Evangelism

RSVP

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.”  John 1:38-39a

RSVP comes from the French phrase; “Répondez, S’il Vous Plaît” It is great a way of organizing an elaborate event so that the host knows how many people to prepare for. Now we have always loved parties but since we aren’t used to formalities we hadn’t considered using such a system for the special event we held for a few friends and family. We had reserved a room at a restaurant and invited a specific list of people. But the day of our event came and we were sad to see that some guests who we had counted on seeing had to work late and then embarrassingly some who we had forgotten to invite showed up! But when God plans a party He is way more organized than we were. His event in heaven is for everyone but when we receive our invitation we will find that inside the envelope Jesus has included a spiritual RSVP. Before showing up at Heaven’s door we will need to fill it out and send it in to be included on His list. (In the Bible called the book of life)

God’s invitation to come to Jesus is for you. The Bible tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to pay for our invitation. Just like the disciples, we are welcome to come and see Jesus. God wants businessmen, nurses, teachers, ladies of the night and even politicians to be there! The blood of Jesus was shed to pay for us all to be there, but the question today is: What is your answer to Him?

Making The Ladder Fit

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22 ESV

A friend of ours told us a story about how his elderly father asked him to put a ladder into his tool shed. The problem was not that they didn’t want to help but that the shed was just too small.  No matter how they turned and twisted the ladder it wouldn’t go all the way in. But all through the struggle dad kept insisting that they keep trying! The message of about Jesus is a lot like that ladder. It is long enough to reach all the way to heaven but we need to present it in a way that fits into the shed.

Between the Coronavirus, cancelled church services and protest marches, people have a lot of stuff going on in their lives. We need to catch their attention in a hurry. A lot can be said about the shallowness of comments on Twitter but I love that it forces us to get to the point. In the same way if the gospel is going to be heard then we need to cut out unnecessary words; make a clear point and do it creatively. We have the best news in the universe – the love of God in Jesus Christ. There is nothing even remotely boring about His forgiveness or gift of salvation and eternal life. We just need to ask God for a way to share it that will be like a ladder short enough to fit into every heart!

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Superman or Clark Kent?

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A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”  Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. John 4:7; 9

The failure that many of us have in trying to do what Jesus has called us to do is that we are doing His work in our way. Jesus says preach the gospel, but instead we do all kinds of things in place of simply telling our neighbor the story of eternal life through Jesus. If we are going to work like Jesus then we must think like Jesus did at the well in Samaria. He could calm winds and waves heal the sick and multiply bread but rather than trying to impress this woman with His abilities He begins by asking for her help.

red framed eyeglasses on newspapers

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When was the last time you asked your neighbor, co-worker or family member for help? Why does it seem to us that we must always be more like Superman than Clark Kent? Clark may have his weaknesses but he does have friends. If like Jesus, we ask for help in our own areas of genuine need we may discover that doors to hearts will begin to open. After all Superman may save the day but He never sticks around to get married, have kids and raise a family! If we are to reach our world with a message as desperately needed as water from a well, then we need to be willing to be weak and ask for help. Our moment of vulnerability will open the doors of hearts to what only God can do both in their lives and in ours!