We exchanged numbers and Pete said, “I almost didn’t come today, but a little voice told me, 'Pete, get off your lazy rear and go work out!'” Wonder whose voice that might have been?

As we parted, Pete said, “Well, I may never see you again.” “I will see you forever, Pete,” I said. As our emotions began to flow, he quietly whispered, “I have a call to make. I need to tell my son.” And he slowly hobbled out the door. The next day, two wonderful Arizona Baptists agreed to be Pete’s friend and disciple him.

Watergate figure Charles Colson wrote this about his own conversion: “I remember the first day I walked into: the executive suite of Tom Phillips in 1973. I had not seen him in four years. Within minutes it was obvious that he was a changed man -- kind, compassionate, caring about me. It seemed incongruous somehow; this self-made, hard driving young man had catapulted in a few short years from a middle echelon engineer to president of Raytheon, one of the largest corporations in America. Yet he was gentle in his demeanor.

“When I pressed him about, what had happened he replied, “I have accepted Jesus Christ and committed my life to him.” It was said as matter-of-factly as he might have described the plate of ham and eggs he had eaten for breakfast. I was stunned at the strange sounding words I had never heard before. Yet that bold witness led me later to make a similar decision which radically transformed my life.

“Tom told me later that he had prayed the night before our scheduled meeting. The answer he seemed to get was; 'Tell Chuck Colson about me; he needs a friend.' This was not easy for Tom Phillips. His natural reserve rebelled against any outward show of religiosity. He knew nothing about the inner hollowness in my own life that I had experienced since election night, 1972. I had disguised my torment well.

“Tom had carefully rehearsed what he would say. But the next day when I walked into his office, seemingly proud and confident, he suddenly felt timid, fearing that I might think him some sort of religious fanatic. He took several deep breaths and found an opportunity to make his statement of faith. When I failed to respond positively he was dismayed, convinced he had failed.

“To this day I wonder what might have happened if Phillips at that critical moment had flinched and ignored what seemed to be God's clear call. Neither of us in our wildest dreams could have imagined what would follow from that one moment in the spring of 1973.”

Phillips didn't try to cover the whole ground. He shared the hope he had found in his own life and God used that.

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BreakPoint commentary by Charles Colson, August 12, 2008:

"Thirty-Five Years in the Light: Reflections on My Conversion"

A lot of people have asked me what I think about when I remember back to that hot, humid August night in 1973 when Tom Phillips, then the president of the Raytheon Company, witnessed to me in his home. I left his house that night shaken by the words he had read from C. S. Lewis’s MERE CHRISTIANITY about pride. It felt as if Lewis were writing about me, former Marine captain, Special Counsel to the President of the United States, now in the midst of the Watergate scandal. I had an overwhelming sense that I was unclean.

After talking to Tom, I found that when I got to the automobile to drive away, I couldn’t. I was crying too hard — and I was not one to ever cry. I spent an hour calling out to God. I did not even know the right words. I simply knew that I wanted Him. And I knew for certain that the God who created the universe heard my cry.

From the next morning to this day, I have never looked back. I can honestly say that the worst day of the last 35 years has been better than the best days of the 41 years that preceded it. That’s a pretty bold statement, given my time in prison, three major surgeries, and two kids with cancer at the same time, but it is absolutely true.

That’s because, for the last 35 years — whether in pain, suffering, joy, or jubilation, it makes no difference — I have known there was a purpose. I have known that I belong to Christ and that I am here on earth to advance His kingdom.

Would I have ever known that if Tom had not witnessed to me?

The reason I visited Tom that fateful night was that I was coming back to his company as counsel. But before he met with me, Tom prayed about how he should treat me. After all, here was his lawyer, mixed up in the Watergate affair. Tom later told me that God spoke to him: “Tell Chuck Colson about me, because he needs a friend.” God was certainly right! I was as desperate and lonely as a man could be.

But get this: Never before in Tom Phillips’s life had God told him to share the Gospel. Never before had he done so.

But in total obedience, Tom followed God’s lead, and the result? A ministry that now spreads all around the world to 114 countries, tens of thousands of men and women coming out of prison being redeemed by the blood of Christ, and then finding their place in community; and the whole Church being sensitized to the needs of the least of these in our midst.

I also wonder what might have happened to me, personally, had I not encountered the living God that night or some other time. I do not really think I would be alive today. Before my conversion I drank, partied, and smoked heavily. I do not think I would be seeing my 77th birthday, which I will this October.

And if I managed somehow to survive the high-powered party life in Washington among the rich, famous, and powerful, I would have been so miserable I don’t think I could have lived with myself. If I did not know for sure that the God who created us sent His Son to die on a cross that my sins might be forgiven, I would have long ago suffocated in the stench of my own sin.

So how do you celebrate 35 years as a Christian? By recommitting yourself to use every available moment, every ounce of energy, in service of the King. For what He has done for me, how could I ever do less?

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Copyright (c) 2008 Prison Fellowship Ministries. Reprinted with permission. "BreakPoint with Chuck Colson" is a radio ministry of Prison Fellowship Ministries.